Brian stared up at the sign, which proclaimed the store to be called "Second Skin", and groaned. He didn't know why Bethany was so jazzed up suddenly to not only celebrate Hallowe'en, but also go full tilt and get costumes for both so that they could attend a couple parties. In his opinion, their normal routine of staying home, not decorating, handing out the occasional candy if a trick-or-treater did ring the doorbell and, all in all, treating the day as if it was any other day was fine. But, for some reason, Bethany had gotten a bee in her bonnet about celebrating Hallowe'en and wanting him to do so as well.
He had exactly been thrilled, but telling her, "Okay," after she had harped on about it for the last two weeks in August and the first three weeks of September, he was dismayed when she asked, "I know some parties we can attend. And the proper decorations we could try putting up. And if we do go to a couple parties, we should definitely dress up."
That had been the point he'd drawn the line at and looking at her, he explained, "We can try decorating and all that stuff, fine. But there is no way I am dressing up in some costume," which had led to there first row since they had started dating nearly thirteen months ago.
In the end, Bethany had made a him a bet, with the stipulation that if he won, he did didn't have to wear a costume. But if she one, Brian would not only have to put on a costume, but he would wear whatever she chose. Now, wishing he'd never agreed, as the bet had seemed pointless and silly, so ridiculous that he couldn't even remember what it had been, Brian stared up at the sign of the costume shop. In a week's time it would be Hallowe'en and secretly he hoped the store was sold out and the Bethany had missed her chance. Thrusting his hands into his jacket pockets, Brian thought, "Fat chance," and taking a deep breath, mumbled, "Might as well get this over," and starting up the three concrete steps, he pulled open the door and stepped inside.
An spice aroma of incense assaulted his nose the instant he walked in, whilst above a bell rung, announcing his presence. Looking about the shop, seeing that there was nobody really around and that shelves were nearly crammed to over-flowing with costumes, he nearly jumped out of his skin when a smoky voice whispered, "How can I help you today," from down by his shoulder.
A quick glance in the direction of the speaker, Brian pushed his glasses up using one finger and shaking his head, explained, "I'm here with my girlfriend. She's buying costumes for the both of us,"
The speaker, which Brian realised was a woman of a height of about four foot three, nodded and turned away. As she did so, she told him, "Bethany is in back, Brian. I told her the what needs to be stated, but I'll tell you as well. Do not steal from me. You shan't like the consequences. All sales are final, so no refunds. Lastly, you may think she, or you, choses the costume, but it is the costume that choses you," as she headed over to counter with a really, really ancient register sitting on it.
Brian, watching the woman adjust first the fifties-style horn-rimmed glasses, then her dark emerald-green dress, wanted to know how she knew his name. But, before he could ask, the familiar voice of his girlfriend called out, "Brian, come quick. I found the perfect costumes for us," and giving the woman one final glance, noting she had lit at some point a nineteen-thirties-looking cigarette and that her head was now engulfed in a Sulphur and blue shaded cloud of smoke, he headed for the back of the store, curious to know what sort of costumes Bethany had found.