Hank and Paul arranged the double date with Charity and Maeve. When the boys arrived at the restaurant, Hank asked, "Are you nervous, Paul?" Paul said, "A little." Hank said, "It'll be all right. You'll see." Once they made it inside the restaurant, they found that Charity and Maeve were already waiting for them. Before the boys could say anything, Charity said to Paul, "You must be Paul. I feel like I know so much about you because of how much Hank talks about you." Paul blushed. "Hank talks about me? What does he say?" She said, "He talks about how you've helped him so many times over the years. It sounds like you're a good brother." Paul said, "I try to be." Similarly, Maeve said to Hank, "You must be Hank. Paul talks about you a lot. He says that you're brave and strong." Hank laughed. "That's me!" After they ordered their food Hank asked, "Maeve, can I ask you something?" She said, "Sure, Hank, anything." He asked, "Is it true that you eat dog treats?" She said, "Not voluntarily." He asked, "What do you mean?" She said, "When I came here last year, I was telling some people about how I make human-grade dog treats for my German Shepherd. Since they're human-grade, people could eat them, but if you have a major sweet-tooth, you probably wouldn't like them. They're not very sweet at all. Anyway, that was taken out of context. There were these punks who apparently have a grudge against everyone because they weren't allowed on the football team because they cheated." Hank said, "I know them. They beat up Paul two years ago." Charity said, "That's awful." Paul said, "The good news is Hank and I became close again after we had drifted apart." Maeve said, "Anyway, those punks brought some dog treats the next day, and they told me to eat them, or they would make their girlfriends drown me." Hank said, "Damn those sons of bitches!" She said, "Tell me about it! It was awful. I puked in the trash can, because I couldn't make it to the bathroom. They filmed me, and they posted the video on social media. Thankfully, it was taken down." Charity said, "You're welcome." Maeve asked, "What do you mean?" Charity said, "I saw the video, and I couldn't believe how they were treating you, so I sent a message to the moderators, demanding them to take it down. That's why the video was taken down." Maeve said, "Thanks for that." Paul marveled at this. It turns out that pretty people can be nice. Hank listened to Maeve's story with sympathy. He said, "If those punks bother you again, let me know. I'll have a chat with them." Maeve smiled. "Thank you, Hank." During the rest of the double date, the foursome laughed and talked. They really enjoyed each other's company. Once the date ended, Charity said, "That was fun. We'll have to do this again sometime." Maeve said, "Indeed." Paul said, "I think we can arrange that." Hank said, "I agree." Charity said, "I think it's safe to say that I have already made new friends." Paul said, "I think we all have, Charity."
Una, Everett, and Kaitlyn had dinner at a nice restaurant. As they ate, Una asked, "So, Kaitlyn, what are you majoring in?" Kaitlyn replied, "Well, I'm a biology major. I'm hoping to be a veterinarian." Una said, "You're an animal lover. That's great!" Kaitlyn said, "Yes, I've always been an animal lover. How about you?" Una replied, "Well, I always wanted a dog, but my mother is highly allergic. With that being said, I'm so busy with acting, I'm not sure I'd have time for one now." Kaitlyn said, "That's true. Dogs do require a lot of attention. I'm hoping to get one after I finish with veterinary school and get more settled." Everett smiled as he listened to Una and Kaitlyn's conversation. He was happy to see that they were getting along so well. He thought, This is wonderful. I think it'll work if Una and I decide to get married.
THE END
THE END
"What do you mean?" Una once again prepared to listen. Everett replied, "While my immediate family was supportive of my dream to go into film editing, not everyone was kind. Lots of people told me that I couldn't do it: most of my schoolmates, some teachers, even my extended family." She said, "How awful!" He said, "I know, but I didn't let that keep me down. My father even told me that I should go for it, no matter what anyone says. I looked at different film schools, and I got accepted into one that is fairly close to where I grew up. Upon graduating, I started preparing to go to film school. I started that fall, and I got a job at the local diner to help my parents cover the apartment rent." Una added, "And that's where we met." Everett smiled. "Yes, Una. My life only got brighter from there." She said, "Aw! I say the same to you, Everett." With that, they kissed.
Some time later, Una and Everett were settled in a cozy small cafe eating sandwiches and sipping pumpkin spice lattes while foil cutouts of cute ghosts and pumpkins hung from the walls around them.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.