Halloween Dance

Lil’ Rebel was so excited when she got home from school. She threw her backpack on the floor, ran to the fridge to get a soda pop and ran into her father’s den.

“Daddy please,” begged Lil’ Rebel. “Can I please go to the Halloween dance this Thursday night?”

“But it is a school night,” argued Daddy.

“That’s because Halloween falls on a school night this year,” said Lil’ Rebel.

“True,” said Daddy. “But what about your grounding?”

“Oh,” said Lil’ Rebel. “I almost forgot about that.”

“Yes,” said Daddy. “I’m sure you did, however, I didn’t. Lil’ Rebel, you can’t just expect me to forget about all the lies that you told me last weekend, now can you?”

“Well,” said Lil’ Rebel. “What if my grounding were to continue after the Halloween dance?”

“That is a possibility,” said Daddy. “Look, let’s see how you are between now and then. I’ll let you know Wednesday night if you can go or not.”

“Okay,” said Lil’ Rebel.

“However,” said Daddy. “You are not allowed out of this house for the rest of this week, except, of course, to go to school.”

“Okay Daddy,” said Lil’ Rebel.

Lil’ Rebel closed the door to Daddy’s den and went upstairs to her room. About ten minutes later, her friend, Sally, was on the telephone.

“I have to ask,” said Lil’ Rebel. “Just a minute.”

Lil’ Rebel went to find her mother. She was in the den with Daddy. She waited outside the den door until her mother came out.

“Can I go to the mall with Sally?” asked Lil’ Rebel.

“Daddy just told me of your little agreement,” said Mother. “So it is either the mall with Sally or the Halloween dance?”

“The mall with Sally,” said Lil’ Rebel.

“Hey Lil’ Rebel,” said Sally at the bus stop outside of the mall.

“Hey Sally,” said Lil’ Rebel.

“I thought you were grounded,” said Sally.

“I am,” said Lil’ Rebel. “But Mom said I could either come to the mall with you or go to the Halloween dance?”

“So you chose the mall?” asked Sally. “Why?”

“Oh I’ll be going to both,” winked Lil’ Rebel. “You just watch.”

The night of the Halloween dance came and Lil’ Rebel was out the door in a flash. Her father either forgot to talk to her the night before about the dance or the answer was going to be no. Lil’ Rebel did not want to stick around and find out.

Lil’ Rebel had fun at the Halloween dance, until about 8:00 pm when her dad unexpectedly showed up. Even though she had a costume on, he knew exactly which teenager she was. He grabbed her by the ear and dragged her outside.

“Do you know how angry I am right now?” asked Daddy. “You blatantly disobeyed my orders.”

“Not really,” said Lil’ Rebel. “You told me you were going to let me know last night whether I could go or not and you didn’t say anything to me about it so I figured that I was allowed to go.”

“Okay,” said Lil’ Rebel’s Mom, coming up the sidewalk from the car. “That is fair enough but what about the deal we made the other day about the mall or the dance. You chose the mall.”

“But,” said Lil’ Rebel, acting like she didn’t know anything. “I didn’t think you meant it. Now, can I please go back inside.”

“Oh,” said Daddy. “You are going back inside alright, back inside your bedroom where you will be for the next two weeks.”