Halloween is around the corner. We already got BS4 and BD2 some outfits that they are anxious to wear. SS is at that age where some might consider him too old to go trick-or-treating. He went last year with a friend. This year we asked him what he wanted to do and he just replied “I dunno”. So we went with BS4 and BD2 last week to get costumes without SS. We told SS to make up his mind and to make up his mind soon because costumes quickly become in short supply in the final week before Halloween. Also, neither DW nor myself are available at all next week to take him costume shopping.

This week, SS announces to us that he wants to go trick-or-treating. So DW told him this afternoon (meaning yesterday) that she finishes work early (4:00pm). She’ll come home, and take SS costume shopping.

“This is the ONLY time I will be able to take you.” She said. “So you better have all – or most – of your homework done when I get home.”

To be certain that SS understood, DW repeated herself. Homework not done? No Halloween costume. Period.

So DW goes straight home after work.

Has SS done his homework?

Nope.

SS is sitting on the can – doing the “bathroom trick” again.

DW calls for him and he only replies “I’m in the bathroom”.

“Have you finished your homework?”

“No.”

“Have you even *started* your homework?”

No reply.

DW waits about 20 minutes. SS doesn’t emerge from the bathroom.

Another 20 minutes passes.

“Well it looks like you’re not getting a Halloween costume this year.” DW says.

*FLUSH*

“Huh, wha?” SS says as he runs out of the bathroom, holding the top of his unzipped pants with one hand and his cell phone in the other. “What do you mean?”

“You know EXACTLY what I mean!” DW scolded. “I told you that we would only go out Halloween shopping if – AND ONLY IF – you got your homework done! You’ve been sitting on the can all this time, either playing one of your games or texting. Well guess what!? It’s too late now. Tonight was the only night I would have been able to take you. You’re with your father on the weekend, so you are going to have to ask your Dad to take you costume shopping.”

SS started to cry. I suppose the prospect of having to ask his Dad unnerved him and he snapped.

That’s when I return home and DW fills me in on what’s going on. I just shrug my shoulders.

“Oh well, you warned him.” I said, and I started to prepare dinner.

When dinner is served we call for SS to come to the table. He doesn’t come. He is lying in his bed crying into his pillow.

DW tells him to knock it off and come to dinner. SS doesn’t move.

I tell him to get his butt out here or I will physically carry him to the dinner table. SS comes but he just folds his hands on the table and buries his head in them. He’s still weeping.

BS and BD even tell him to stop crying and eat. They get pretty vocal too – which only makes the situation worse.

NO CRY SS! EAT! EAT SUPPER!!!”

DW is starting to cry now….She hates seeing SS cry and I guess her guilt gets the better of her (yet again) and she gives in. “I’ll take you Halloween shopping after supper SS. Now stop crying and eat your dinner.”

“What?” I balk. “SS has karate class after supper!”

“We’ll be back in time…”

Uh….No they won’t, but I didn’t want to argue with DW, especially in front of the kids so I just keep my trap shut. SS doesn’t change his mood but he takes a grand total of three bites out of his dinner.

DW takes SS out shopping. I’m livid, but I simmer down quickly and just do the dishes and prepare a bath for BS and BD. SS and DW are gone for over an hour. SS has missed his karate class, just like I predicted.

Oh, and the best part? They return empty handed. SS couldn’t find a costume he “liked”.