Once Una and Everett finished acting out their story, they relaxed in their fort for a bit. Una said, "Thank you for this, Everett. This brought back a lot of memories." He smiled and said, "I should be thanking you." She asked, "What do you mean?" He said, "You helped me let loose and have fun. This is the most fun I've had in a long time." She said, "That's why it's important to embrace your inner child." He said, "I think so. Speaking of embracing your inner child, we should go out for pizza, and afterwards, we should get some ice cream." She said, "That sounds like a plan to me." They did just that. They even got rainbow sprinkles on their ice cream. Once they returned to their hotel room, Everett asked, "Should we put everything we used for our fort away?" Una said, "We could sleep in it." He said, "Yeah, we could. There's no one here to say we can't." She said, "That's the spirit!" With that, they changed into their pajamas. They relaxed in their fort for a while before finally going to sleep.
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.