Chapter 10: Halloween

Ohio City on Halloween night was full of fake vampires, and my real one walked through them.

A man in a cape and plastic fangs stopped us outside the pierogi place.

"Dude," he said to Cyrus. "That coat is incredible."

"Thank you," said Cyrus. "It's from 1924."

"No way. Where'd you get it?"

"A tailor in Euclid Avenue. He died."

"Sick," said the man, and walked off happy.

I put my face against Cyrus's sleeve and laughed until I had to stop walking.

"It is not that funny," he said.

"It's the funniest thing that has ever happened on this street."

"I think they're being kind."

"They think you're doing a bit."

"I am a bit," he said, and his mouth went crooked.

We ate in the window of a tiny restaurant with a paper skeleton taped to the glass.

I ate potato pierogi with onions, and sour cream, and a lot of butter.

Cyrus held a cup of tea in both hands and did not drink it.

"You can have a sip," I said. "It won't kill you."

"It will taste like hot leaves."

"Try."

He tried.

His whole face scrunched up, and I laughed so hard that a waitress dressed as a witch came over to check on us.

"He's fine," I said. "He just had tea."

"Aw," she said. "First time?"

"Since 1911," said Cyrus.

"He's great," she told me, and left.

We walked after dinner along the river, through the crowds and the lights, and the cold turned my nose pink.

He gave me his coat after two blocks.

It hung to my knees and smelled like rain on stone, and I put my hands in the pockets.

"I've never done this part," he said.

"What part?"

"Walking next to someone. Knowing there is no form."

"You can hold my hand."

"I'd like to."

He took it, his cold fingers wrapping all of mine, and I felt it all the way up my arm.

We didn't say much on the last few blocks.

At the corner of Detroit Avenue he stopped, and the lit windows of the bank were above us, with their dark film.

"This is where I live," he said.

"I know. I've been in your refrigerator."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

"I will take you home first. If you want that. There is no obligation."

I turned and looked up at him.

"Cyrus," I said. "Take me inside."

The lobby was dark, and the one lamp threw a pool of yellow on the marble.

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