Free The Fall of Candy Corn by Debbie Viguié

crazy is this going to be?”
    Josh laughed. “It’ll be a madhouse, and opening weekend usually has only half the number of players as the following weekends.”
    â€œNot this year, if Tamara has anything to say about it,” Candace sighed.
    â€œI know it’s embarrassing, but it is really cool of her to pay for admission for all those people. I bet some of them have never gotten to attend something like Scare. It’s fun, but it isn’t cheap.”
    Candace thought about Jen from youth group who had looked so worried when she was asking how much Scare would cost. Josh was right. There were a lot of people at her church with money but just as many didn’t have much of anything. Tamara was providing a special thing for a lot of people.
    â€œThanks, Josh.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œHelping me get some perspective.”
    â€œNo problem. Catch you tonight, Candy.”
    She smiled at the nickname as she hung up.
    Sitting on the bench out by the school parking lot, she bowed her head and prayed. God, help me to do my best tonight, and help everyone who comes to have a good time and to be able to truly enjoy the evening and the companionship. Amen.
    She opened her eyes just as Tamara showed up in the parking lot. Tamara rushed over as Candace stood up. Tamara grabbed her arm and held it high above both their heads. “A celebrity is riding in my car!” Tamara shouted.
    Candace groaned as heads turned.
    Tamara gave a shout, and finally Candace joined her.
    â€œThis is awesome!” Tamara said at last.
    Candace laughed. Maybe she had been taking the whole thing way too seriously. The point of Scare was to be crazy and to have fun. As they walked to Tamara’s car, Candace joined her in shouting to everyone she could see, “Make sure you come to Scare!”
    People waved, gave a thumbs-up and shouted encouragingly. Candace began to laugh in earnest. This had to be what being popular felt like.

7
    As Candace arrived at The Zone, she desperately tried to hold on to her earlier enthusiasm and not get overwhelmed by the jitters. When she reached the costume department, the excitement in the air was double what it had been for dress rehearsal.
    She saw Becca exit one of the dressing rooms in full pirate gear, and Candace feared she might be high on sugar. Becca was hopping slightly as she walked. Becca was allergic to sugar. It made her more than a little crazy, and uncontrollable hopping was definitely one of the symptoms.
    â€œHey, Candace!” Becca said, rushing over to her.
    â€œYou haven’t been eating sugar, have you?” Candace asked.
    â€œNo. Do you have some?”
    â€œNo. Sorry.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Becca said, looking disappointed.
    â€œSo, the Muffin Mansion people are all going to be pirates?” Candace asked.
    â€œYup. It’s going to be awesome. Although we’re more privateers than pirates.”
    â€œWhat’s the difference?” Candace asked.
    â€œPirates work for themselves. Privateers work for a king.”
    â€œBut all the pillaging and plundering?” Candace asked.
    â€œOh, just as much as pirates, but there’s a legal loophole for it all,” Becca said smirking.
    â€œCool.”
    â€œTotally,” Becca said with another little hop. “See you later.”
    Candace removed her costume from the rack and got in line for one of the dressing rooms.
    â€œWell, well, if it isn’t the newbie,” she heard someone say.
    She glanced to her left and saw Brandon and Will staring at her. They were both dressed in tattered costumes and had grotesque fake scars on their faces. Both of them wore black knee pads over their pants.
    â€œWhat do you want?” she asked.
    â€œJust a little Candy,” Brandon said, leering at her.
    â€œGrow up,” she snapped.
    They both laughed sadistically at that. “Grow up, grow up,” Will mocked.
    â€œI don’t know,