“I want to drive past the boarding house,” John told his girlfriend. “Okay, how come?” Carry asked. “I want to see what Jo’s done to the place. She loves to decorate. She usually goes all out for any holiday. Halloween is Andy’s favorite so the two started decorating when he moved in. All the boarders get into it. I’m curious if she was able to get it done without Andy.” “I’m sure Nim would help if he was feeling up to it.” “He’d help even if he wasn’t.” Nim was still having problems adjusting to the way the abundance of copper on Earth affected his magic. Carry sat up straighter in her seat. “What is that?” “What? Oh, no, they didn’t.” In the yard was a huge copper dragon, Nim in true form. “Stop, so we can check it out,” Carry suggested. John parked in the street in front of the house, and they walked up the driveway. Nim lay with his eyes closed, but as they approached, he opened them and lifted his head. “Happy Halloween.” Carry looked at the head. “Nim. Are you in there?” “Who’s out there? Carry?” “And John,” she added. “Happy Halloween,” John said. Nim’s wings shifted stiffly. His head moved mechanically from side to side before laying back down on the grass and his eyes closed again. “Where did you get this?” Carry asked. “It’s a rental. A friend of a friend hooked us up.” Nim lifted his head again stiffly. John noticed his eyes never focused on them. He moved his tail. He was doing an impressive job pretending to be fake. You’re crazy, John sent telepathically. The kids love it, Nim sent back. “Happy Halloween.” Jo came out holding a candy dish with a hand sticking out of it. “Like our dragon?” Carry grinned from ear to ear. “This thing is awesome. The detail is amazing.” “Amazing,” John agreed. He wondered what Carry would do if he took true form also. He decided not to find out. She wasn’t ready to learn she wasn’t dating a human, and he wasn’t ready to lose her. “How many hours do I have left?” Nim raised his head and looked around. Jo shrugged. “Two or three.” “I’m getting a leg cramp. There’s not much room to move in here.” Serves you right, John sent. “I’m sure Jo will be happy to message it,” he added aloud. Don’t make me purr. Purr? John had all but forgotten about purring. Very little had made him want to purr since getting stuck here on Earth. Carry might do it eventually. “John, be nice,” Carry scolded. “This is amazing.” “Want some candy?” Jo offered. “We have plenty,” Nim added. “Thanks.” Carry reached for a piece and the hand bent as if to grab her. She jumped and pulled back. John jumped too, despite having seen the bowl before. “We’re heading to Haunted Hallows,” John said as he took a piece. He ignored the hand this time as it reached for him. “We went last weekend,” Jo said. “They outdid themselves again. They have the best haunted house around.” “So we’ve heard. We need to get going. Love the decorations,” John said. “Have fun,” Jo told them. “That was so cool,” Carry said as they returned to the car. “It was something all right.” John couldn’t fault Nim. Halloween was the one time they might get away with showing their true selves. He’d used his fangs for a vampire costume once.