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Dr. Darnell was running the apple-bobbing stand, under the vague impression that it was the healthiest out of all the Halloween activities: she would have sucked most of the fun out of the activity had it not still contained copious amounts of splashing, unhygenic bubbling and getting messy. She had dressed as a ghost: this mainly just involved a simple white linen shift and a thin white shawl pinned over her front, her hair powdered white, with the bandage left to complete it. Dr. Darnell always looked a little scary anyway.

The tub filled with apples was immense: there was always the hope from the group of children that one could fall in completely. Thwomp (who had rolled in some white paint, to show willing) was hovering around the tub as well, just to make sure nobody drowned in their Quest For Apples.

Of course, Beatrix had set up a little, no-nonsense sign below the spooky BOB FOR AN APPLE!!! one: why don't you eat your apple?

Jace - her sister had long disappeared to go and find Missy and hopefully candy - was the scariest part of the stand: she sat next to the tub and bared her teeth at passersby. She had been dressed up as a Monster (as was her request), which involved fake blood being dabbed around her mouth, what looked like a vaguely destroyed octopus costume and her growling a lot. She would also shriek in an unearthly way at junctures. She should have been put in the Haunted House.

Dr. Darnell immediately gave one of her quick, brief smiles upon seeing her favourite student. "As much as can be expected," she said. "We didn't really celebrate Halloween when I was growing up. Are you enjoying rotting your teeth on sweets, Antony?"

"ROAWR," shrieked Jace. Then, if this had not been impressive enough: "Anty look. RRORAWR."

Beatrix just sighed penitently. "She's been like that all evening," she said. "She'll be giving herself a sore throat."

"ANTY be..." She couldn't think of a suitable comeback. "Up my nose!" (Pleased at her cunning and wit, Jace fell over hooting, hands still up in pathetic chubby-baby 'claws' as she kept yowling.)

"You are, as ever, a thousand times more sensible than your peers," said Beatrix, sanguinely ignoring her daughter. "Your father's running the haunted house, isn't he? Bowls of peeled grapes and so on?"

"Mr. Deakon always makes a heroic effort," Beatrix said. Jace had pulled herself along - many tentacles and all - to Antony's leg: she was now pulling on his trousers in the 'want up' gesture. "No, Jacoba - come back to me. - Are you with your friends tonight? Manuela and Delilah, maybe?"

"IS EAT YOU," Jacoba crowed, and she would have bitten down (not a lot of teeth, but definite sloppy mouth) before her mother came and whisked her up to her hip.

"She's being impossible," Beatrix said. "I wish Wisp was here to distract her; she went off with Missy Deakon."

"Oh, yes. I don't know what she's running - the costumes, I think," said his teacher. "She'll be glad to see you. If you see her, please ask if Wisp is bothering her. I'll be happy to take her back."

"NO," said Jacoba. "Wisp stoopid."

"Oh!" The blindfolded woman looked entirely sheepish; she raised one hand to push back a few stray locks of blonde hair. "Oh, Antony, excuse my manners. I've been so busy with both of them that I forgot you hadn't even met her yet. Yes, she's my second - and please excuse her silly name; Jacoba named her, and it stuck."

"Wisp stoopid," Jace informed Antony again. "She et glue an' she likes Sesamestreet."

"Do; she'll be glad to have you." Jacoba was attempting to pull herself wholesale into the tub; the battle began. "Have whatever sort of Halloween fun you're meant to have."