Decorating

October. 2001.

In typical fashion, Quinn had gone too far decorating again. Harmony stood outside the little home they shared, staring up at the giant haunted house facade. How he had put all this up in two days was beyond her. Harmony had traveled back to the Heartlands for part of the fall festival stuff. It hadn’t really been clicking with her this year, so she had phoned Quinn to say she’d be home early. He had sounded out of breath when they had spoken and now she knew why.

It took her several seconds to find the walkway. The entire yard was overflowing with inflatables and spooky lights. Between the tree and the roof was a giant spider web, complete with giant spider, of course. When she got to the door, about seven different animatronics went off. The doormat said “Don’t Be a Witch ~ Wipe Your Feet” with a picture of witchy shoes. Harmony sighed and unlocked the door. When inside and turned on the light, she could have cried. There were plastic pumpkins, fake spiders, festive throw pillows, three different skeletons, and a creepy clown doll. There was also a distinct smell coming from some kind of fall scented candle. It was like Halloween set off a bomb on their property.

”Quinn?” Harmony called out as calmly as she could. She heard rummaging in the bedroom and then he stepped out, wearing a hideously kitschy sweater.

”Hey babe.” He said cheerfully.

Harmony tried to remain calm. “You uh, got some new decorations I see.”

”Yeah! Well there’s a decorating competition this year and I wanted to win. We already had a cool display, but why not make it extraordinary, you know?”

”I could think of a few reasons, but whatever. What’s the prize?”

”Oh it’s just a $25 gift card. Mostly I just want the bragging rights.” Quinn sat down on the couch as if there wasn’t a plastic skeleton taking up half of it.

”$25? And how much did you spend on all this?” She asked. Quinn didn’t look at her and that was answer enough. “Why do you keep doing this?”

”Because it makes me happy.” He said. Classic guilt trip.

Harmony was so angry. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. It’s because I suggested moving to a more non-human friendly state.” She said.

Again, Quinn couldn’t quite meet her eye. “No, not at all. I’ve always liked holiday decorating. I thought you did too.”

”I liked it more before you depleted all our savings on it.” She replied. He’d been doing this lately, little things to sabotage any moving plans she might be forming. Was it so bad she wanted to get away from his toxic friends and family? They completely objected to their relationship. Some days, she thought if they stayed here their future was doomed. “Whatever, I’ll be in our room. And so help me God if there’s more shit in there.”

”Nice to see you too, honey.” Harmony heard him say sarcastically before she closed the door.

And to think, it wasn’t even Christmas yet.