TRICK OR TREAT
by Iris Gray
Feedback to wy236@victoria.tc.ca

As Fraser and Kowalski walked into the community center, Ben was struck
by a small object travelling at top speed.

"Hi, Constable Ben!" said the object, which turned out to be a small
child dressed in a Halloween costume.

"Hello, Lisa," said Ben fondly. "You remember my friend Ray, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. Hi Ray!" said Lisa happily. "You going to take us Trick
or Treating tonight?" 

"Indeed we are," answered the Mountie. He often volunteered at the
community
center in his old neighbourhood and the children were all very fond of
him. He and Ray were taking part in a program that assigned adults to
supervise groups of children going out on Halloween, to keep them safe.

"Yaaay!" squealed Lisa as she ran to join the other children.

"Looks like it's gonna be a long night, Fraser," said Ray with a
mock-groan.

"Come on Ray, you know you enjoy being with the children just as much
as I do," Ben said to his life partner.

"Yeah, of course I do," the detective responded. "But I sure don't know
where they get all that energy from. Maybe it's the candy!"

Ray and Ben gathered the kids together and made comments on the various
costumes. Since Fraser seldom watched television or went to movies, he
didn't recognize many of them, but he managed to find compliments for
all.

As they walked down the street, stopping at various houses along the
way, Ben reflected on how lucky he was. He enjoyed being with the
children,
and as a bonus he had Ray with him. He knew that the detective had wanted
children of his own, and had been afraid that he wouldn't want to be
in a same-sex relationship for that reason. But the two men were able
to spend time with the Vecchio children, and Ben's volunteer work at
the center brought them into contact with many of the children who had
lived in his apartment building on West Racine before it burned down.
If their parents realized that the two men were lovers, they didn't
object.

The small group stopped at an intersection. "Everyone hold someone's
hand while you cross the street," Fraser instructed.

The children quickly paired up, except for one boy, Tommy, who refused
to hold hands with another boy, Paul.

"I won't hold his hand!" Tommy announced.

"Why not?" asked Ben.

"Because boys don't hold hands with other boys unless they're GAY!" Tommy
stated. 

"I'm not gay," protested Paul.

"Tommy, Paul, come here." The Canadian motioned for the two boys to come
to him, and crouched down so that he was closer to their level. "Is there
something wrong with being gay?" he asked them.

"It's yucky," Tommy answered.

"Gay people are weird," added Paul.

"Ray and I are gay," Ben said quietly.

"No way, you're not!" the two boys exclaimed.

Fraser took his lover's hand. "Yes, we are. We hold hands sometimes,
too." 

Just then Lisa interrupted. "My mom is gay," she said.

A couple of the other children came closer. "Is she really?" one asked.

The little girl nodded seriously. "You've met my Aunt Patti when she
comes to pick me up after school, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, she's not really my aunt. She's my mom's wife. I guess she's my
stepmother." 

"My Uncle Ted is gay, I go to visit him and his boyfriend sometimes,"
another child put in. 

Some of the others shared stories of gay or lesbian relatives until Ray
interrupted and suggested that they get back to the business of Trick
or Treating.

Tommy looked at Paul and held out his hand. "I guess it wouldn't hurt
to hold hands just for tonight," he said. The two boys linked hands and
the group crossed the street safely. Some continued to hold hands after
crossing the street, including Fraser and Ray. 

"Have I told you tonight how much I love you?" Ray said softly to his
partner as they watched the kids collecting their candy.

"Yes, you have," answered the Mountie with a smile. "And I love you."

"When we get home tonight I have a few tricks and treats of my own to
show you," said Ray. 

"I look forward to it."

END