Halloween was fast approaching and the Park City neighborhood kids were excitedly planning their costumes.

“What are you going to be?” Scarlett asked the group in her high pitch dainty little voice. “I want to be a princess”

“Oooohhhh me too!” said a chorus of the other little girls in agreement. “Let’s all be princesses together!” they decided.

 “Ugh we were all princesses last year” Sofie mumbled to herself.  “Don’t they remember? I don’t wanna be a princess again.” She thought as the other girls squealed with excitement and talked about the dresses they would wear. 

“Ahhh! I had the BEST idea!” Scarlett exclaimed! “All the boys can be our princes! I’ll take Mitch” she said as she pranced over to him and linked arms. He smiled a nervous smile and went along with it.

The other kids followed their lead and began to pair up. Sofie looked up and saw Frankie across the pavement. They made eye contact and knew that they would pair up. “I guess if I have to be a princess, Frankie will make a good prince” Sofie thought, trying to be optimistic.

As the rest of their friends linked up, Sofia and Frankie were left alone. “So, I guess I’m the princess and you’re the prince?” she said with a sad tone.

“I wish we could dress up the way we want to for once,'' said Frankie with his hands behind his back. 

Sofie perked up and asked Frankie what he really wanted to dress as for Halloween.

 “My mom enrolled me in ballet and I really wanted to wear the new costume we have for our recital. It’s my favorite ballet costume!” he said.

 Sofie jumped with excitement, “ I loooooovveeee that idea” She said  “I really want to dress as a football player.” Her voice got somber “You know I love playing football but I’m afraid the girls would make fun of me.” She continued with her head down and her arms crossed against her chest.

Becca, who had been listening from a distance,  came up behind Sofie and exclaimed . “Sofie, why in the world would you want to dress as a football player?! That’s a boys sport. I know you like playing it with the boys but dressing up as one might be weird!”

Sofie’s face turned red and her ears felt hot. She was embarrassed and knew that the girls would indeed make fun of her. She doubted herself and thought that maybe she should just be a princess like the rest of the girls after all. “Maybe you're right” she quietly replied to Becca.  “Let’s go work on our costumes at my house” she told Frankie. Frankie could tell Sofie was heartbroken as they began to walk back to her house.

With Becca out of sight, Frankie spoke up. “Let’s be what we want to be for Halloween anyway” he said with an optimistic tone. “We’ll surprise everyone when we show up in our one of a kind costumes!”