The lads all sat around the table looking at each other and then looking at the white plastic cup that sat in the middle of the table. was having a Halloween party in two days time and due to their hectic work schedule they hadn’t sorted out costumes, so came up with the idea of wearing an outfit from one of their videos and as they all thought it would be a laugh they all made a suggestion. The musketeer outfit from Bop Bop Baby, the gangster outfit from World of Our Own, The waiter’s outfit from Uptown Girl and finally the silver suit in What Makes A Man!! Now they were all nervous they were going to end up with the silver suit and it didn’t seem so funny anymore.
slowly put his hand in the cup and drew out a piece of paper; everyone looked at him as they waited for him to unfold it. When he did he jumped up and cheered.
“Yes, I got the Musketeer; at least I won’t be a saddo for my special night!”
rolled his eyes and went next; he looked at his piece of paper and got to his feet smiling. He held the piece of paper up to and .
“Read it and weep, World of our own. I get to be a sexy gangster.”
and looked worried now, neither wanted the silver suit. spoke.
“Tell ya what lads, you are happy why don’t me an; choose something ourselves?” grabbed hold of the cup and tipped it over so the final two pieces of white folded paper sat on the table.
“We made a deal , draw a costume.”
swallowed hard, he actually felt scared but he took a piece of paper and opened it. Everyone looked at him for his reaction, at first it was hard to tell and then he got to his feet.
“Well lads, what’s it to be burger or hotdog?”
and patted hard on the back as sat at the table shaking his head. “I’m not going, it’s simple.”
placed a comforting arm around him.
“Mate, it’s your party at your house!”
groaned and rested his head on the table.

was excited about the party; he planned on asking to marry him. They had been together two years now and he felt it was time to make things more permanent, he loved her with all his heart and he couldn’t bear to be away from her, he just hoped she felt the same. So his musketeer outfit was the perfect one for him to go down on one knee.
was working late but told she would meet him at ’s. had hired a beautiful ladies gown from the same era as his own costume; it was to be in gold and black to match him perfectly.
and met in a shoe store, he went in to find a new pair of sneakers and this pretty eyed girl with wavy hair served him. took such a liking to he ended up with so many pairs of shoes for himself and even bought slippers as gifts for everyone he could even think of before finally asked him if he would like to go for a coffee when she finished work. There they laughed about him not feeling confident enough to ask her out and that decided she should ask him before he ran out of people to buy shoes and slippers for. That was two years ago and neither of them had ever looked back.

checked his appearance in the mirror several times. Yes he was sure he looked just like he did in the video, she always said she found him sexy in that. Finally he checked the inside pocket of his tunic and found the little black velvet box, he flipped the lid open to check the contents and he looked down at the large emerald, it was surrounded by diamonds and he hoped she liked it. She always said a solitaire diamond was a single thing and never understood people having them as engagement rings so he just hoped he had got it right.
His phone beeped and he opened the text.

‘Just left work, got changed here so I can be with you quicker. Love xx’

smiled to himself, again more than one she sent two kisses, she always did that and he loved her dearly for it.

The taxi pulled up outside ’s house and got out and walked inside. Straight away came over to him and just laughed, scowled at him.
“Shut it !”
tried to stifle his laughter.
“You know we looked like dickheads in them back then and you look like one now!”
placed his hand on ’s shoulder.
“Just remember who knows what you are going to do tonight!”
walked off and left to go and get a drink, knew wouldn’t spoil tonight for him, he hadn’t mentioned it to anyone else but caught him looking at the ring when he bought it. Now all he had to do was wait for to arrive. He looked around at everyone in their costumes, was strutting around like Marlon Brando in the film ‘The Godfather’ and was pretending to serve drinks while he chatted up any available women. The party was in full swing and he felt as nervous as a child on their first day at school, excited but filled with nerves in case it all went wrong.

A few minutes later he saw her, she looked stunning in the dress, her hair had been pinned up and although he could only see her from the back it made his heart beat wildly in his chest. She had just arrived and was talking to by the door, she was pointing outside at something and they were joking about it.
downed his drink in one, took a deep breath and then walked over to her. Once behind her he took in the aroma of her perfume, it wasn’t her usual brand at all but it was nice. slipped his arms around her waist and pulled himself up close behind her then he nuzzled into her neck and started to kiss her.
“Oh God baby, I’ve missed you so much.”
looked mortified and just smiled at him and pointed outside. blinked, then blinked again and then he stood back unable to believe his eyes that was standing in front of him, she was not the woman in his arms. The woman turned around and raised her eyebrows at him. ’s face coloured up.
“I am so sorry, I thought you were…………….”
He pointed outside at who now stood with tears in her eyes, started to panic and ran towards her.
“Oh sweetheart, I thought it was you………. Look you are wearing the exact same dress.”
felt sick, her whole world was starting to collapse, and she looked at the woman. “I guess she is but look she is taller than me, has bigger breasts than me and when have you ever seen me with my hair pinned up?”
now looked at her hair which was indeed down. He ran his hand along her cheek. “I’m such an idiot, come on lets get a drink eh?”
pulled away from him.
“You do that to another woman and then say let’s get a drink? I don’t think so do you?”
walked towards a taxi which had just dropped some more party goers off. chased after her.
“ don’t be so silly.”
She turned and slapped him smartly round the face, she had felt they had grown so close and were so in love with each other but now that vision was falling apart.
“Thanks , I didn’t realise it was silly to be upset when your boyfriend kisses another woman, Good job you found out in time what a silly girl I am isn’t it?”
Her eyes blazed pure fury at him and knew he was in a lot of trouble.
“Come on let’s go back to mine or yours if you prefer to talk about it.”
got into a taxi and closed the door she didn’t want to talk to him, she couldn’t. “I don’t think so and at this moment in time I’m not sure I want to talk to you ever again.”
“!”
He shouted now angry himself, She shook her head as she gave her address to the taxi driver. The taxi pulled away and kept calling her and followed until the taxi pulled out onto the open road.
He felt sick, his perfect night, with the perfect outfits and everything had gone horribly wrong now he wasn’t sure she would ever want to speak to him again. But it was just some silly mistake, it wasn’t as if he could see the woman’s face or was snogging her.

continued to walk and the noise of the party faded into the background, he walked for a while and somehow ended up in a small park, it was nice and quiet with a couple of old fashioned lamps lighting up the pathway so he walked for a little while and then found a bench under one of the lamps on which to sit on.
He sat down and pulled out his mobile, he called her number but wasn’t surprised to hear it was switched off. Next he tried her home phone number, it rang a few times and he waited for the answer phone to kick in but it didn’t the phone was picked up then immediately put back down again. threw his phone down on the grass in temper.
“Nice one , you dumb fuck!”
sat with his head in his hands, everything was ruined and he was scared it would never sort out.
“Here you go son, you need to be careful kids these days nick them.”
looked up on hearing the man’s voice and saw and elderly gentleman with a lovely black Labrador. held his hand out and took the phone back.
“Thank you.”
The dog sat himself at ’s feet and stroked the dog, the man spoke again.
“This is Clyde and he always knows when someone has a problem………. May I sit down?”
nodded as he now looked up at the man.
“Yes of course sir.”
The man held his hand out.
“Jack, Jack Collins.”
“ .”
They shook hands and Jack eased himself back on the bench.
“So, girlfriend, wife or fiancée?”
shook his head.
“Well she was my girlfriend; I was going to ask her to marry me tonight.”
didn’t know why but he found himself pouring the whole story out to Jack, and did not like to talk about his private life with anyone. Jack sat and listened quietly to him and didn’t speak until he had finished.
“Well that is a pretty mess isn’t it son?”
nodded, Jack obviously agreed with him.
“Well, you are dressed as a musketeer does that not make you feel like fighting for your love?”
looked up and frowned at him, Jack continued.
“, you had a misunderstanding that’s all, you made a silly mistake only took it for what she saw. Get out there and go to her, don’t leave until she has agreed to marry you.”
shook his head.
“You don’t know , she would kill me.”
Jack now touched ’s knee.
“Listen son, My Ruby wouldn’t marry me, I was called up to the war and I wanted to marry her before I left but she wouldn’t, said it was for the wrong reasons and she didn’t want to be a widow and just would not listen to me, we married over sixty years ago.”
was wide eyed and interested now.
“Wow Jack that is some kind of marriage, the sort I want, how did you do it?”
“Well I went to her house and I threw tiny stones at her window all night, I called up to her and I kept on for the next two hours and then I don’t know if she felt sorry for me or her father told her to shut me up but she agreed to be my wife and we married the following week.”
knew what he had to do; here he was sitting feeling sorry for himself when he should be with fighting for her love. stood up and patted Clyde and shook Jack’s hand.
“Thanks Jack, I appreciate that, Ruby is a lucky woman.”
Jack shook his head.
“No , I was a lucky man.”

went off in search of a taxi to take him round to ’s house. He rang the doorbell and stepped back looking up at the house to see what lights were on. Then he saw her looking out of her bedroom window. was pleased he cared enough to try and talk to her but she was still hurting inside
“, I need to talk to you.”
closed the curtains and felt his heart sink but he remembered Jack’s words and he persisted.
“ , you either let me in or the whole neighbourhood will have to listen to me shouting all night long!”
The bedroom light went out, knew she was stubborn but then so was he.
“Right you have asked for it neighbours of Miss , I am sorry but I love this woman and I am not leaving here until she agrees to be my wife!”
was shouting as loud as his lungs would permit, if he annoyed a neighbour then it may help make her let him in.
As looked up the bedroom light came on and the curtains opened, looked down at him and then opened the window.
“Shush , you will wake the neighbours and I have to live here.”
He hissed at him. smiled broadly at her.
“Then don’t, come live with me, be my wife, I love you more than anything .” shook her head, God he was being dramatic now, okay he had done his bit in saying sorry but it wasn’t a way to apologise.
“Okay, you made a mistake I accept that, I was upset and shocked but really asking me to marry you is going a little far, wait until you mean it.”
pulled the box out of his pocket.
“See this ? And the musketeer outfit, it was all for you for tonight I planned this, I wanted to ask you to marry me I planned it all.”
was speechless but knew she wasn’t angry anymore, he knew she loved him. So he shouted once more.
“So will you marry me, become Mrs ?”
’s heart pounded at the sight of the man she loved almost making a fool of himself in the middle of her street. She rushed down the stairs and pulled the front door open and there she saw down on one knee.
“I love you , will you marry me?”
nodded as tears filled her eyes once more, got up and placed the ring on her finger, it fit perfectly. wrapped her arms around his neck as they now kissed and spun her round.

ended up staying the night at ’s, he told her all about Jack and Clyde and the following morning he took to the park in the hope of seeing Jack walking Clyde. They sat on the bench and cuddled up to each other and looked for Jack but they didn’t see him. Just as they were about to leave an old woman walked into the park with a black Labrador.
“Look there’s Clyde and I bet that is Ruby.”
got to his feet and walked towards the dog.
“Hey Clyde!”
The dog ignored him but the woman stopped and looked at him.
“This is Cassie.”
blushed slightly.
“I’m sorry I thought it was Clyde, she sure looks like him.”
“People do say they looked alike, Clyde was my husband’s dog, and Cassie is Clyde’s daughter.”
grinned at the old woman now.
“Ruby?”
She nodded and looked at him, she didn’t recognise him, and thought he would introduce himself.
“I’m and last night I was sitting over there on that bench, feeling sorry for myself because I thought I had lost and along comes Jack and Clyde and Jack told me all about how he got you to marry him by calling up at your window and told me to do the same, I did and well…….”
He held ’s hand up to show her ring off, Ruby smiled at them both.
“Yes my Jack did that, congratulations to you both but it couldn’t have been my Jack and Clyde you saw.”
Ruby walked over the bench and pointed to a little brass plaque on the seat.

‘In memory of Jack and Clyde who spent many hours in this park.”

looked at the plaque then at Ruby, then at and back at Ruby who explained. “Jack and Clyde were killed as they crossed the road from the park one night, but that was three years ago.”
couldn’t believe it, but he knew he had spoken to Jack Collins, shook his hand and stroked Clyde his dog, he knew they were real he had touched them both.
“Maybe your mind was playing tricks on you; it was Halloween last night after all.”
said Goodbye to Ruby and Cassie but he knew in his mind whatever had happened he had seen and spoken to Jack who for some reason was there to try and help save his relationship with and he had.


THE END



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