Suckers - J.A. Konrath

"So would running through the Chamber Police Department wearing nothing but gummi
worms, and yet I haven't given in to temptation."
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Roger asked.
I put my arm around Kyle. "Son, this is what's known as peer pressure. When you get older,
bad kids will try to get you to smoke and use bad words and chew this nasty black goopy stuff
that makes you spit, and your job is to tell them no. Got it?"
"Got it," said Kyle. He looked over at Roger. "No."
"Good boy."
Roger chuckled and sat back to watch the rest of the movie. About fifteen minutes later,
Becky's mother showed up, wearing a witch costume with fluorescent warts.
"Sorry I'm late," she said. "Did you have a good time, Becky?"
Becky nodded. "Can we go to the Taywood house, Mommy?"
"You mean..." she took a moment to let out a maniacal cackle, "...the haunted Taywood
house?"
"Yes!"
"Of course not."
Becky pointed accusingly at Roger and I. "They're going!"
"No, we're not," I insisted. "I fought the peer pressure. I just said no."
"No," said Kyle.
"Good boy."
"I think you two should go," said Mrs. Becky's Mother. "It would be fun. I'll watch the kids
in the van while you explore."
I sighed. "Aren't we a little old for this?"
Roger gave me a condescending stare. "Aren't you the one who spent all of last Thursday
night building Death Soldiers out of saltwater taffy?"
"Don't bring my Death Soldiers into this."
"C'mon, where's your Halloween spirit?"
"Kyle, tell Uncle Roger and Becky's mom what you say to peer pressure."
"Yes!" said Kyle with a huge grin.
"The child has spoken," Becky's mom announced.
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