Halloweenie Costume Time!
Originally posted on October 26, 2008
In my family, Halloween was always about going trick or treating in costume, or going to parties in costume, or even going to school in costume. We began talking about “what we would be” as soon as school started in September and bugged our parents mercilessly until that special costume was either purchased or assembled. Then we tried them on – countless times – with dreams of candy and popcorn balls swirling in our childish minds.
Halloween has become a scary holiday in other ways than the spooky, dress-up fun we used to have, with warnings about taking candy from strangers much more serious, and streams of kids going Trick or Treating (at least in my neighborhood) diminishing to a trickle. But for kids large and small, there are still many opportunities to play dress-up, and Halloween is still all about the costumes...
If you do go Trick or Treating, however, here’s a word of advice: if your brother is going out dressed as an aluminum-foil-covered-cardboard-box Robot……….. go ‘round the neighborhood with your friends instead.
Stevie: “Chaela! Guess what? Cousin Lucy is taking us shopping! Gonna get my Holloweenie costume! An’ she said I gets to be an ellfunt! C’mon, we has to get going!
Michaela: I don’t want to go.
Stevie: *tugs her hand* But you has to have a costume so you can go Tricksy Treatering! C’mon! *tugs again*
Michaela: No! Leave me alone! I don’t want to!
Stevie: But you HAS to!
Michaela: *mutinously* No, I don’t have to! I’m staying right here.
Stevie: *runs from the room yelling* LUCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! ‘Chaela’s being a party pooper. ‘Chaela says she ain’t coming! LUCEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Lucy: *from another room* Stevie, go upstairs and find Zenny for me. Tell her to turn off the match and come down immediately – it’s time to go.
Stevie: ‘K!
Lucy: I only have today to help you girls find your costumes, Michaela. Don’t you want to come along?
Michaela: No. I mean, no thank you.
Lucy: Don’t you want to pick out a costume, Sweetie? You can have any one you want.
Michaela: I don’t need a costume.
Lucy: But don’t you want to go trick or treating, Michaela?
Michaela: I don’t know…. maybe.
Lucy: Well then, come along and…..
Michaela: My Mommy is taking me.
Lucy: Michaela. Honey, your Mommy…..your Mommy probably isn’t going to make it back in time to help your shop for your costume.
Michaela: Yes, she will. She promised.
Lucy: Oh Honey…..
Zenny: Hey there, All-Stars, let’s get this game started.
Lucy: In just a minute, Zenny. Where is Stevie? Go find her and keep your eye on her while I….
*a loud crash is heard from the other room*
Lucy: Oh, no…..Stevie!
Zenny: Stay with the team, Coach, I got this one covered…. *Zenny exits*
Lucy: Michaela, I think your Mom is going to be away a little longer than anyone expected. She might not be here by Halloween.
Michaela: But she said she would.
Lucy: I know, and I know you miss her terribly, but she needs more time to get better.
Michaela: I could help her get better.
Lucy: I know you could, but… oh Honey, right now it’s best for you to stay here with us. The minute your Mommy is better, I just know she’ll come right away. Until then, she wants you to be taken care of right here, where there are people who love you.
Michaela: *starting to cry* I want to talk to Mommy. Why can’t I talk to her?
Lucy: You know, that’s a very good question. Maybe we can figure out a way that you can. Let me see what I can do.
Michaela: Today?
Lucy: As soon as I can. But right now I have my own promise to keep, and Stevie is really excited about going shopping for her Halloween costume.
Lucy: Won’t you come along, too? We’ll get you one – just in case.
Michaela: Okay.
Lucy: Stevie! What happened?
Pete: She had a little mishap in the kitchen. Nothing big, but her knee got banged up, and the medicine that mean old Cousin Pete put on it stings a little….. doesn’t it, sport?
Stevie: Don’ wan’ be no ellfunt no more.
Lucy: You don’t have to be an elephant, Stevie. What would you like to be instead?
Stevie: Wanna be a snake.
Lucy: A snake? Whatever for?
Stevie: Snakes don’t got no knees.