A Costume Point of View

I hope she picks me. Oh, please pick me. Stop looking at Cinderella. And don't even think about Dorothy. That's it, look at me. Keep looking. Stop. Don't walk away. Come back. I'm the best costume in this shop. Please come back!

I've been hanging here for weeks now, and I'm ready to go home with someone. Halloween is only three weeks away. Costumes like me don't go unnoticed. I'm bound to find my match any minute. There's been a steady stream of patrons for a while now, so I'm sure it's only a matter of minutes before I'm whisked away from my spot and placed in a carrying bag.

Here comes someone. She asks if there are any medieval costumes. I don't fit into that category. She is pointed in the right direction and goes on her way. Hey, here comes someone I could fit. She asks if there are any baby Halloween costumes. What about her? I guess she doesn't like to play dress up anymore. A few guys come my way, pointing and laughing. Not at me of course. I'm hanging around some funny looking Halloween costumes. I didn't ask to be put here. It's just where I ended up. If I were in charge, I'd be hanging in the front window for everyone to see.

This is the busiest time of year for the shop. If I may speak for all of the costumes, the rest of the year is pretty quiet. We do get a little busy in February when people come in asking for mardi gras costumes. I don't get any lookers then of course, but it's fun to watch them try on masks, ornate gowns and wigs. We supply it all here. There are so many costume accessories that people often spend hours putting together the perfect outfit. Sometimes they are hard to recognize when dressed head to toe. Just yesterday a group of girls came in and wanted 80's Halloween costumes. I didn't know what 80's meant but when they modeled their costumes and put on wigs and shoes, I wasn't sure who was who.

A nice couple is coming my way now. She is looking right at me. Maybe this is it. They both take a good look and whisper something to each other. They look some more and then wander off. That's okay. They'll be back. They just want to look around. Maybe they're going to look at the carnival costumes. Maybe the flapper and gangster costumes. I'm hopeful today is my day.

Did you know the tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween goes back hundreds of years. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people were afraid to leave their homes because of fear of encountering ghosts. To avoid being recognized by the ghosts, people would wear masks if they had to leave their home after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. There are some Halloween masks here that would scare more than the ghosts away. The teenage boys that come in here are always looking for the scariest mask. There are monster masks, gruesome creature masks, and my least favorite, the killer clown mask. I just can't bear to look at that one.

The couple that eyed me before is making their way back. I overhear them talking about the Halloween party they're going to this weekend. There is a costume contest and they really want to win. Well, to be honest, I may not be the winning costume but I'd be one of the cutest. The girl is carefully looking me over. She whispers something to the guy and he shakes his head in disapproval. She tugs at his shirt and is trying to convince him of something. He still looks hesitant. Come on, what's not to like about me? She doesn't look like she's going to give up. He says he really liked the batman Halloween costume. What's that got to do with me? Couples don't have to be coordinated.

Now she's leading him away. Hey wait. Don't give up that easy. That sure puts a wrinkle in my well being. The store is closing in less than an hour. Will I have to stay here another night with that Hulk mask staring down at me? They're coming back. What is he holding? It worked. She convinced him that I would be a great costume. And he's going to wear that costume. They'll make a great pair!

If there's an award for best Halloween costume couple, they'll have a good shot. She pulls me down from the rack (boy that feels good) and they head to the dressing rooms. I'm so happy. I'm going to a Halloween party. I wonder what other costumes will be there.

Hey, wait. What are they doing? No, no, no. That's not what's supposed to happen. I can't believe it. I don't know if I'll fit. This is a first for me.

Actually, it's not too bad. I'm pretty comfortable. With just a little tug here and there, I look good on a guy. He's not a bad looking Little Red Riding Hood if I do say so myself. And look at her. She makes a great Big Bad Wolf. I'd like to amend my previous remark. I think they'll win the costume contest. They make quite a pair and will surprise everyone. They surprised me.

 

 

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