When making costumes for Halloween, Mom told us to use our creativity. I didn't feel like I had any creativity since my sissie had been deemed the artsy one.
One year, someone held a yard sale on a huge corner lot. Line had been strung between two big oak trees and clothing on wire hangers dangled from the string. I'd never been to a yard sale before and talked my best friend into going to see what one was like. We walked around, looking at all the stuff. Finally, I stepped over to the clothing on the clothesline and flipped through it. A fancy, midnight blue lace dress with short sleeves, lined in a matching satin caught my eye. A net petticoat had been sown in to create the bell shape popular in another decade.
I was entranced. Possessed. I would look awesome in it. I. Had. To. Have. It.
Attached to the garment was a price tag which said the dress cost forty cents. I knew without asking I'd have to use my sparse savings to pay for it. My fifty cent allowance didn't go far with part of it for savings, part for church, and the rest for me. I hadn't begun babysitting and had a hard time saving up any money.
Somehow, I convinced the yard sale person to hold the dress for me, ran the four blocks home, emptied the savings from my paper-maché mushroom bank, ran back to the sale, and paid for the dress. Clutching it to my chest, I was so ecstatic, I thought my heart would burst. I felt positive I'd look like a fairy princess when wearing this creation.
When Halloween rolled around a couple of weeks later, I knew what my costume would be--my new dress. Never mind it wasn't the least bit scary. Never mind I had to wear my white Keds with it. I would be beautiful. I put it on, and for the final touch, added a wedding veil from our dress-up box.
Unfortunately, as weather unpredictably does where I live, it turned cold, and I had to wear a coat when we went door-to-door for Trick or Treat. No one could see how special I looked because my coat covered my dress.
But I knew.
In the long run, it didn't matter 'cause I reached my biggest goal: a grocery sack full of candy!
Do you have a story to share about your favorite Halloween costume?
The holidays are right around the corner and perhaps, you might like to check out “Holiday Handbag Extravaganza,” a romantic comedy short story in the Season of Surprises anthology:
Here's a little tease!
Blurb for “Holiday Handbag Extravaganza”:
Christmas Countdown is on! Hunk-a-licious customer, Jack Treadaway, pesters boutique owner, Callie Woods, to locate a vintage handbag for his mother. Too bad the wedge between them is his sister, the meanest girl in town.
Excerpt:
What a mess.
The bell sitting on the counter above my head ding-ding-dinged in an irritating way. I huffed. Really?
Then I heard, "Hey,” —two dings— “I need help. Anybody working today?"
Despite the din assaulting my ears, I didn't answer, and not because I was mean. Because I was a woman on a mission. It was imperative I retrieve the hundred dollar bill that had vanished when The Copper Teapot's front door had erupted wide with a wintry gust. All kinds of stuff had gone flying like price tags, papers, and hard-earned moola. In today's sucky economy, every smidgen of revenue mattered.
Obviously, this guy couldn’t see me crouched down on the floor. His toe tapping and bell ringing conveyed his impatience. Sticking the ruler in the gap between the floor and the showcase, I bit my lip and concentrated, waving the tool back and forth so I could snag the elusive dinero. Another three-note ding sounded, and I rolled my eyes before singsonging, "Just a...minute, please."
Fingers drummed above my head. I shrugged my shoulders, thinking, rats. Every customer is important. Guess I should be a responsible business owner and do the right thing. "Be right with you."
"Okay, but hurry."
"Almost...there...Got it!" I jumped to my feet and dangled the money in his face. "Pay day."
I finished my jig to check out the customer only to find —Oh By Golly— Jack, as in the Jack Treadaway, the hunky hunk from Sommerville High School days. I couldn't believe this man graced my shop.
Why was he here?
Award-winning author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two romantic comedy mysteries to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocoholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"
You can find sassy, cute and funny VICKI BATMAN HERE
Find Season of Surprises HERE
15 comments:
When I was about 9, my mom and a neighbor were making me a costume. I was going to be a flower. I was so excited because the costume was turning out so cute! Oh Halloween, I put the costume on for he school celebration and...I almost passed out. The hole cut in the cardboard petals was too small and it was choking me! I couldn't wear it! The neighbor had a cat costume that they hurriedly fixed to fit me for school, lol! It was still a cute costume though!
I read Season of Surprises. It's a great collection! I love Vicki's books because the characters are real...and imperfect. They make me laugh and think "That would be me!" or "I think I know her!", ha ha!
Hi, Cathy! Oh my, choking had to be scary and I'm surprised the costume wasn't more adaptable. I hope they got a picture of you in it!!!
And thank you so much for reading Season of Surprises. No matter what, we are never perfect and if we are perceived as being so, that in of itself, is an imperfection.
Loved the vivid way you told your costume story, Vicki! Right now, I can't remember any of my childhood costumes, although I can remember trick or treating. We all knew which elderly ladies gave out full candy bars, and which invited us in for cocoa and cookies *it was a small rural neighborhood. We also knew who gave out the little wrapped hard candies, one for each of us--she was the one who lived in the biggest, fanciest house. Our moms always made us go visit her anyway, to be polite. Fun memories.
Hi, Barbara! My mom made homemade popcorn balls and would give to the kids who lived on our street. The others got things like candy corn (I love it, too!). When #1 & #2 sons were little, I went through their bags with them to check over what they'd collected. Hey it was a safety issue. I removed the chocolate from theirs--for their safety. LOL Thanks for posting.
Oh, Vicki: I could sympathesize with you about the coat over the costume! I swear, it could the 90 degrees on October 30, but come Halloween, we *always* had to wear our coats on Halloween night! You didn't sound as disappointed as I did. I recall arguments with my mother about the coat, but of course she always won....
Liese
Hi, Liese! Yup, the coat. And sometimes, the sweater under the outfit. My goal was candy. I was disappointed about the coat but I never had outstanding costumes; so warm was okay by me. Hugs!
We lived in the northeast and always wore a coat. The temperatures were always so cold. Halloween was never my favorite holiday, even as a kid. We lived in a double apartment building on the block that housed 48 families, there were 10 buildings in all on this block. And though we weren't supposed to go outside our building, my older sister always took us looking for more candy. Why I don't like the holiday? In each building the older kids would unscrew the lights and jump out from the stairwells and screen to scare the younger children. Plus, I guess I was very pragmatic. All year we were taught not to talk or take anything from strangers, and on this one night it was okay. I just didn't make sense to me. Enjoy your holiday.
Hi, Marian! Removing lightbulbs and screaming at people is not fun. I'm not a lover of horror movies either. And you are right, we were told not to take anything from strangers but on Halloween could? Until I was a little older, my mom always went with us.
Nowadays, in our neighborhood, there are carloads of people of all ages. I have friends who spend hundreds on candy.
You learned the best lesson of all - to know you are beautiful even if others can't see the glow - good for you!
Oh Ashantay, that is so nice to hear, especially for me as I never thought I was pretty. Thanks, sweetie.
When I was a kid, my friends and I would walk around the entire neighborhood in a huge group. No one ever bothered us. Things were simpler back then I guess. Although, my mother would never allow me to eat one piece of candy until she dumped it all out on the kitchen table and went through it.
My favorite Halloween memories are the years when my son was a child. I would always make our costumes so they were unique. I think the best year was when we were cats (like from the Broadway play). Now I enjoy going around my son's neighborhood with my 2 granddaughters.
Hi, Gerri! We were in a group too and no one bothered us. How much fun to be cats! Mine were always our favorite superhero. lol
Fun excerpt and Halloween story! I was usually sick on Halloween so my friends would come to my house and I'd trick or treat out of their bags. :)
Best wishes for many sales!!
I love this story and excerpt!! So sweet!!! I am not a fan of horror movies either! Yikes! Give me Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin instead! Do you have a cute pic of you that Halloween, Vicki?
Hi Vicki,
Loved your costume story! I can also empathize with wearing the coat. I grew up in Northern Ontario and can't recall a single Halloween where I didn't wear a coat (sometimes even a bulky winter coat). But like you, I looked forward to the ultimate reward - a bag full of treats. Joanne :)
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