Halloween (Prompt 9)

I participated in trick or treating from the time I was about 3 until I was 13. I don't remember any fancy costumes; I think my mom usually cobbled things together from my older sister's party dresses. I do remember one year dressing in a kind of Chinese Mikado-type outfit. It was always so cold in Montreal on October 31st that we wore coats over our costumes anyway. And we carried paper shopping bags that we had to take great care to watch--too often the bottoms would become wet and break apart.

Kids didn't trick or treat after the age of 13 back then. I am continually surprised to see older kids--and now adults--trick or treating nowadays. Last week I handed candy out to a Crusader who was probably 70 years old!

Although we no longer trick or treated, there were often Halloween parties to go to. Bobbing for apples and lots to eat. Spooky Halloween stories.

I do have one funny Halloween story from when I was an adult. I decided to dress as Irma La Douce for a single parents' party--quite tarted up. As I drove to the party, I saw another member of the single parents' group waiting at the bus stop. So I pulled over, rolled down the window and offered him a ride. His first reaction was one of horror; he averted his eyes and shook his head. Then I said, "Cliff, it's me, Valerie." He looked at me again and, although he still looked unsure, accepted the ride to the party. And that, I think, was the last time I played a vamp :)

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