CUTTING THROUGH HALLOWEEN STEREOTYPES

It happened at a skeleton’s residence on Halloween.

It’s not all gore & ghoulish stuff #1

A pint-size trick or treater had a superhero costume on complete with cape, fake muscles, head totally covered with a rubber mask that looked like a green ant.

I said,  “Oh, what a great costume.”

He said, very earnestly, lifting his mask, “It’s really ME.” (He looked just like the little boy in Jean Shepherd’s beloved “A Christmas Story,” glasses and big eyes. We in Halloweenland watch this movie every year. Really.)

I gave him his candy and he and his dad turned to go.

Then at the turn of my front walk he turned back and said, “Thank you, Have a lovely evening.”

(Attributed to a Halloween lover in Tucson.)

Tomorrow: Story #2

Ethel Lee-Miller blogs regularly about people, the power of words, and the writing life. She’s been immersed in writing for over 30 years, teaching, coaching, editing, and gathering writers to publicly share their work. She is the author of Thinking of Miller Place, and Seedlings, Stories of Relationships. She also enjoys sharing stories at Odyssey Storytelling, Tucson Tellers of Tales, and just about anywhere there’s a mic.