Two years ago, during the trick or treating, there were a few kids-- well, teenaged boys-- who decided to trick or treat with no friggin costume.
Yeah. But I just chalked it up to the general lack of imagination of your average teenaged boy and let it go.
This year, I had not one. . .but two GAGGLES (meaning 4-6) teenaged GIRLS who came trick or treating with no costume.
The first time, I stopped short and said, "Hey. . . where are the costumes?"
After a round of inane giggles, they said, "We don't have them!" Giggle. Giggle, giggle.
At that point I drew back, raised an arched eyebrow and sighed. Just looking at them.
For the first gaggle-- which was the larger of the two-- I just gave them one piece of the smallest candy I had. And I literally said to them, "I'm giving you less candy than I would have if you had made just a little bit of effort. "
(Mind you, I am wearing a RED VELVET REGENCY GOWN WITH JEWELS IN MY HAIR.)
The first gaggle just looked at me and said, "Oh. . . well, thank you." At least they had the sense to be polite about the whole thing.
The second gaggle, though. . . . well, it started out pretty much the same way. Stop, arch eyebrow, ask about costumes. . .
"Why no costumes? I'm tempted to not give you any candy for no costumes. . . "
The tallest girl then scoffs. The others just stare at me. . .
And then the mother on the sidewalk says "Tell her why!"
And a second girl sighs and says in the most blase manner possible, "We're too cool and to old for costumes."
I give them the logical reply: "Then you're too cool and too old to beg for candy like a gradeschooler." And I step back to shut the door. Then one girl SAVES THEIR ASSES!
"I like your dress though. It's pretty." A general murmer of agreement came from most of the girls
Slowly I step forward again, but the bags are still out for candy. I look out at the mother and say, "Would you mind if I shared something with them? You can come in, too."
She looks a little freaked out, but says yes. I step back and gesture that they all should come in.
I march the girls through my house and out into my costume room off of my garage. In said costume room are RACKS and RACKS of costume piece (mostly stuff I'll never use, but could come in handy someday *coughpackratcough*. . . and two dress forms currently dressed with two of my most elaborate costumes-- my 1855 Dickens fair and my Queen Elizabeth Dress-- complete with ruff and lace cape. And of course, I'm wearing RED VELVET. And my blue Victorian, my pink Dickens, and my brown Tudors and Grey tudors are visible on the first rack. On the upper racks are rows of petticoats, rehearsal skirts, random other pieces I've made in the past, a wedding gown I've never done any thing with. IN the corner is a round rack with yards and yards of fabrics hanging from hangers, and on the walls are half a dozen period hats. From the ceiling in the corner are suspended spools of Europa trims I bought from Beverly's-- one of the few places who still has them, and along the walls are props-- goblets, jewelry, gloves, hankies, swords, daggers, and a desk filled with period letter writing instruments.
The girls come inside. Blink. Blink, blink, blink. Gape-mouthed. Blink, blink, blink.
When they look around, finally one says. . . "Where did you get all of this?"
"Most of it I made. Some of it was given to me. Some of it is from thrift stores and I'll turn it into something else. A good friend of mine taught me how. It may not be cool, but there are places to wear costumes year round. It's fun. I also work in the theatre so playing dress up is part of the job. You're never too old or too cool to come up with SOMETHING for Hallowe'en. Trust me on that one".
Then the mom said, "You girls chose the wrong house to come to without a costume!"
Yeah. I let them look at the stuff a little while, but eventually said as nicely as I could: "So, the deal is. . . no costume, no candy."
They left at about 6:30. 10 minutes ago they came back-- all wearing clothes from their dad's closet-- jacket, shirts, and ties, with moustaches drawn on their lips.
I laughed and gave them the last of my candy for the evening.
