Halloween Memories
You didn't go out and just buy a costume
at least not when I was growing up.
You had to be more inventive
than just going out to shop.
I learned that simple things
can make wonderful costumes, too.
I've tried my hand making some
and succeeded with a few.
My friend Jimmy was an only child
who loved Halloween monsters and gore.
Ringing the doorbells for Halloween treats
we always went around for more.
Have you ever had a ghost
follow you as you made your rounds?
The year I noticed that big one behind us
made my little heart bang with sounds.
But it was only Jimmy's mom
dressed up in an old white sheet.
A fluorescent skull mask covered her face
Which made her costume pretty neat.
So, I have tried to have some fun
in the years that have come and gone.
Sometimes my costume was the biggest flop
while some a blue ribbon would have won.
Like the year I wanted to be "The Tin Man"
I thought I would look so neat.
So I wrapped myself in aluminum foil
never thinking it would reflect my body's heat.
I was a "Flasher" one Halloween I remember
wearing only shorts under a trench coat so others would believe
Until I opened up my coat and the strobe went off
so they didn't really see.
Kids would always come to our house for candy
as I always had the duty that night.
Now I wonder if they came for the candy
or what was behind the door to give them a fright.
I always swung open the door and yelled "Who's ringin' that bell"?
Their reaction to my costume was my prize
It didn't matter what they wore or said
But I did scare some of the little ones in size.
One year I pinned a big ball on my shoulder
so it looked like I had two heads up there.
I covered it with a mask and an old hat
and wore a mask myself for an added scare.
The best costume I think I ever did
took me some time to figure out.
I decided to have some extra limbs
to make people give a shout.
I took a old pair of pants legs
and sewed them to mine front and back.
I took an old shirt and made an arm hole
where the shoulders would join in back.
Then I stuffed all four limbs with paper
pinned gloves and socks to the ends.
Then put on my home made costume
and went out to dinner with a friend.
The restaurant went quiet
with my four legs dancing through the door.
The four arms didn't help anyone looking
To get their chins up off the floor.
I got a lot of "strange looks" that night
as we were seated, my friend and me.
Only the host wasn't flustered...
When he said, "Will that be for two or three"?
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