This week's prompt we were asked go back to a memorable Halloween costume, to show it and draw our reader's into our emotions and memories in 400 words - enjoy!
Just shy of her second birthday, thick chocolate hair fell to her shoulders and framed her deep, sapphire blue, slightly too large for her face, eyes. Although Halloween was a foreign idea to her, it never occurred to her to question my wisdom as I stuffed her little legs and arms into what she must have thought were pajamas. Only, these weren't pajamas - because pajamas don't have a long stiff tail protruding out of its bottom that swayed as she walked. And while green pajamas may have fluorescent pink dots on them, they didn't come with spiked hoods that left only her sparkling eyes, rosy checks and sweet lips exposed.
She looked at me curiously as I explained. "You and your sisters will go to the door and ring the bell." I adjusted her costume and handed her her bag. "Then, when they open the door, you say 'Trick or treat' and they will give you candy." She tilted her head to the side, frowning slightly. I smiled. "Go with your sisters, they'll show you."
We waited at the end of the walkway as Little Bo Peep, a pirate, Dorothy, Jasmine and a butterfly ran up the sidewalk. They rang the bell, yelled "Trick or Treat," and joyfully accepted the candy. They ran back down to meet us before she got halfway up the walk. "Wait," I said sternly to the excited children. "Wait for your sister." We turned to wait and watched as she waddled the rest of the way to the door. She stopped and stood on the porch, saying nothing, but just standing, wagging her dinosaur tail, and starring at the elderly woman with her piercing blue eyes.
"Oh my!" The woman exclaimed. "How adorable are you!" She grabbed a generous heaping of candy - noticeably more than she gave to the others, and dropped it into her bag. And still she stood there - not smiling, not talking, not moving. She just stood there waving her green tail with the hot pink polka dots and looking at her with her big blue eyes. The woman exclaimed again, reached back into her bag of candy and gave her more. I hurried to the door, reminded her to say thank you, and slightly embarrassed, rushed her down the walk. She looked back at the woman and even at two I could see dangerous thoughts connecting in her mind. I knew then and there, raising this beauty would take quite a watchful eye. Linking up today with
6 comments:
She is such a beauty, it must keep Kimball on the edge of his seat when you are with her in public. I am sure many a young man notice her.
But she is not only striking on the exterior--she is a true beauty on the inside as well.
Secretly (or perhaps quite publicly) I hope that one day my son will work up the courage to chase after the affections and the attention of the one who wore the dinosaur tail.
Glad to see you have been writing and linking up. Miss you!
How cute! You are a very smart mama to have seen that look on your daughter's face--forewarned is forearmed!
Loved your writing style--very personable!
Isn't it funny how a two-year old probably has no idea what Halloween is about but once they get that candy they might start connecting the dots? Loved this memory of your little beauty!
HAHA! Wow - that is wonderful!
Your daughter is going to be a handful ;)
This is really well written, building to a perfect conclusion! Well done.
It is interesting how early they get the power of being cute!
Yes. I really like how you tapped into the power of beauty, even at such a young age!
And how odd is trick or treating? WHen you're actually explaining it!
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