Night of the Living Costumes
Caught in the middle of an unknown mall event
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On a night during the early ‘00s, I was a wee lad accompanying my parents to one place I’m surprised is still around: the mall. I was about five or six when this occurred. It was a time when I was an only child, and the siblings I yearn for would soon come into existence. I’m glad my two brothers are around. They give me a good kick of the teeth to wake me up from the fantasy land I intend to inhabit on any day. Regardless, those times haven’t happened yet, and I can enjoy being an only child and the responsibilities of being older later.
Entering the mall, my parents and I notice something peculiar. Everyone, and I mean everybody, was wearing costumes. It seemed as if we enter a parallel universe where people wore suits instead of the latest fashion. My parents and I couldn’t help but stare in amazement, mouth agape, at all the people’s costumes. We felt naked and wanted to belong, and understand what we missed out on.
It was Halloween, so it made sense why people were wearing costumes. Maybe a few trick-or-treaters must’ve come to the mall to collect candy and walk around. To my knowledge, I didn’t see anyone give out candies, but people’s many costume choices burned in the back of my head. I saw plenty of individuals in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace costumes. The film just came out, and I fell asleep watching it. Good, even kid me knew it was bad. I saw a teenager wear an Anakin Skywalker costume with their face painted blue, and they had the mask of the costume atop of their heads. I as well noticed many children in dinosaur costumes running around. I wish I could run around free like them, but the big world scared me, and I wanted my parents to protect me.
After my folks and I had our spree, I wondered what happened to all those costume freaks? Did they get candy, realized Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is awful (Darth Maul kicks ass), or did dressing up as a dinosaur feel adventurous if you look like one? To my clouded eyes, I sure hope so, and when I’m with loved ones, I’ll make sure I know the mall’s happenings. Those ancient tombs (the mall) with their costumed patrons may the memory remain frozen in time while I dig it deep into my psyche.
