Braving Boys

I really don’t like Halloween costumes in bags. You know, those see-through packages stuffed with cheap bits of clothing and ultra hot and steamy rubber-y masks that no kid in his right mind could stand to wear for more than, like, two minutes.

What did my kids want more than anything this year?

Werewolf costumes.

In bags.

After a few attempts at talking them out of the bagged creatures, I caved and shelled out a small fortune on what ended up shedding all over my living room floor. Before our store exit, though, (envisioning a total change of plans for these get-ups), I picked up some fangs and a few tubes of make-up so I could transform their faces into masterpieces. I even bought brown hairspray for styling their locks in just the right messy manner. A perfect compromise: Joey and Danny could sport their el-cheapo (yet expensive) shirts with fake chest hair, and I’d have my creative way with their heads.

Did things pan out like I’d hoped?

Not at first.

See photo above.

But then a funny thing happened. Before Joey even said his first “trick or treat,” his mask got him all hot and bothered. So he and I made a mad dash back home, and we turned him into last year’s vampire.

See photo to the left.

Danny, however, apparently not in his right mind, made it to the bitter end in his furry contraption.

I’m not sure how things will unfold next year. I’m pretty sure I’ve got Joey on my side — no costumes in bags! — but Danny could very well present a challenge. Maybe I’ll start working on him now. I’ll remind him of what a hit he was a few years ago as a Home Depot guy (tool belt, orange apron, name tag and all). He also makes a super cute pirate and, well, I happen to think a vampire never goes out of style. If he totally balks at my nudges, I guess I can be OK with a bagged costume and mask. Just one condition: It must be a werewolf.