I LOVE HALLOWE'EN!
I usually start planning my getup around August. That’s not an exaggeration. Anyone can buy a Hallowe’en costume, but it takes time to carefully craft a clever garb. Costumes that are pieced together with dedication are always the best ones. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to create something. I particularly like constructing not only the physical manifestation of a costume, but also the persona to go with it. Think about all of the people who seem to have put a lot of thought and effort into their costumes, but then act like themselves. They walk the same, they talk the same. “There’s Mike dressed as Jack Sparrow,” or “Tom dressed as Batman.” That’s all well and good, but I’d rather BE Jack Sparrow or Batman.
For the past couple of years I dressed as preexisting characters; Elton John and Edward Scissorhands. One year I got to be an eccentric, oddly-dressed, makeup clad freakshow, and the other year I was the title character of a Tim Burton film (HA! I kid, I kid. Much love for Elton.) Putting the outfits together were great, but staying in character all night is the really fun part. And doing so enabled me to win costume contests both years.
This year, the fate of my Hallowe’en celebrations seemed to be in more trouble than the residents of Elm Street. Having recently moved to a new city in a new country, my funds were limited and my list of friends even more pathetic. The only spark of hope I had at doing the Monster Mash this October 31st seemed to extinguish when I found out that Jamie and Sarah were going away for the entire weekend. I decided it was time to accept the fact that there would be no Hallowe'en for Mojo in 2008.
The night before Hallowe'en I was at work and there were a couple of cute girls at one of the tables I was serving. They asked me about my accent (a frequent question, but one I never get tired of answering... I'm very proud to tell people I'm from Canada, and dispel any assumptions that I might be American). The girls reacted with a lot of excitement at the mention of my Canuckatude (trademark, Mojo 2008). They began a series of questions that didn't stop until the blonde one abruptly changed the subject and said, "You have the nicest teeth I've ever seen." It was kind of an odd, but very sweet compliment. I bashfully thanked her and excused myself because I think I was turning a little red.
At the end of their meal Laura, the blonde, and Nicole, the brunette, mentioned they were going home to work on their costumes for the next night. Absolutely gutted, I admitted my love for Hallowe'en was going to go unrequited this year. Without hesitation, the young ladies invited me to join in their celebrations! They left me their phone numbers and gave me hugs goodbye. Like Dr. Frankenstein's monster, MY HALLOWE'EN DREAMS HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE. There was only one little problem; with less than 24 hours to party-time I didn't have a costume!
October 31st, 9:00pm. I finished work and took a seat at the bar. Within seconds, a fresh pint of Carling was placed before me, compliments of Gethin, the South African bartender. I pulled out my cheap, plastic pay-as-go mobile and dialed Nicole's number (editor's note: I didn't actually dial her number, I scrolled through the phone's database and selected her name). She answered the phone, but all I could hear was loud... very loud... music of the techno genre. We were disconnected, I took a sip of my lager. A few minutes later I received the following text, "COULDN HEAR U. WE.RE AV BANK STAUNDOU. BONE MEET US!" I figured Nicole wasn't paying attention to her predictive texting, or was already a few vodka coolers deep. I wrote back asking for clarification and finished off my first pint as I waited for the reply.
Pint #2 was gone and still no word from Nicole or Laura. I looked down into the plastic bag at my feet that contained my costume and wondered if I'd ever get to wear it. At about 11 o'clock the only thing that had changed was my blood/alcohol level. I noticed a few of my co-workers were just finishing their shift and asked what they were doing tonight. They all replied that they weren't sure whether they were going to go out or just head home. I leaped off of my barstool, "LET'S GO OUT!!!!!!"
My enthusiasm won them over quickly and I locked myself in the staff toilet to apply my makeup. Minutes later, I emerged...
... as a Mountie who has been trampled to death by his horse. I, along with Jake the vampire, Alice the cat and Sarah the devilette headed up Wind Street. I was the happiest man in Swansea! We entered a bar and ordered a round a Jagerbombs. And thus, a night of mayhem began...
Pint... Beetlejuice... Pint... The Grinch... Fuzzy Navel... Sexy cops... Pint... Large man in same costume as Sarah... Pint... Sexy pirates... Jagerbomb... Sexy construction workers... Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovitt... Traffic cone on my head... Kiddie ride outside of supermarket...
I LOVE HALLOWE'EN!
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