My girl, Bean we'll call her, loves Curious George and all I heard was "George! George! George!" when I would ask what she wanted to be for Halloween... I spent countless minutes online looking for a "George" costume only to find them too small. So I broke down and took her to Hollywood Toy & Costume in the heart of Hollyweird; they certainly would have to have it in her 2T size. Me in my Saturday morning Mom outfit, jeans and a T with a cap slightly cocked to the side. Bean of course now understanding she can wear whatever she wants and I let her on the weekends, donned her jeans, hot pink belt, Abby Caddabby (sesame street character) shirt, pigtails, pink shades and my favorite... white & pink snow boots with white sparkling fur. I swear to Buddha it was about 90 degrees that day but she had to wear those mukluks and who am I to interfere with a girl’s sense of fashion. But I think my treasured moment was when we were strolling down the boulevard of dreams and she decided holding my hand was un-cool and thrust her hands in her pockets and sashayed over the stars of Fred Astaire and Jackie Chan. I was irritated that we were walking and she is supposed to hold tight to my protective grip but tickled crimson that she was becoming her own America's Next Top Model except she's smart, genuinely funny and not on a dumb reality show.
As we attempted to try just about every costume in the shop, I remember a lot of "no" and "take it off". I was becoming warm with frustration but remained calm to the on looker. The clerk, Victor, was working hard to help but the George there was too small, the lady bug boring and the princess dresses falling flat. I gave up and said “well I guess today's not our day”. And as we started the sad Charlie Brown Halloween walk there it was, "Mommy look"... She tried it on, no fuss, patiently sat in my lap waiting for her turn to look in the mirror and when she did, she grinned from ear to ear, thoroughly examined the outfit then began to dance in it. Victor and I shared a look, a smile and as I said "I'll take it", he asked "should I ring it up?"
Finally Halloween was here. She kept singing “Happy Berfday Halloween” and in an odd way her song was right since technically it was the Celtic New Year. We walked down Bryce off Broadview and it was like a rock concert for kids. The street was over flowing with little Batmans, Snow White by the dozens, Ninjas and fairies of all varieties. As we headed to the first porch with purple plastic pumpkin in one hand, this time she was not so defiant, more the nervous little puppy her character suit portrayed, her other paw squeezing me tight she shyly whispered trick or treat. Without skipping a beat the older man in the tie-dyed shirt and baseball hat kneeled down to her level and said, “Rut-Ro its Scooby-Doo!”
As we made our way back up the other side of the street, Dad playing Shaggy, I playing dorky Mom with the camera and Bean as Scoob, we got to witness her shift in comprehension. Evident when she said, “go to nother one” and comfortably walked past fog machines and strobe lights on her own to say I got a Scooby and point to her little suit. All the pieces we’d been talking about finally being put together to create her first trick or treat adventure. I slowed my pace to watch Dad and daughter walk hand and hand, black spotted brown fur with a wagging tail a little droopier then when we began and I felt tremendous joy fill my soured soul. I snapped a quick picture of them because I never wanted to forget that memory and if I do that picture will cross my path and I’ll probably well up again. There’s a reason they are called once in a lifetime moments.
We sat on the floor in the living room just as I remembered doing with my Mom and poured the Scooby snacks on the floor. Still in her costume but the head piece now pulled down and weighing heavily around her neck, I kissed her sweaty sweet smelling head and whispered I love you. I carefully examined the loot for razors and any hazardous materials nothing except for a stale ass 6 month old chocolate Easter egg. I threw that one out obviously. We shared some M&M’s and she asked for more. It was late and I really don’t like her eating sweets but damn it, it was Halloween so I said one more. She considered each piece looking, looking…”dis one”. Perfect, a Baby Ruth for my baby. She sat in my lap again patiently waiting as I opened it. I watched as it melted in her hands, smeared on her face, the imprint on my jeans as she used my leg to push off to stand, turn and face me. I asked her if it was good to which she grinned that grin again only this time full of gooey teeth and with a sugar high loudly exclaimed “YES!” She jumped on me, hugged me tight, pulled back and kissed me so hard I now had chocolate on my lips. “Nother one?” I laughed from my heart.
At that moment I felt as if I had just found Zuzu’s petals in my pocket only mine were chocolate kisses.
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