Halloween Again

Sorry, folks. No picture-book story this year! But I do have something cute/sweet/sad to tell you about Halloween…

First of all, we did NOT take Emrick trick-or-treating. I guess that sounds pretty lame, but after thinking about it, we just didn’t think there would be much point. He doesn’t know what candy is, and he wouldn’t understand the concept of knocking on people’s doors to ask for it. On top of that, couldn’t you just picture how shockingly cute he would look in a little costume? And how much attention he would have gotten for it? And how much he would HATE that? And even if he didn’t freak out, I can imagine him just taking all of his candy out of his bucket and throwing it on the ground, cuz taking things out of other things and throwing them on the ground is what Emrick is ALL ABOUT.

Nope. Taking him trick-or-treating this year would have been all about me and Marcus and not about Emrick. So we decided against it. Had he been just a little bit older, we might have given it a try. But we’re looking ahead to next year, since by then he may actually be capable of finding the experience fun rather than confusing or annoying.

So Halloween was more or less low-key this year, except for one thing. Every year Marcus’ work has a Halloween party and employees are invited to dress up for the day. This is Marcus’ third Halloween at this place, but it wasn’t until this year that he decided to wear a costume. He wouldn’t have done it except that he got the idea to dress up as one of his co-workers, someone he has a jokey relationship with. Plus, this co-worker, Spencer, always wears black and has black hair and a black beard, so this would be quite the departure in appearance for Marcus. So to prepare, Marcus bought 1.) a used shirt that looks a lot like one of the shirts that Spencer is famous for wearing; 2.) men’s beard dye, the kind that works in five minutes, and 3.) that spray-on hair coloring that the stores sell every Halloween, and that washes right out.

Marcus and Spencer (who is not wearing his famous leafy shirt). Notice how much fuller and manlier Marcus' beard is, and after only a couple days' growth!

Anyway, apparently everyone was pretty amused to see Spencer spoofed in costume because Marcus took home third prize, which was 150 thousand dollars! Marcus was surprised to even get third prize, because there were some pretty elaborate costumes there. But he still accepted the cash, of course.

Meanwhile, I thought it would be fun to do something funny to Emrick’s appearance for Halloween. I had no costume for him, but I did have a baby with a full head of hair and a practically brand new can of hairspray! So I got to work and achieved this:

Heh. Emrick was surprisingly patient while I did this to his hair. He wasn’t thrilled with the getting sprayed with hairspray part (though I protected his eyes and forehead with my hand), but he was very patient while I sandwiched his hair in my hands and pulled upward repeatedly to get the faux-hawk effect. It was pretty fast and easy. A little pulling, a little spraying, a little more pulling, and a LOT more spraying. Afterward, I showed him his reflection in the mirror, and he didn’t have much of a reaction. He just sort of grinned at himself, which is his usual response to his reflection.

However, about an hour later, I was in the play room with him when he reached for his Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes book. As soon as he touched his head, he knew that something was different. When his hands went up to his head, his brow furrowed, and he started moving his fingers around in a grabby way. I can’t know for sure what he was thinking, but I am pretty sure it was something along the lines of , “WTH?” He quickly forgot about it though, and luckily all his grabbing didn’t compromise the structural integrity of his do. Thanks, Herbal Essences Maximum Hold Hairspray! Good times… except… all the hilarity was soon to come to a grinding halt!

Marcus.

When Marcus came home and walked through that mudroom door, the party. was. over. Emrick looked at his father and absolutely did NOT recognize him. His dark beard, his bizarrely black hair… Emrick did not know what to make of it. He just looked confused when this dark stranger approached him, and then seriously worried when he dared to pick him up! Marcus tried. He kissed Pookie, talked to him, sang to him, said, “It’s me, Dada,” but to no avail. Emrick’s chin shook. His lips turned down. He looked to me for reassurance, but seemed deaf to the reassurance I offered! Then he looked back at Marcus, whose big, black head was just inches from Emrick’s face, and the babe lost it. His sweet cheeks turned red, his eyes shut, and tears and screams erupted forth. Poor Pookie! Marcus handed him over to me, and then ran upstairs to shower and shave post-haste!

When Marcus returned, blond and clean-shaven, order was restored to Emrick’s universe, and Halloween proceeded and concluded with little drama.

Emrick can appreciate the crinkly music he can make with a bowl full of wrapped candy, while remaining unaware of its sugary awesomeness.