Halloween is coming up, and you’re either entirely thrilled at the prospect or incredibly bored. I used to be the former, going all out with stage makeup and old Goodwill costumes torn-up, covered in fake blood. From 3rd grade until 8th, I had a long-lasting and ardent love affair with Halloween. It was exciting. I got to spend hours thinking of new ideas, going to various prop stores in Hollywood with my mother, and practicing the makeup on Sunday afternoons. For a person who scoffs at getting dressed up, I sure contradicted myself when it came to October 31st. However middle school marked the advent of teasing, which (because I was rather inept at understanding sarcasm at the time) I took personal offense to.
Although I still loved Halloween in 8th grade, I opted to dress up in a PB&J costume instead of the usual gore (not to be confused with Al Gore). I was trick-or-treating alongside two other friends in my neighborhood, when It happened. We walked up to the door, knocked, you know the drill. After parceling out candy, the man took one look at us and asked: “Aren’t you guys a little too old to be trick-or-treating.”
Part of me died that night.
The complete nerve of that man. The audacity to criticize a 13-year-old about being too old? I still thought the seniors were the most terrifying people alive. However, he accomplished his goal. I have never since been trick-or-treating. To be fair to this man, I live in a neighborhood mainly populated by children ages 2 to 8. I likely stood out as a giant as most of the other trick-or-treaters barely went up to my waist. The true lesson is that everybody should trick-or-treat in age-appropriate neighborhoods.
I guess the moral of the story is to not get embarrassed about what you like, even if strange people tell you you’re too old for something. For example, everyone else seems to have lost faith in Santa, but I’m still a firm believer. Never got too old for that.