My mom grabbed my hand and pulled me along to a thrift store; I've never forgot the smell of an old thrift store. I was told to stay by her side as she rummaged through old dresses; little girls my age were to listen to their moms. After what seemed like forever she finds a black dance dress from the 50's.
It was a crisp black taffeta dress covered in black lace. My mind started racing, was this for my Halloween costume? Saying few words she grabs my hand and off we went heading home. If the dress is for me it will down to the ground, I’m only 8 it’ll be way too long.
We come home; my dad takes the dress out of the bag, nods his head in approval and heads to his work shop. After what seemed like forever he emerges holding the black dress and some sort of small hat with a white crescent shape on top of it. My mom smiles.
After dinner that evening my mom calls me over…she’s holding the dress and strange hat. Within a few minutes I am wearing the dress which fits like a ball gown, she’s trying to balance this funny little hat on my head. “Reach into the pocket†my dad says…I look for a hidden pocket and reach in. Inside I feel a little button. My mom suddenly jogs to the light switch and turns off the lights yo darken the room. “Press the button†my dad says. I do. To my amazement the skirt of my dress lights up with stars, my funny little hat is glowing. Each star is perfectly placed under the black lace and seem to move with me. This is amazing but what the heck is it?
“Do you love it†my mom asks while grinning ear to ear. My dad stands tall, smiling as well. Foreign parents can be weird sometimes. “You are the night filled with stars and a beautiful crescent moonâ€.
Halloween night came. Mom handed me a beautiful black satin candy bag which she proudly adorned with silver stars to match my dress. “Remember, not to keep turning your dress on and off, you’ll wear out the batteries†was my last warning as I joined my friends and walked into the night….wait, I am the night.
How embarrassing, kids started laughing at me, “…are you from mars?†“What are you supposed to be?†No one knew. Each question was answered the same “I’m the nightâ€. Each and every answer was followed by silence and a stare. I kept walking until I finally reached the main events area of our neighbor where a costume contest was about to begin. I stood looking up at the stage platform wondering who will win this year. Adults started gathering around me asking what I was and upon my answer they immediately smiled and applauded…â€Yes, yes, you are the beautiful night with all the stars and the moon. Go up on stage, show everyone your costume.†A bit embarrassed and reluctantly I climbed the wooden stairs to the stage platform and stood in line with the rest of them.
Most of the children were swinging their candy bags left to right, smiling and thinking about the big $5.00 prize they were bout to win, I grinned and wished I was never here. “And the winner this Halloween is…..the nightâ€. I heard the applause from the crowd but hadn’t realized it was for me…I won, my costume won!
On my way home holding an envelope with a crisp $5.00 bill I was grinning ear to ear. “What are you supposed to be†I heard a kid say….â€I’m the night, and I just won first place in the costume contest, that’s what I amâ€. I should have been dressed as a peacock because that’s how beautiul I felt that moment. I was proud and loving my costume! I loved it even more when I came home and hugged my parents for thinking of and making something so original for me. That was a very long time ago and I still remember that Halloween night as if its tonight.