Halloween Parade

The kids' school had their Halloween parade today. I was kinda ticked 'cause my son was told that no makeup was allowed. He was going to be the healthiest-looking zombie ever. I was still pouting. Actually, I was ready to slip back into my old rebel-just-waiting-for-a-cause-no-really-any-cause-will-do and stage a protest of sorts or write a strongly worded letter to the principal for ruining the kids' fun. Ok, so I was more upset about the makeup rule than they were. So what?! Then while I was fuming, my mom gave me The Look. You know it. The one that burns like lasers into your skull? Yep, that one. So I stopped painting my signs and sulked. I might've whined a bit, too. You know you're behaving pathetically when your own children pat you on the arm and console you.

So I only did the girl's makeup. It was barely-there makeup, so I knew no one would complain. She looked all shimmery and ethereal an' stuff. Like an angel that she never was. And I pouted at my son, sighed heavily, and sent them off to school. They're not even allowed to wear the costumes to school. They change there before the parade.

Cut to this afternoon. I'm running around, doing assorted things, trying to shower, etc. when my father hauls in this monster 3-in-1 scanner/printer/copier thing as tells me to set it up and that he needs about ten bazillion pictures scanned, etc. So I get it all hooked up, then I set up the stupid network thing-- which is really a pain in the ass where his computer is concerned because, if it were up to it, it would blithely ignore any and all associations with my computer, the stuck up little bastard. I then notice the time. I slap on a wee bit of makeup; then remembering my son's naked face, pout a bit more (I'm a good pouter). I notice that I'm running short on time so I blast my still sopping hair with the hair dryer and pray that I don't look like the Bride of Frankenstein-- though I could pull off that look today, I guess. I grab my stuff and I run and make it to the school with a few minutes to spare. Yay me!

The angel girl came out first, since she's in a lower grade than the boy. She looked adorable and terrified. She has the oddest form of stage fright, that child. Then I realize why. She took off her jeans. It's fucking cold outside and she's pantsless. I mouth to her "Where are your jeans?!" and she gives me this "Oh, shit! Busted!" look. Grr.. Then I see it.. Another zombie. With makeup on. The hell?! I'm so tempted to run up and yell at someone. Anyone. But I can't yell at the kid. Fucking makeup. I'm pouting again. Then there's the boy. He looks so cute that I giggle. He shoves his glasses up his nose and grins and waves at me and I try not to get too mom with him. But, damn, healthiest-looking zombie ever!

I did my duty and snapped pictures of the angel girl and the fleshy zombie boy. My mom insisted on a "real" camera so I don't know when I'll ever see those pictures. Maybe after next Halloween.