The Odd Girl Out

by Dawn DeWinter

A true story about Halloween.

  

It's always the same on our street. At seven o'clock the little witches, goblins, ghosts, fairy princesses, Spidermen, and Boy Wizards returned to their lairs to gorge themselves on their booty.

And then the teens come out. For them it's not chill to wear a costume or to travel alone, and so they arrive in groups of four or more, always in high spirits, half expecting to be told, "No costume, no candy," but still hopeful that they'll get far more than their rightful share, because they'll eventually be seen as an opportunity to empty the candy bowl, turn off the lights, and declare an end to Halloween while it is still safe to open the door.

This time, there were eight teens on the porch. None had a costume, although all were dressed alike in the formless, unisex uniform of sloppy youth. As I started to dole out the candy to what I thought was eight girls (for that's all I could see) one of the teens at the back of the group, the only boy, piped up, "I'm a girl too."

Taken aback, all I could think to say was, "That's very modern of you." And I smiled. He smiled. The girls smiled. As they ran off to the next house, my smile lingered for a long, long time, until I suddenly thought, "You poor kid. It's going to be hell being a girl with hair as curly as yours."

-- THE END --

  

  

  

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