Tiny Halloween Story

During the Halloween party at my internship, I was seated next to a group of people in a circular table, wearing a skeleton costume. Next to me sat a woman in a wheelchair with pipe-cleaners arranged artfully such that her wheelchair wheels looked like spider webs. Across from me sat a husband and wife. Both were not dressed “in costume”, but the husband wore a pair of pants and a flannel shirt.

At some point, while we munched on pizza, Mr. NonCostume took several glances at my happy humanist pendant. He then asked, “Okay, what am I dressed as?”

I looked at him. I blinked. I opened my mouth to say something, thought about it, and then said, “Um.. I have no idea?” He stood, and asked if “that was better”.

No. Not so much. Mr. Flannel-and-Jeans.

Finally, he exclaimed, “I’m a Jesus-Freak!” and shot me a wide grin.

I nodded, and said, “Oh!” not sure exactly how serious he was. Once he began talking to me earnestly about how much the lord had blessed him, I gathered that he may be serious. Shortly thereafter, he showed me he and his wife’s matching wedding bands: they both had crosses on them. All the while, he shot passing glances at my little humanist.