Hapless Halloween

His costume was an original and Halloween was his favorite time of year. It wasn't the beauty of the technicolor leaves or the abundance of candy dolled out to every passer-byer on the street. Usually he avoided large crowds and stayed out of the public's eye. Not on October 31st, though. On this night he would rub elbows with people who would normally avoid him. It was a type of coming out party where the debutants couldn't discriminate from the commoners because everyone embraced a secret identity behind costumes and masks. Kids and their parents plodded up and down the streets with bags in tow while he sat on a bench and smiled.

"Look mom," she said as they passed the man. "What kind of costume is that?"

He knew there was no malice in her question and if he had a mirror he would likely agree with her inquiry. He was wearing dusty and dirty cargo pants with a sweatshirt from a college he had never visited. The wool cap on his head covered matted curls that barely snuck out from underneath its blue fibers. His boots were well-worn and comfortable but looked odd because, while they were old, he had inserted new laces in them a few days prior and there was a bold contrast.

This was his costume; His ticket to blend in by hiding in plain sight.

Families walk by and nod approvingly while he sits silently composed on the bench. He finds it sadly ironic that if the very same people walked by him 24 hours later there would be a different response. The pleasantries and greetings would likely be replaced by silence and quickened steps. But for tonight he blends in and reflects that his life is a costume for others. Something they can slip on and off in between a cup of hot chocolate and some baked pumpkin seeds. Tomorrow he will wake up in the shelter still wearing the same costume while everyone else will have morphed back into bankers and teachers and mechanics.

In 364 days it will be his turn to blend in again.