MY HALLOWEEN DRESS
by Dorothy Baughman
I had just moved to my home town and was in the third grade. By Halloween I had made friends with most of my class and was rewarded by being chosen to run for queen. The other third grade class elected a king.
My Mom was not too thrilled about this because she knew I would need a long gown for the program. I had no illusions about actually winning because whoever made up the most money was elected king and queen. My mother was inventive. She bought several yards of crepe paper, orange and black, traditional Halloween colors. Having no sewing machine at the time, it was all hand stitched with ruffles around the neck and bottom and sleeves. Crepe paper is pretty durable, but my little escort stepped on the bottom ruffle and tore it, but being the little troopers we were, we kept right on going up the steps to the stage.
I knew we would not win, but we represented the third grade class with class! The boy and I went on through high school together and had children in the same grade. They played together as toddlers but my daughter and his son never got to be king and queen of the Halloween carnival! We all remain friends and I have more than once teased him about stepping on my dress! His retort: You hold a grudge a long time, Dot!"
Dorothy Baughman has been married 47 years, has three children and six grandchildren. She has written Mystery Romance books published by Avalon and for many magazines over the course of her 30+ year writing career.
