Copyright–Douglas M. Macilroy
This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. This is a weekly challenge to write a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s supposed to follow the picture prompt given for the week. The host for the challenge is the talented and gracious author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture prompt is a photo supplied by Douglas M. Macilroy. Thanks Douglas.
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/18-april-2014/
THE COSTUME by P.S. Joshi
Halloween is my son Bradley’s favorite holiday. At the age of ten, this year he decided to wear a costume of his own invention.
I could hear him mumbling to himself as he searched through old junk in the attic. I finally heard him yell.
“Yes!”
He came downstairs carrying his granddad’s old diving helmet.
“This is great!” he shouted, pulling on the helmet. “I’m going outside right now to show my pal, Stuart!”
Suddenly, from outside I heard, “Oh no!” Thud!
I looked out. He was sprawled on the sidewalk, embarrassed but not hurt.
“Better pick something else, Bradley,” I advised.
Musings on Life & Experience 
I like his enthusiasm. I’m of the persuasion that nothing beats Halloween as well.
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Thanks, Adam, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. My son was like that boy. He had such a big imagination. 🙂
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Kool take. Reminds me of my daughter dressing up in her mother’s saris. 🙂
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Thanks, YS, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. My son was like that boy. Kids are great, aren’t they. 🙂
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They are. 🙂
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What a great thing to find in the attic. I suspect he still decided to wear it
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Thanks, Siobhan, for reading my story and commenting. He’d probably try. 🙂
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Perhaps when he’s older? 😉
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Thanks, MZ, for reading my story and commenting. Yes. He’s not as careful at that age and isn’t watching where he’s going with it on. 🙂
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Simple and dear. Boys will certainly be boys.
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Thanks, Alicia, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. Yes, they certainly will. 🙂
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Very real story, Patricia, and I mean real beyond your own life. Our younger daughter bought and wore a gas mask one year. Never a dull moment, although I’m happy not to do Halloween now. I’d enjoy giving out treats much more if I could make something that’s tasty and good, rather than spending a fortune on candy.
janet
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Thanks, Janet, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I know what you mean. Until all that trouble years ago with homemade treats, it wasn’t that expensive for parents. My mother used to make popcorn balls.
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Great story, capturing all that young boys are about. Well done.
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Thanks, Sandra, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. The boy in my story was like my son, so I wrote from experience. 🙂
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You made me love that little boy, Patricia. I wanted to rush out and pick him up when he fell, but I was laughing, too. It’s a beautiful story.
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Thanks, Karen, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I was writing from experience. My son loved Halloween and the costumes he could wear. 🙂
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Dear Patricia,
I raised three boys. While boys don’t call it playing dress-up, they do love wearing costumes. How many bath towels did they use to use for capes? 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I even remember me and my using several towels for capes – from Superman to He-man we were all of em ! 🙂
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Thanks, Rochelle, for reading my story and commenting. I know what you mean. My son dressed up differently every year: Superman, Dracula, a ninja, etc. 🙂
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Costumes are fun – even with minor accidents! Love doing it for my kiddo now a days –
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Thanks, Indrajit, for reading my story and commenting. I enjoyed it as a child and so did our children. Kids love to dress up and pretend. 🙂
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Not much field of vision in one of those things, especially when you’re too small. At least it served as a crash helmet when he fell over!
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Thanks, Al, for reading my story and commenting. That’s just what I was writing about. I’ve never tried one on, but I could imagine just what you said; a child would have a hard time seeing properly. Also, you’re right. It would make a great crash helmet. 🙂
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adorable story 🙂 love the kid’s eagerness and imagination.
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Thanks, K.Z., for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I got the inspiration from remembering my son when he was young. Halloween was his favorite holiday. 🙂
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Bradley sounds like a spirited young fellow. Good for him. He probably stuck with it or came up with something even more interesting. Nice read!
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Thanks, Zainab, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I was writing from experience as our son was like that boy. He had a lot of energy and a big imagination. 🙂
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it’s like learning how to ride the bike. he’d get used to it in no time. 🙂
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Thanks, Plaridel, for reading my story and commenting. He might have learned to be more careful but the fact was the helmet was too big for him and he couldn’t see properly so he stumbled and fell. Children don’t think of these things. They have to learn and sometimes those lessons are hard. The helmet probably protected his head though. 🙂
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Some things we have to grow into, huh? 🙂
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Thanks, Judah, for reading my story and commenting. Yes. He had to grow into it. It was a bit too big and he couldn’t see well enough. Hopefully he’ll be more careful from now on. 🙂
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Such a sweet story, that captures the enthusiasm and joy of youth. Can’t beat Halloween for that!
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Thanks, Dawn, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. This prompt reminded me of my son and his love of Halloween. The character in my story is like him. I think Halloween was his favorite holiday. He had such an imagination. 🙂
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they do make those helmets a bit heavy for kids, don’t they?
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Thanks, Liz, for reading my story and commenting. I’ve never actually held one, but they look heavy and cumbersome when an adult is putting one on, let alone a child. The visibility is also limited.
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My wife and I still enjoy going to costume parties. In fact, we have a huge crate of costumes and many of our friends come over to rummage through in the week prior to Halloween. One suggestion – I did stumble over the phrase, “he shouted with excitement” and caught myself thinking “how else would he shout?” Do we as readers need to be told he’s excited, or have we already concluded that from earlier in the story? I hope this makes sense.
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Thanks, Russell, for reading my story and commenting. It makes perfect sense. I’ll have to watch those phrases. You’re right. If he shouted he was excited. Thanks. 🙂
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I went over the story again and fixed the problem by using two different words to keep the word count at 100.
Thanks again, Russell.
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Ah the things that sparks a child’s imagination, I could picture this story as it happened. Nicely done.
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I’m sure a kid would go gaga over this helmet as a costume. Fun take!
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Ouch! Loved the story…could see it play out in my head!
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Thanks, Mary, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. What a great compliment! 🙂
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Made me chuckle…sounds like something boys will do. Great story!
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Thanks, HM, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I was remembering our son when he was younger and how he loved Halloween. He’d get so excited. Every year it was a different costume. 🙂
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Lovely little slice of life! Glad he was not hurt 🙂
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Thanks, JJ, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I didn’t have the heart to see the little guy get hurt. I was thinking of my son when I wrote that story. He really loved Halloween. 🙂
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Patricia, the good news is he’ll grow into it. Halloween is a magical time. Love this one.
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Thanks, DCT, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. He did grow up. I was thinking of my son when I wrote this story and he just loved Halloween. Every year it was a different costume. 🙂
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Dear patriciaruthsusan, Great story! We have raised 4 sons now with children on their own and new stories to tell. Your story is awesome and fun! At least, he didn’t shout in pain, anger, sarcasm, – I like it a lot! Well done! Nan 🙂
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Thanks, Nan, for reading my story and commenting. I’m so glad you liked it. What a great family you have! I was remembering my son and his love of Halloween when I wrote that story. My daughter liked Halloween also but in a more subdued way. 🙂
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Lovely – and it’s so true that kids don’t always think of the practicalities 🙂
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Thanks, El, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I guess that parents have to be practical for their kids at some necessary times. That’s part of being a parent. 🙂
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I can’t imagine walking around with one of those on, much less a young boy. Cute story 🙂
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XD
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I could just visualize that helmet on my head and how hard it would be to see and navigate in your story. I liked the Yes!
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Thanks, Ted, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. When I wrote that story, I was remembering my son’s love of Halloween and his enthusiasm. The “Yes!” was part of that. XD
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Ha!ha!This was a fun read Patricia-could easily see it happening:-)
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Thanks, Atreyee, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 I was remembering our son, his love of Halloween and his enthusiasm. XD
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🙂
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I absolutely adore this story. It brings the excitement of being a child at Halloween and the suspense of what might be the final costume decision! It also had a wonderful reality to it, as I can definitely imagine that the helmet would not be the easiest or most comfortable thing to wear! Though, some kids will go through the pain for the sake of a killer costume. I loved this!
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Thanks, Adelie, for reading my story and commenting. I’m so glad you liked it. I was remembering my son and his love of Halloween. Every year it was a different costume. He and a friend took pillow cases instead of bags one year and went to an apartment house where a relative of the friend lived. They really did well that year. 🙂
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Ooo yes, it always helps to have connections on Halloween! It’s been a looong time since I’ve been trick-or-treating, but it’s just about as much fun to watch the kids going around these days! 😀
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XD
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Love it. Such a real story. Poor little guy, learning about life.
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Thanks, Patrick, for reading my story and commenting. I’m really glad you liked it. XD I was remembering my son and his love of Halloween. He also suffered some of the falls of childhood but is grown now and non the worse for them. 🙂
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I love the voices in this – the thrill of Bradley and Mum’s knowing resignation. A tale that’s made me smile. 🙂
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Thanks, Sarah Ann, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. XD I was thinking of my son, his enthusiasm, and his love of Halloween. 🙂
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i love catching the enthusiasm of your young character…and of course, the concerned mom. delightful story, Patricia. 🙂
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Thanks, Sun, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. I was remembering the enthusiasm of my son at that age. 🙂
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just didn’t have the strength to hold up that heavy helmet. well done.
either i have deja vu or i already read this and forgot to comment. strange things…
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Thanks, B, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. More than one comment is fine with me. Don’t be concerned about it. XD
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This is such a cute story!
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Thanks, Tinkerbelle, for reading my story and commenting. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂 I was remembering my son when he was young, his love of Halloween, and his energy. XD
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Haha! I think Halloween is pretty fun, from what I’ve read in books and seen in movies- couldn’t experience it myself though, because here in India we don’t celebrate Halloween! Much fun to read about it anyway 🙂
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XD
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