halloween

it started at Kroger
Adolfo calls it Shopping

Momma, i wanna go to Shopping!

as soon as we pull up to the parking lot - he dutifully sits in the grocery cart - normally he insists on walking which means running after him the entire time - but not today

momma
where's the ghost

he clenches his hands into little fists with anticipation - he curls up in the corner of the grocery cart - i wheel him in

momma - where's the ghost!

i don't know baby

there are blow up pumpkins on display all over the store - a few blow up spiders - last week they had a blow up ghost - eight feet tall - but i don't know where he is today

so we shop quickly - i'm counting my blessings that the task is going so smoothly as i approach the checkout lanes
then adolfo shouts

momma - the ghost is going to get me!!!

he is looking up - i follow his gaze to where i see three - count them three ghosts - blown up and dangling from the ceiling smiling their creepy chillingly identical smiles - the entire time i am making my purchase and paying - my little boy is transfixed - he is fascinated, mesmerized

i don't know what's going on in his little busy head - but now i know i must have one

on my next trip - i make the purchase - i splurge the 30.00 for this giant harmless yard sentinel and as i suspected - my little boy is delighted, excited, and a little fearful

that night he kept watch from the window - was he making sure the ghost was alright? - was he afraid the ghost would come to get him - every few minutes he would announce - momma - the ghost is right there - and then dutifully return to his post at the window

i was afraid bedtime would be difficult - it was not - he slept well and woke up just fine - earnestly heading for his post at the window the next morning to see the ghost

when we took him to school - he walked in - his usual confident little strut - and announced to ms. goldie
ms. goldie - there's a ghost and he's taking care of the house
and she asks him
what's his name
and my little boy announces without hesitation
his name is john lithgow