They're creepy and their kooky

By Kelly Sargent

WE HAD to do it. The voices in my head told me to. But before we take a trip down nightmare lane, I want to retell my favorite story about getting in the spirit for Halloween.

One year I dressed up as a nun. On the way into work I needed to run a couple of errands. My first stop was dropping off some things for a friend who was in the hospital with a new baby. Her husband came to the door. My arms were full, so I walked past him into the house to reach the nearest table before I dropped everything, chatting the whole way about being on my way to visit his wife and the baby at the hospital.

In my hurry I'd forgotten that I'd only met Dan briefly before, making it entirely possible that he wouldn't recognize me even in regular clothes, much less dressed up convincingly as a nun. I was in full regalia in the black and white habit complete with crucifix, rosary beads, and Bible, and my conversation about hospital visitations lent even more authenticity.

Dan was utterly dumbstruck. His mouth kept opening and closing, but nothing came out. 

At my next stop two boys were running up and down the aisles of the store like little maniacs. I gave them a stern look, and the running came to an instantaneous halt. And when I needed customer assistance, I wasn't just served with alacrity, but accorded undivided attention as never before experienced at Staples. 

I ought to rent that nun costume again. I got a lot of mileage out of it unintentionally. Just think what I could do on purpose.

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