SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

Halloween is big here at School for the Blind. Really big! Some of the kids told me several weeks ago what their costumes would be. Big Footsie always wore bat wings and walked the halls on his leash at Halloween. So naturally Alex is going to have to be in costume.

I asked my 4^th graders this morning what they thought Alex’s costume should be.  “A Big Footsie costume,” one student said.

“Yes,” another agreed. “He should be in a Footsie costume, and then we could say, ‘Hi, Big Footsie to him.’”

Another student said he should be a vampire. “Cats and vampires are a lot alike. They both have sharp teeth and can run. They can both climb trees and jump.”

I’ve actually already been looking at costumes. The next step is for Alex to go with me to try them on!  Maybe a black cat or a vampire. But  possibly a pumpkin or a dragon or a lion. He will soon have a costume, but it will be a surprise until the day kids come to the Library to trick or treat.

We don’t know what Alex thought about the suggestions. He was sleeping off one of his favorite School for the Blind breakfasts, a cheese omelette with a little bacon on the side.

He does already have a new Halloween bandana and a t-shirt. I admit I couldn’t pass it up.

One of Alex’s friends, Ms. Linda, got a preview this morning. She is retiring before Halloween, so Alex had to model his t-shirt for her.

But, shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone about it.  He won’t wear it on the job until next week.