SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

It would take more than a rainstorm to dampen the Halloween spirit in the Arkansas School for the Blind Library today!  Finally Alex revealed his costume choice for all to see…he is a…DEVIL!  Complete with sparkly red horns.

And what does everyone think? Bailey, dressed as a bunny, was the first to see him today when she came to the library to get a book. Her reaction was, “Awesome!”

At 10 a.m. the elementary kids all came trick-or-treating. Alex sat in his kitty bed on the front desk and helped hand out treats. He posed with Mary, my work-study student, who was dressed as a cat.

We found that when his hat was pushed back behind his ears he was a much happier little devil than when his ears had to stick through the holes in the hat.

One of our very youngest students came ahead of the crowd. He had never met Alex and his mobility teacher brought him for a visit. Calm Alex let him explore whiskers and nose and tail and was a good teacher even in costume.

Big Footsie was good that way, too, and he was patient even when someone wanted to feel his tongue. We are thinking about him today. Footsie always wore bat wings and he walked the halls every Halloween on his leash being…well, batty! One of my favorite pictures is Footsie and Makayla on Halloween having an important discussion. They never did tell me what it was about.

One of my fifth graders, commenting on Alex’s costume, said, “It is wicked cool. But it would have looked good on Big Footsie, too!” I think she is right..

After the elementary kids were gone, Mary took Alex’s costume off and offered him some of his favorite treats.  After all, a hard-working Library Cat should have Halloween treats, too!

The afternoon brought the secondary trick-or-treaters, including Michael Jackson. By the time they all left, Alex was ready for more treats from his friend, Trinity, and a good nap. I think he is glad it will be a whole year before Halloween comes again!

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.