"Twas Ten Days Before Halloween

The 31st, The Big Worldly Festival, was right around the corner, as the saying goes. "It's taking too long the children whined, while they played in the park. They were all so anxious and chatty, that the parents weren't able to keep them indoors today. The anticipation of dressing up in their long-awaited enchanted gowns and their spooky ghoulish costumes, along with the joy of scaring others or to be scared, while searching for doors at sundown, can be exhilarating, I remembered. Then all of a sudden, I too was becoming excited, that the 10 more days seemed like an eternity to me also. How embarrassing, I whispered, to myself.

Grandma would tell us eerie stories about Halloween, the day the ghosts and spirits come back to life and visit people. It was fun and spooky. Her stories made an indelible impression on me as a child. The Boogey Man never caught me.. because of her directions. I knew how to escape any room...if he ever showed up. Grandma did always end her tales with a light at the end of the road and tips on how to elude the bad guys. I chuckle at myself, how silly?... now that I'm an adult...I'm embarrassed to share with the children that I'm still afraid of the dark and still do hide under the covers for some solace when necessary. No one can find me under there. She had passed on the power of invisibility to me, I happily believed.

Nine months ago, I was not too pleased when the obstetrician informed me that my baby boy would be delivered on October 31st 2004 . With ten days away, I was full term and was beginning to feel some uneasiness in my lower back. I just wanted to go and lay down in my bed . The adrenaline along with the butterflies flying around in my tummy increased my heart rate and blood pressure to a greater amount. I amused myself, that my baby was turning and twisting...getting ready to meet his family and probably swatting off those winged insects that was flying around his head, since, Halloween was approaching, I smirked.. We made it home safely. I couldn't wait to pull the covers over my head.

It was a well needed nap for both of us. But as I stood up from my bed and marched into the bathroom, there was a sudden surge of pressure in my lower abdomen... I didn't know what had hit me, because my right knee was now on the floor and the left one was not. I was holding on to the towel rack and sink. Oh my, My water broke. I became tense and before i knew it... I was in labor and I was delivering a bouncing baby boy that same night. I was astonished.

The room that I was admitted to had an vacant bed located near the door, which I knew would probably be filled soon, so I took the time to enjoy the peacefulness and the cleanliness of the ward, while my newborn slept soundly, swaddled on my chest. A few hours had passed and sure enough, here came another Mother and Baby which filled the other bed in the room. She too had a beautiful baby boy. We smiled at each other in excitement and rested. The next morning, we began to talk about our new bundles of joy, interrupted periodically by the nurses checking in on us. Her last name was Myers, she stated. We then shared the names we were planning on naming our sons. Vital statistics would be here tomorrow for confirmation and documentation. So, Ms. Myers, proudly mentioned that she would be naming her baby boy "Michael"!

In fright, I blurted out, WHAT?! She instantly turned her head towards me in astonishment. Eyes wide open. I couldn't contain my reaction. I was embarrassed by my own response. She said what's wrong with the name Michael? I tried to act like it was nothing, its a nice name I said. She didn't take my answer as reassuring, she pondered then probed me further, until I asked her, in a low voice, if she knew who, Michael Myers was? She replied, No abruptly. She had never heard of a Michael Myers. It was an awkward and uncomfortable , as we laid there with the lights dimmed, in stillness for the rest of the nigh. I felt so ashamed for my own little superstitious scary thoughts, from watching those old scary movies every year around Halloween.

The next day we awoke, and the first thing she asked me, was to please share more information about the name. She had called home to ask her family and they were not aware either. So eventually, I regretfully divulge the fictional story about, Michael Myers. I also stated that, that name could cause him to be teased in school, where he can become timid and afraid as a child. I knew it was rash to make such an assumption without consideration. She thanked me and that was the end of that conversation. I was flustered and relieved.

They was discharged before we was. When the nurse came in the room to notify me that I was next and she handed me an envelope, she said it was from Ms. Myers. I opened it slowly read it in utter silence with a shamed face. The nursed quietly walked out the room.

Ms. Myers had thanked me in the note and revealed that she did not name her son Michael Myers anymore, She had changed his name to Adam Myers. I blushed but felt so alone, a shrinking feeling and I was so ashamed and totally embarrassed of my actions.