TESTING THE WATERS

TESTING THE WATERS

I started over – again!

! ! ! ! !

“How do I look?” I asked my husband, which I probably shouldn’t have but did.

“How are you supposed to look?” he wonders.

“Dead!” I answer.

“Then why are you still standing?” he wants to know.

“It’s a dance. Remember? My dance team is having dance-party, and we all have to dress like zombies.”

“Okay, I’ll bite! How is a zombie supposed to look?”

“Dead!” I reply.

“Do the dead really dance?” He could no longer hold back his laughter.

Shaking my head in frustration, I turn on the faucet. “Darn, I look stupid!”

“Hon, this is the third time you’ve washed off the makeup. Before you know it, you won’t have any left to use for your costume. When, again, is this dance? I know you had two costumes in mind. Have you decided on one?”

I carefully scrub and dry my face. Turning off the running water, I say, “The dance is in two days. I’ve frayed the bottom of an old pair of jeans, and I have my old red flannel shirt. I could be anything, as long as I have the makeup right. After all, people die every day so what I was while living isn’t really important.”

It’s his turn to shake his head as he laughs and walks from the bathroom. I hear him mumble, “Too bad you can’t go as Oz’s scarecrow. He didn’t have a brain, either.”

He turns on his heels and walks back to where I’m looking at the makeup I have sprawled on the countertop. “Is everyone going as a zombie?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You said something that made me think.”

I came very close to saying, Who needs a brain now? But didn’t. Smiling sweetly, I asked, “So what was your thought?”

“Well, if everyone is going as a zombie, how can you tell who’s who? After all, you’re all going to be dead, right?”

I could see how hard he tried to hide his grin but failed miserably.

Even though I really and truly hate to admit this, he was right. It didn’t matter what I wore. I could go in my pajamas, if I cared to, as long as my face resembled a zombie. I did say that we’re all supposed to be dead and people die every day, so my clothes didn’t matter.

“Darn! I spent all that time shredding the cuffs of my jeans!”

“Good thing you didn’t shred them like you did last year’s costume,” he said.

“Yeah, I was supposed to be a dead doctor and all I looked like was a bleeding green grape!”

As he put his arms around me, he said, “You were also forty pounds heavier than you are now. You looked fine then and even better now.” Then, he told me it didn’t matter how I looked; I’d always be beautiful. He encouraged me to just have fun. After all, this was a dance to raise money for the children’s coalition. Again, he was right.

“Hon, are you sure you don’t want to go? I can still get you a ticket?”

He smiled as he said, “I don’t dance, remember? You’ll have more fun hanging around with your friends than keeping me company, just sitting at a table. Seriously, I’ll be fine.”

Part of me really wanted him there and another part of me was thankful he declined. Yes, I would definitely have more fun without him there. Yes, this was a fund-raising event that my dance team was holding so I’d be with them and too busy to just sit on my butt and stare at them dancing.

I sorted my makeup once again, putting it in the order of which I’d be applying it.

Putting on my jeans and shirt, I found myself wishing I had an old pair of work boots but then, I never had a new pair since I never needed them. Oh well, sneakers will have to do.

Now for my own private dress rehearsal – or at least for my makeup, anyway.

I pulled out my old red bandana and tied it around my neck, then I got to work on my makeup.

After about forty-five minutes, I left the bathroom.

“Okay, hon, please turn around and tell me what you think.”

He slowly walked around me, then stood directly in front of me.

“Outstanding! I may not have any idea what you were before they put you I the ground, but you sure have “risen” to the occasion. The makeup is great. Now, I realize what was lacking before. Without the old clothes, the makeup didn’t quite gel. NOW? Wow! I really think you nailed it!

I went to give him a kiss and he put up his hands to stop me in my tracks.

“Whoa! Can we wait until you wash all that gunk off your face? Please?”

I laughed, turned, and walked back into the bathroom to once again, scrub my face clean.

I’d return from the grave in two days to dance the night away.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!