The Costume That Came to Life

"It was Halloween night, and Max, at the age of eight, was literally bursting with energy. He had chosen the best costume in the town – a privateer furnish complete with an eyepatch, a floppy hat, and a toy sword. Just as he was finishing putting it on, he took a last look at himself in the mirror and smiled.

“Arr, matey!” he growled out, hoping to sound like a real pirate.

But right then and there, an odd sensation engulfed him. The hat began to weigh heavier on his head, and the sword vibrated in his palm as if it were alive. He blinked, sure that he was just seeing things."

“Max, get over here!” his mother shouted from the ground floor. “Let’s go out for some trick or treating!”

He grabbed his bag of sweets and rushed out, ignoring the strange sensation. Outside, Max met his friends who were already in their own scary costumes. It was an appropriate night—there was mist swirl above the ground and street lamps were casting the eerie lights. But there was something strange that was about to happen and Max had no inkling.

Max caught a sudden tug on the sword in his hand as they started going from house to house. At the moment, in a minute and careless motion, his cap slipped down to completely cover his eyes.

“Cool!” he exclaimed, adjusting it.

“That's strange,”said Sarah, his friend who was dressed as a witch , “Did your cap just… move?”

Max tried to laugh it off. “It’s just the wind,” he said, even though he was starting to think otherwise.

They kept on walking until they got to the first house. Max raised his candy bag and, as usual, exclaimed, “Trick or treat!”

Yet, instead of the candy, the woman who answered the door gasped, “Oh my, young man, that is the best pirate voice I have heard!”

This left Max puzzled. He had not done anything out of the ordinary. That is, until he looked down and saw his plastic sword had transformed into a frighteningly real looking blade! He raised it, and his costume glimmered under the moonlight as though it had a magical aura.

"Max!" wheezed Sarah, "your outfit is so… animated!"

He shook his head, but the privateer hat dropped again, almost as if it was gesturing. Suddenly, the sword was thrust out in front of him, as if to indicate a direction he should go in.

"Eye and follow the sword, matey!" the hat said in a gravely pirate voice.

Max yelled and almost dropped the sword, “Did… did you just speak?”

“Aye, Captain,” replied the hat. “This be the night for adventure! Now, let’s go!”

Max’s friends stared, their eyes bulging.

“Did your costume just… talk?” asked Ben in a robotic voice.

“Sounds interesting,” Max said, more exhilarated than scared. “Let’s go after it!”

Not surprisingly, they hastened after the sword wielded by Max, which in turn led them away into another street filled line of eerie, vacant buildings. The shining black windows were dusty closed, while spider webs were layer over the fractured stone wall. Yet stavina edged further still, the beam of light emanating from its blade recalled.

They reached the end of the road where stood an elaborately branched oak tree with a figure leaning against it. The figure was a skeleton, long and lean, garbed in a stylish top hat and tails. Noticing the group, the skeleton once again tipped his hat, albeit with a rougher grip and spoke jovially.

“Evening, as always, and greetings, travelers! Sir Bonesworth is in attendance, ready to help you!”

Max’s companions stiffened and stared, their mouths open.

“I can’t believe it… you’re a… a skeleton that talks?” Sarah said.

Sir Bonesworth laughed, the sound making his bony structure rattle. “Just on All Hallows’ Eve only, my dear! So, what are you wonderful travelers doing at my favorite tree?”

Max had his sword angle towards Sir Bonesworth as if he was bowing. The cap made a sound, “Tell ‘I'm, Captain. We are on a quest for candies… and perhaps a little bit of X marks the spot.”

Max couldn’t believe he was doing this. “Uh… we are in the pursuit of sweet delectable. And….bounty?”

Sir Bonesworth brought his two hands together in applause. ‘Yes, indeed, there was a worthy journey! Do as I do, then. I know exactly where.’

Having ascended the companionable Sir Bonesworth’s energy yoke, Max and his extraordinarily energetic attire and fictitious companions traversed through the maze of backyards and then the misty, detached alleyways. Before too long, they were standing at the very mouth of an ancient, neglected graveyard. Dense fog spilled over the tombstones, and bizarre shapes darted around them.

“Are we sure about this?” Ben whispered.

Max grinned. “Come on! It’s Halloween, remember?”

Sir Bonesworth led them toward an impressive mausoleum that stood at the heart of the park. ‘Inside the sweet vault, it's inside, ‘ he said dramatically pointing at the big structure.

They peeked inside, hoping for a pile of webs and dust. Instead, the walls were decorated with a glistening array of candy bags! Piles and piles of chocolates, gummies, and even exotic looking candy bars were stacked high. The children gaped, their mouths dry and eyes bulging.

"Oh, my goodness! This is outrageous!" Sarah screeched.

Only a moment ago they could snatch any candy, when the tomb doors slammed shut. Max turned around, but all he could see was Sir Bonesworth smirking cheekily.

"And there is just one little problem," Sir Bonesworth said and chuckled. “In order to claim the bounty, you have to endure the Halloween challenges!”

“Challenges?” Ben complained. “Challenges are the worst.”

Sir Bonesworth raised a forefinger sternly. “There are challenges, and there is a prize. Fail Og and there’s a jail for you till the sun rises.”

Max gulped at the thought but his hat hissed at him, “Do not worry, Captain. Everyone here is smart!”

The skeleton was activated. “First riddle! Though I am not alive, I grow. I do not have lungs but I need air; what am I?”

Max pondered over it thoroughly. He turned to his friends. “It is a thing that grows… though it is not living?”

Sarah clapped her hands. "It's a fire! There's a fire!"

“Correct!” grinned Sir Bonesworth and opened his palm to reveal a small pile of candies for each of them.

Continuing, he added, “Another riddle. What has keys but opens no locks?”

The weight of Max's pirate hat was such that it seemed to squash him to aid in the problem. In a moment, he exclaimed, “A piano!”

“Right again!” curbed Sir Bonesworth with glee. More candies appeared in his hands, which the children swiftly grabbed.

Sir Bonesworth folded his hands. “One last challenge! Answer this, and the Sweet Vault is yours. Fail, and your sweet treat is turned into ash.”

The children remained silent.

“What has a heart that doesn’t beat?”

Max frowned. The puzzle was hard, but his cap was on, forcing his brain into motion.

“A heart that does not beat…” he did more to himself than say aloud. “A… an artichoke?”

The jaws of the skeleton dropped only for him to burst into laughter thereafter. “I knew it, Captain! The dessert belongs to you!”

The burial ground was suddenly brightened by the tomb and the packs of sweet turned into beautiful sacks full of gems, chocolates, and magic cakes.

Cheered and laughed, Max and his friends collected as much as they could. They filled their bags, their pockets, and even the compartments of Ben’s robot suit.

As they stepped out of the door, Sir Bonesworth tipped his hat. “It was a pleasure going on an adventure with you, young ones. I hope there will be many more exciting adventures on Halloween!”

He waved his hand and he was gone in thin air.

Perhaps one could say that on the way back home, Max's hat had a last message. ‘Ye were a great captain this evening, me hearty.’

Max smirked. “I appreciate it, captain. You weren’t so terrible either.”

When at last they reached Max’s house, his attire ceased moving, the weapon grew stiff, and the headgear was once again just a headgear. Nevertheless, Max was aware that he would always remember the Halloween night when his costume animated and took him for the greatest adventure of his life.

And as he drifted off to sleep, he thought he heard a faint murmur in the distance:

“Until another Halloween… Captain.”