I don’t usually like parties, but I’d just moved into the areas and didn’t know many people.
Besides my next door neighbor Bob did not stop pestering me that it “would be the party of the year, everyone would be there” though he was a bit vague as to who “everyone” consisted of as a whole. To save myself from another long meaningless conversation regarding the party, I caved in much to his delight. Once I had caved and the party was just days away, then Bob springs on me that the party has a theme around literature and cosplay. So, now I am stuck having already committed myself to this party and in need of a costume. Ever the “helpful” neighbor, Bob gives me a business card to his favorite costumer and all I can think is that can’t possibly be a real career path outside of theater, movie, and television productions. Not wanting to embark on another long winded conversation I quickly surrender and capitulate to a trip to the costumer.
Knowing it would only prolong the inevitable I call the costumer and check availability, of course they are open and have plenty of availability /s. I then proceed to go on what I believe will be a horrible experience. One bus trip later I am standing before this costume shop in a historic Brownstone with all of the windows blacked out, nothing sinister about it at all. I proceed up the stairs and try the door handle, surprisingly it opens smooth and quietly and I step into the entrance temporarily blinded by the transition from the bright sunlight to a subdued room lit with wall mounted gas lights. As my eyes adjust to the bizarre choice of lighting, I see her standing there before me, a Goddess in a black lace gossamer gown. I suddenly find myself at a complete loss for words, my gaze captured by her unblemished beauty and find myself staring into her blue sapphire eyes, like an infinity pool drawing me into her very soul. She asks me how she can be of assistance and I stammer that I am going to a themed party around cosplay and literature. I suddenly feel I am naked before her, her gaze is opening up my soul to her and I feel like my thoughts, my very subconscious is pierced by her eyes. Suddenly she laughs softly and beckons me to follow her into the next room, she then asks me to take a seat while she gets “exactly what you will need”.
A few minutes later she returns with 3 items a bathrobe, a t-shirt that says “Mostly Harmless”, and a towel. I can’t help myself I laugh out loud, the sound is so foreign to my ears as I don’t ever remember laughing this way ever before. “How did you know?” I asked, no longer stammering, but filled with an overwhelming sense of something. It is almost as if my entire life has led me to this very encounter. She smiles at me and says a good costumer always knows their clientele. I sat there flabbergasted, trying to wrap my mind around how she could possibly know I am a fan of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. She laughs and says “Don’t spend too much time trying to figure it out, besides shouldn’t you be asking me to join you at the party?”. I fumble with the words, “I um, uh, will you join me Friday night for a costume party?”. She replies “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, I have been waiting patiently for you”.