The Halloween Parade Took a Detour for Dad
Brian Armer
Dad had built the dragon’s tail at the kitchen table with his recovering knee propped on a chair. By late afternoon, Ben’s cardboard helmet finally stayed on when he nodded, and Lucy’s bee wings had survived their first flight around the living room. Dad put on the orange paper crown they’d made him, then watched them line up for the neighborhood Halloween parade. “Give me a wave when you come back,” he said. Ben looked at the chair on the porch where Dad would be waiting. “You made half the costumes.” “Then I expect half the applause.” Dad smiled, but Ben stayed by the door.
At the corner, Ben pulled his helmet up and asked Mrs. Ellis whether the parade could go past their house. It added a little distance. Lucy immediately offered to buzz faster. Mrs. Ellis looked back at their lit porch, then raised her hand to the waiting parents. A few minutes later, Dad heard the dragon before he saw anybody. He turned in his chair as a little astronaut appeared at the gate, followed by Ben marching with his cardboard sword held upright. “Your Majesty. Inspection.” Lucy buzzed up behind him. Dad sat taller beneath his paper crown. “I see we’ve brought the entire kingdom.”
He inspected the dragon’s tail very seriously. “Excellent engineering.” The astronaut got clearance for the moon. When Lucy spread her wings, Dad announced, “This bee is clearly in charge.” Ben waited until everyone had passed, then stepped onto the porch. “You didn’t have to miss it.” Dad reached out and straightened the helmet he’d spent all afternoon fixing. “No,” he said. “Apparently I didn’t.” Ben hurried after the others while Dad stayed in his chair, calling royal approval down the sidewalk. Lucy turned at the corner and gave him the biggest wave her wings would allow.
Who would you change the route for? For the hands that turn cardboard into a kingdom, keep Regenerate RX within reach for care when costume-making leaves a small skin break. An all-natural balm for damaged skin, for the people who put so much of themselves into everyone else’s Halloween.