The Purple Super Zombie

A equally hazy memory of this eerie old faded photo of me in the super monster costume . Can see the cape but it there.

The Purple Super Monster- Circa 1974 (Halloween story)

I was going through family picture again the other day in hopes of finding the picture of me in grade three. And I only recently found it. It was dress up for Halloweens that year. I went out that day to school and at trick or treating at night (very reluctant) as a Purple Super Monster. I wore of a plastic mask of ghoulish monster with undead vibe (wayyy wayyy before in was cool) with eyeball dripping halfway down his face: behind this mask I was see sawing between embarrassment and seething. The ensemble was completed with a purple cape and purple tights, bottom and top (all fairness to me mom I told her I liked purple).

That day was a bit of a nightmare, that old tradition of parading through the school in your Halloween nifty outfit. That was a day you can express and reveal a little of your inner hero. Other guys were dressed as Robin Hood, Superman, Hockey players other young girl were dressed as Ballerina, a hobo, Pretty Fairy , Raggedy Anne, etcetera .But what was I crying out to the world in my Purple Super Monster!

I remember not buying what my Mom what selling that day. She knew I like purple and we had a mask of this ghoulish monster lying around the house and voila! a new super hero complete with cape- hey it was the early 70′s Hippy Diddy. I still remember my mom boiling my underwear’s in Purple dye on the stove. I was worries “why is mom cooking my costumes”? asking anyone who would listen probably my older sister, who was dress as a hobo. The day starting with me walking to school with reticent in my purple dye long underwear complete with poop hatch in the back, pee hatch in the front and unmistakable pattern of a grid square throughout in its texture. With my purple cape Super Monster printed across it I think. Good thing I was wearing the plastic mask as incongruent as it was befitting of a super hero; ghoulish monster with a eyeball dripping half way down the face hiding my relucted face wearing underwear in public.

I can not even remember how many question I field that day, it was numerous and came rapid fire, before I had time to answer one the next question was hurl my way. Questions from my classmate were like “why are you wearing purple long underwear at school”? “how come your cape it a pillow case”? (oh that’s was the other stuff boiling in the dye with my long underwear)..” what does super monster do”? I can’t remember how many times I got that very question throughout that day but it with lots? Most of those question were not earnest in nature. And each reply was different deliver in a in less than reticence tinny voice behind my plastic monster mask.

Whilst doing trick of treat that night a corny teachers at my school lives near us..he ask me what does Super Monster do?. Behind my eyeball dripping mask I answer him…I remember it gave him quizzable pause and gave me a odd look.

During the tour of the school through grade four through eight. The minute I got into the new classroom I became a magnet of question..as I got to grade eight..it was a bit of a gong show.. these guys were hippy’s long haired some wispy facial hair, bell bottom jeans with headbands- the girls with long fizzy hairs….”far out! check out super monster!! and before long the whole class was staring at me with mirth and weird question, laughing all the while -I was too young to understand some of their jargon.

In retrospect those classmate of mine in their tidy well thought Halloween costume of their hero’s colors should have be appreciated for their outfit. If the principal at the school had a sense of humor he should send them through first-so they got their due appreciation for their costume. And then he should have pipe in over the school intercom Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplanes) ”White Rabbit” while I walk through the classes giving them the full

On a occasion these almost 50 years later I thinks of the angst I had and the costume . We has a family over the years had a few laughed talking about childhood stories this one among the many. The picture I found; was so small-obscure, hazy, fading and insufficient against a tall tale of my imagination.