Scene 6 - October 28th

Interior Coulton Library - Continuous

Quinn Kaufman

I blinked. “Fuck, I completely forgot! I’ve been so wrapped up in this new thing that I haven’t even thought about it!” I cupped my face in my hands and groaned. “God, what can I even put together in just three days?”

“You know you can just buy a costume, right?” Devon asked.

I peeled off a hand to give them a look. “You can just buy a costume. I have a reputation.” It wasn’t one I had asked for, admittedly, but at this point it would disappoint people if I didn’t live up to it.

“...I think I’m missing something.”

“One of the fraternities at UNV hosts this big costume party every year on Halloween,” I explained. “They rent out a nice big space and invite everyone in the college - it’s both surprisingly accepting and surprisingly responsible, for a frat party. They check drinking ages, designated drivers get free drinks, the frat bros themselves are constantly roaming, making sure no one is being harassed or dangerously drunk.”

“Sounds like a nice party.”

“It is. And I’ve won the costume contest for the last three years running,” I said proudly. “So I can’t show up in a store bought costume - it’s got to be something good.”

“Hm...” Devon eyed me appraisingly, probably picturing me in various costumes. “What costumes have you won with in the past?”

I raised a finger. “Freshmen year I dressed up as a wizard. I had a robe, flash paper for special effects, and a pretty realistic-looking fake beard.” Another finger. “Sophomore year I made myself up as Han Solo - the tricky part there was the makeup, more than the outfit. And the impression, too, but I managed to get it down. That was when I was starting to have less time, classes kicking into high gear.” A third finger. “And last year I had even less time, but I borrowed a leather jacket, gelled my hair to hell and back, and did an early Elvis.”

“Sounds like your best bet is something that you can do mostly with an impression, then. Can you work one up in three days?”

“For the length of a party, probably. But of who?”

“Well, you’ve got a couple different genres represented so far. The wizard is fantasy, Han is sci-fi, and Elvis is real life. Maybe someone from a romance? How about whatshisface from Pride and Prejudice?”

“No way,” I said, shaking my head. “Recognition is important for a contest like this. It’s gotta be something recognizable - people vote for things they know as much as they do for impressive costumes. If I’m up against someone who has a good costume but of someone more recognizable...”

“Fair enough,” Devon admitted. “I don’t know then.”

“I’ll have to keep thinking about it,” I said with a sigh, “and quickly.”