It was a Halloween like most any other, but that would change with one simple phone call from my best friend Charlie.
"Hello," I said blandly as I grabbed my phone.
"Cheer up man! It's me Charlie!"
"Oh, hey man. What's up?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. You got big plans for tonight?"
"Well, hopefully anything that keeps me from sitting around here and answering the door for a million little rug rats."
"Then I have the perfect opportunity for you," he stated proudly.
"I'm listening."
"I just got invited to a costume party over on Broad Oak Drive."
"You mean, the Broad Oak Drive that is part of that gated community at the Country Club?"
"Yep."
"And you said it's a costume party?"
"Yeah, so you in or what?"
"I'll have to rig up something, I guess."
"Man, I'm going as a Roman senator," Charlie replied. "You know, white bed sheet for a toga and some sandals. Piece of cake."
"Well, then we'll have to go as a pair of Roman senators."
"Fair enough. I'll be by in twenty minutes."
"Thanks man, I'll be ready."
Charlie was right on time and we both had a good laugh as I climbed in his Accord. We both looked ridiculous and we knew it. We made it across town in less than twenty minutes and found ourselves at the huge wrought iron gates of Broad Oak Estates.
Charlie rolled down his window and tapped the red button below the speaker.
"Welcome to Broad Oak Estates, can I help you?" asked a friendly voice through the speaker.
"Yeah, we are hear for a party at 1317 Broad Oak Drive."
"Can I have your name, sir? I need to check the guest list."
"Right, Charlie Thomas and guest."
"Thank you sir. Enjoy your evening."
The gates began to glide open and we just smiled. Charlie drove straight ahead along Broad Oak until we spotted several cars in front of a huge red brick house. The cheapest of the cars appeared to be a Corvette and suddenly his Accord seemed completely out of place. We did not care one bit and he pulled in behind an idling limousine. We could hear the music from the backyard, but followed the marked path to the front door.
Charlie and I are in our mid-twenties and he had been invited by his new girlfriend Lisa. Her parents were the ones hosting this party. He rang the doorbell and we waited a few moments.
"She told me this would be a party we'd never forget."
"It'll have to be pretty good then to override of those from college."
"We can only hope," he replied as the door opened wide.
"Hey, Charlie," Lisa said with a big grin as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and planted a big kiss on his lips. I couldn't help but notice how absolutely gorgeous she looked in that witch's costume.
"Where's mine?" I asked jokingly.
"We both know Charlie doesn't share well," she chided playfully. "Besides, you can probably find a taker for a good Roman like yourself. Now, come in and join the party."
We stepped in the front door and looked around. The decorations seemed to cover the entire place and there had to be at least one hundred people in the great room at the front of the house. I saw a mischievous grin on Lisa's face as she gave Charlie's arm a little tug.
"What's up babe?" he asked.
"Oh, I was wondering if I could show you some of the other decorations."
"Alright, where?"
"Please excuse us," she said to be as she pulled him toward the stairs. I just smiled and began looking across the crowd.
There seemed to be a pretty good mixture of old and young. I could not see many faces, but assumed ages based on the costumes. Some of the women were dressed like Elvira, which was fine by me. Most of the guys were wearing fairly traditional outfits. A few of the women were in some pretty outrageous getups caught my attention.
One of these was a woman dressed in all tan, complete with face paint and a little matching mask. She must have seen me looking at her in her form fitting outfit and gave me a little smile. Before I could even walk her way she made her way over to me and handed me a beer.
"So, a Roman huh?"
"Good guess," I replied as I looked over her body. That was when I realized she wasn't dressed in all tan. Instead she had simply painted her entire body a tan color, with what appeared to be brush strokes meant to look like fur. I could just make out a very skimpy bikini as the only clothing on her. I was impressed.
"You like?"