ovens and putting dishes on to heat. “The Zepf gang
will be back here in a little over half an hour. We
should get into our costumes. So should the husbands.”
As the three women changed in the third-floor bedroom, they could hear the wind begin to pick up in the
trees outside. The rain was coming down harder, too,
spattering the windows and running out of the downspouts.
Judith stared at herself in the mirror. She looked
more like a noble Roman lady than a humble slave.
The off-white gown was held on one shoulder by a
brooch that had belonged to Grandma Grover. An old
drapery cord served for the belt, and the scarf that hung
from her head was anchored by an ivory comb that was
a castoff from Auntie Vance.
“Gee, coz,” Renie said, “you look pretty hot.”
Judith had to admit that the long, graceful gown
suited her statuesque figure. “Thanks,” she said. “I
wish I could say the same for you.”
Renie tucked the head of her Daisy Duck costume
under her arm. “I thought my tail feathers were kind of
sexy.”
“Not as sexy as your big webbed feet,” Judith said,
then turned to Arlene, who looked somewhat more enchanting as Gretel, complete with long golden braids and
a gingerbread cookie embroidered on her apron. “How
does Carl feel about wearing Hansel’s lederhosen?”
“He loves it,” Arlene declared as a knock could be
heard on the door.
“We’re decent,” Judith called out.
Carl stuck his head in. “I hate lederhosen. Why
couldn’t I wear pants?”
“There’s nothing wrong with your legs, Carl,” Arlene retorted. “Just don’t walk like you’re knockkneed. And don’t forget your hat with the feather.”
The women joined the men, who had been changing
in Joe’s den. Judith thought Carl looked cute in his
Hansel outfit. With his round face and ruddy cheeks,
Joe made a presentable, if aging, choirboy. And Bill
certainly looked like Donald Duck. He couldn’t appear
otherwise, since he had his head in place along with
the rest of his costume.
“Quack, quack,” said Bill.
“Yes, you look terrific,” Renie replied, giving Bill’s
bill a tweak.
“You understood that?” Judith asked in surprise.
“Of course,” Renie answered. “Bill and I have been
married so long we can communicate in any language.”
Downstairs, Cathy was pounding at the back door.
Arlene let her daughter in. It was a tight squeeze, the
panda suit being very round and very wide.
“The head ruined my hair,” Cathy complained, batting at her blond locks with the hand that didn’t hold
