Halloweâen, even with all itâs skeletons and candy, had never been one of Tommyâs favourite holidays, always much too easily trumped over his budding excitement for Hanukkah. His mother for years had to actually force him into skeleton onesies - the only thing he wouldnât tear off - or into allowing her to paint his face. Heâd just never really gotten the holiday, and where everyone else went wild with mindless, youthful excitement, Tommy felt only a dull indifference. And so Tommy measured up the happy, excited feeling he felt to the âfunkyâ cigarette heâd blasted through on the walk over. Maybe a little credit was due, as well, to the costume he donned that year - a red flannel under a jean jacket, fingerless gloves with a particularly beat up pair of combat boots left Tommy feeling as though he wasnât dressed up at all. If asked, his terrible memory and even worse knowledge of film would leave him answering any questions of who he was with âthat guy from the movie with that songâ.
Perhaps - if he was feeling kind - heâd sing or drum out an excerpt of aforementioned song. But Tommy was not a kind person, and so it was likely that most would be left annoyed and guessing.
Heâd stuck, as he usually did, to the outskirts of the party: he planned, later, on singing a terrible rendition of either Monster Mash or Red Right Hand, but wasnât yet out of it enough. âHey,â Tommy said, voice almost gentle, as he ran after someone whose back looked just like someone he knew. He tapped them on the shoulder, and shuffled through his pockets. âYou know where the drinks are? Iâm losing it sober. Certifiably.â