Best Halloween Ever

A few years ago, some friends and I went to a local pub on Halloween night. It was a weeknight and we had not indulged in the whole costume thing, but did go to a pub that was having a costume contest. There were the normal playboy bunnies, witches and vampires and a few that were a little more over the top. One guy was wearing a fake coffin around his neck with his head popping through. Though obviously homemade, it was pretty impressive.

So, a while after we got there, we are all sitting around a table enjoying our drinks and checking out people's costumes. My boyfriend (at the time) was running really late from a rehearsal and I was occasionally glancing at my phone to make sure I'd not missed his call in the loud crowded bar. At this point, I notice a powerized wheeler chair come zipping through the front door. My first thought is, "OMG, what a tacky costume!" And as I look a little longer I feel a little guilty and ashamed realizing, this is not a costume. The man is paralyzed from the base of his neck down. He can't even move his head. There is a small tube running into his mouth that he blows to go forward and sucks to reverse. I start to wonder what sort of enjoyment he might get out of coming into a bar, but think to each his own and go about my conversation with friends.

A few minutes later, I hear his wheels turning and turn to see that the man has pulled his chair right next to mine. I smile politely and say hello. And the following conversation occurs:

Me: Hello.
Wheely: Hello. Where's your costume?
Me: Oh, I didn't have time to get one with it being a work night and all.
Wheely: Oh. Do you have any candy?
Me: No, I don't.
Wheely: I have a blow pop in my pocket if you want it?
Me(outside):Umm, no thanks. I'm good.
Me(inside): OMG, WTF? Are you seriously hitting on me?

I'm looking around the table at my friends who are pretending not to be listening and trying not to laugh. I check the time and my phone again.

Wheely: You must be waiting for your boyfriend to call?
Me: Yes, actually I am.
Wheely: Well, I guess I better BLOW on outta here then.

He laughs, wiggling the tube in his mouth. And with that, he wheels off. I look around the table and my friends burst in laughter. I was joked on for weeks about it. But what was I supposed to do? How can you be mean to a paraplegic?

On another note, I ran into the same guy a couple weeks later at a big bingo casino here in town. I can't imagine how gambling could be fun for him... watching someone else put his money in the machine and pressing the buttons for him? But you gotta admire that he doesn't let his situation get him down. Wheely still likes to party.