Hi, Gleeks! It's Delilah, who hasn't forgotten you. I was abroad for a while (no Internet at all), and when I got back, my computer decided that it hated me and wanted to stop working. I had saved my October chapter on it, so I'm working through the malfunctions to bring it to you without further delay. The fact that my computer is misbehaving so badly is probably part of the reason it's rather short.

I'm going away on Sunday-my parents, brothers, sisters and I are heading down to Louisiana to spend some time with my relations (grandparents, aunts, uncles and loads of cousins), so I won't be able to update during that time as my stubborn, still-not-really-working computer will not be accompanying me to Acadiana. I will, however, be bringing a notebook, so hopefully I can make some headway on November. I can still receive e-mails on my phone, so post your suggestions for November & December in your review and I'll have some ideas to work with.

In the meantime, Happy Halloween from Tina & Artie...a bit early. Enjoy!

Incognito

It was Kurt who proposed the idea. A costume party—it was a quintessentially Kurt idea, but that left one problem: costumes.

"What do you mean, we have to wear costumes?"

"Come on," sighed Kurt exasperatedly, wrinkling his brow as much as he could without putting his perfectly-moisturized skin in danger of future furrows. "Halloween is an ideal chance for each and every one of us to throw caution and propriety to the winds and indulge their wildest fashion fantasies!" He then launched into a rhapsodic soliloquy on the many and varied uses of lamé.

There was no arguing with him, not when he got that look in his eye and started rhapsodizing about the latest crazy trend he'd seen in Italian Vogue.

"How about a theme costume?" asked Tina, as they out the front doors later that afternoon.

"What kind of theme?" responded Artie, looking torn between amusement and sincere curiosity.

Tina smiled. "I don't know."

The bell tinkled as the door to the costume shop burst open. The teenaged couple that entered had no idea what they were looking for, which usually annoyed the proprietors of the shop, but today was different. It was a slow day, and waiting on a couple of indecisive high-schoolers would be a nice break in the monotony.

"Help you, dears?" asked the plump, smiling woman behind the counter.

"We're going to a costume party," began Tina, but Artie cut in, "…and we don't know what to go as."

"Not a problem, dears. Let's see what we've got in the back."

Within minutes, Artie and Tina were taking turns in the dressing room, trying on the costumes the shopkeeper brought them and critiquing each other's choices.

"Not so funny," snorted Tina, as Artie emerged in an absurd polka-dotted clown suit.

"Ha, ha…I didn't pick it out…you have a try."

Tina pulled the curtain to reveal a nun's habit. Artie raised his eyebrows.

"Definitely not." Tina pouted slightly. "I thought, after all the leather and fishnets, this would give everyone a shock…"

"Not the right kind of shock. Next, please."

The costume shop lady dug into the shelves of theme costumes, searching for the winning combination. It had to be in here, somewhere.

A knight and his lady—"I can see why armor went out of fashion—I've got enough hardware to worry about already, thanks."

Cowboys—"A cowprint mini? No, thanks."

Greek gods—"There's no way I'm wearing a dress in front of Puck and Finn and all the other guys." "It's not a dress, Artie—" "It's not pants. Next."

Gangsters—"Where, may I ask, are you planning on sticking that gun?" "You should talk—argyle and pinstripes clash, big time."

Napoleon and Josephine—"Come on, Tee, I know it's hard to tell, but I'm not really short." "Okay, okay…"

Two Musketeers—"This is all wrong without another person." "Like I'm sharing you with someone else." "Aw, Artie…"

Bananas—"No. Just—no." "Who would buy banana costumes, anyway?" "I don't know…my cousin Steve would think it's a laugh."

On and on it went. The pile of discarded costumes, masks, feather boas, plastic weapons and capes mounted.

"Tricky customers? Don't worry, we'll find what you need…" And without further ado, she disappeared into the storeroom and emerged with her arms full of still more costumes.

Artie and Tina sighed in mingled frustration and determination, preparing to get dressed for perhaps the thirtieth time that day.

Nearly two hours later, they finally emerged, bags in hand.

The party was noisy and lively. The walls had been draped with false cobwebs and eerie paintings, the kind whose eyes seemed to follow you as you walked by. Tables of delectable snacks, Halloween candy and varied desserts beckoned to the guests, though the rubber spiders and rats alongside the treats may have deterred some of the more squeamish. The dance floor was full of costumed revelers jumping and twirling to the beat. Along the sidelines, other guests gossiped, drinks in hand.

Artie and Tina made their way in, towards where they could see a group of their fellow Gleeks by the food. Brittany was not letting her mermaid costume stop her from dining on the shrimp cocktail. Mercedes and Kurt were evaluating their guests' costumes in low voices. They, too, had decided on theme costumes—very stylized, over-the-top representations of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Kurt's eyes widened as he saw the couple approaching.

"Well, well," he began, delicately re-arranging his elaborate powdered wig, "let's see."

He scrutinized the plumed hats, patches and coats bedecked with gold buttons and flamboyant embroidery.

"Pirates—classic. It has been a bit overdone in recent years, but you do pull it off…goes to show you that the right accessories can turn a cliché into a classic," he concluded, gesturing a beringed finger at Artie's simulated pegleg and Tina's jewel-encrusted sabre.

"Thanks, Kurt—your approval means a lot," giggled Tina, pulling her first mate towards the dancefloor with a roguish grin.

What did you think? Please tell me! Don't forget to send me your suggestions-even back in Cajun country, I'll be able to read your reviews. Only two months left to write...it's kind of sad, Gleeks, but it will be nice to round out the year.

Don't Stop Reviewin', cher,

-Delilah