Halloween 

Trick-or-treaters were a week away.

We had two young women who

had asked for lodging with us,

a princess and a vampire.

I'd overlooked the obvious signs

of their roles in life, giving them

C-pluses for being ordinary people.

But it made my sudden realization

less embarrassing when I noticed

how self-restrained the vampire was

with her finely honed fangs, and

how nicely the princess hid her

condescension in a steady smile.

For the first time in my life,

I was prepared for Halloween,

when people dress as themselves.