Halloween costume
Sewn, cut, glued, and painted all by her hands, Shirley's trumpeter swan costume is a walking embodiment of her personality.
Composed of a white, hooded cape made out of an old, repurposed tablecloth, over a white, wool, cable knit dress that is sure to keep her warm in the chilly night of late October, and completed with a pair of thick, black leggings and black, knee-high rain boots. The distinctive black beak and face of the swan rest atop her head on the peak of the hood, while the wings are decorated with countless paper feathers.
Whenever someone brings up her costume, Shirley doesn't miss the opportunity to educate them about this beautiful, endangered bird of Indiana.
(The image inspiration for the costume
)
Cover story
One of her favorite nights of the year, Halloween is the one time a girl scout gets to knock on doors and receive sweets rather than distribute them. Not to mention the horror movies marathon slumber party she can finally attend as a new cadette that takes place after the trick or treating. And she will miss it all thanks to Roger Simmons!
But she is not one to back down from a challenge, and if he stops making inaccurate bird calls every time they pass eachother in the school's hallways, well, that is only a bonus.
Very independent from a young age and with numerous camping trips under her belt, her parents tend to allow her a lot of freedom without too many questions. While pretending to become too sick to attend the rest of the night's activities was a cheap trick, it was believable enough to allow her to sneak out to the Old Barnaker House. The girls will surely understand that she just had to do it!
Spooky as the stories about the house might be, Shirley is sure all the strange noises and mysterious sightings are just a bunch of rats, squirrels, and probably a very fat family of raccoons living a lavish life. Tonight will be a walk in the park compared with a primitive camping trip in the Rockies with nothing but the thin canvas of your tent between yourself and a black bear.
Extra equipment
Flashlight!!!
A couple of extra sandwiches - it will be a long night!