The PulseTeam, Book One: Origins

Chapter Sixteen: I Love Cosplay!

Part One: Who Should We Go As?

We get the notice that there is going to be a big costume party at school this Friday night from 6 to 9 o'clock, and everyone is recommended to attend, because it counts as a grade towards drama class. We can even act like who we dress up as, if we want to. That only begs the question, Who are we going to go as?

Then, as I ponder on what we all should wear to the party, Tia comes to me with a skimpy maid outfit on a hanger, and asks me if I'd approve of it. I say, "I can't really say that you should wear... this. I mean, I'd love to see you with this thing on, but I don't think that the teachers would. I'm just speaking from the standpoint of a teacher."

"Oh, okay, I'll try and find something else to wear to the party."

And she leaves. Then John comes into the room and sits down across from me, puts his head in his hands, and huffs. Out of sheer curiosity, I ask, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," he replies. "I just can't figure out what the heck I'm gonna wear to that party at school."

I say, "Yeah, I'm still trying to do the same."

"I know that it's gotta be good, somethin' sensible, but at the same time, flashy. Oooh, I could go as Sta-- but I ain't got no dreads. I can't think of nothing!"

That's when it occurs to me: Stop thinking so hard, and be yourselves; literally!

As soon as I get the idea, I say, "John, go get everyone together and meet me in the living room, would you?"

Part Two: The Answer

I get everyone together, and I start off by saying, "Alright, everyone, I've come to the realization that we all have been having some issues with what we're going to wear to the party at school. I just got a brilliant idea: Why don't we stop banging our heads up against the wall, and just go as us?"

"Sorry to break it to you, David, but it is a costume party that we're going to," says John.

"As the PulseTeam, genius!" I recant to John.

"Oh," he says, "that's what he meant."

"Yeah," I say, "that's what he meant," I say sarcastically.

"Shut up," says he.

"In any event, we will take a vote on the matter. All in favor please raise your hand and say 'I'".

They all do so.

"All opposed, you have the same right; please raise your hand and say 'Nay'".

Nobody does so.

"Great. So we can stop banging our heads up against the wall, and start focusing on more important things. Agreed?"

"Agreed," they all say in response.

"Alright then, meeting adjourned."

Part Three: The Party

It is Friday night, and as we prepare for the party, Alitia asks me, "Are you sure this is going to work? I mean, we go to school with some pretty smart people. There's always that possibility that one of them might figure us out, you know that, right?"

"Trust me," I say, "when it comes to us versus them, they'll be dumb to us completely. If Spider-Man could pull it off, we can pull it off."

"This is one of those times where I know that you've gone completely psychotic, but I love you enough to trust you more than I know I should."

"Come on, Tia, wouldn't you like to take a risk every now and then?"

"No," she says, plainly and simply.