Warm Jackets For Boys

It was mid-August, just before the start of the fall semester, and in walks Alex, the newest addition to our household of six students. Wearing shorts, t-shirt and flip-flop sandals, he had a backpack on his back, a duffle bag on one arm and a guitar on the other. I waited to see if he was heading back outside to get the rest of his stuff, he didn't. I figured he must have shipped the rest of his things - nope. This California boy figured he was all set for his freshman year at a Boston college, with what he had in his bags. His idea of winter clothing was a long-sleeved shirt, some thin pants, and a wind breaker.

He reeked of Southern California sunshine - not a clue in the world what a real east coast winter was like - temps in the 20s and lower, accompanied by wind, snow, rain. He stuck it out as long as he could in his west-coast clothes. He wore those flip-flops even as the snow fell. Once he'd had enough of icicle toes, he did eventually break down and buy close-toed shoes and a "warm" jacket. I think it was pure torture for him to spend money on himself. Alex's ultimate goal was to be poor, I think. He bought used boots at a thrift store and duct taped the toes, he ordered at restaurants by the price only, he refused anything "new" or costly - even if he didn't pay for it. He was such a strange dude to share a house with.

One day he did get a package from his mom back in California - something he had requested she send right away. Was it some winter clothing, school supplies, something practical? No way. Alex excitedly pulled out a full-sized yellow chicken costume!

I'd always heard that California was the land of fruits and nuts, and this guy was definitely nuts. A chicken costume! What was he going to do with this?

He wore it to do his grocery shopping. He wore it just to hang out with his friends at karaoke. One night I saw him just as he returned home from a restaurant . . . in his chicken suit, of course. He had entered a restaurant in the swanky part of town, then without a word, picked up the menu and looked it over. Silence grew as diners and staff watched the giant chicken perusing the menu. Alex then put the menu down and started for the front door. Someone stopped him, and in confusion demanded "You can't just walk in, look at the menu, and just leave. You have to say something!" Alex, looked back and let out a confident "CLUCK" and left.

He wore that costume to theme parties on a regular basis. Shocking as it was to my mind, somehow, hot chicks were attracted to the guy in the chicken suit. Who knew? One night there was a pretty wild party in the building next door. Alex dawned his chicken suit and headed out. A couple of hours later, he returned a wealthier man. He had sold the drunken partiers rides on the chicken. For a buck he carried folks a few yards and some all the way to their cars.

At Halloween, I saw the true genius of my goofy freshman housemate. We all knew there was a big costume party going on a few blocks away. Alex had gotten off work late and went straight to the party without a costume. Then he found out they were having a costume contest and the winner was going to get a gift certificate to The Cheesecake Factory. He couldn't resist. Alex sprinted five blocks home, and then five blocks back in his chicken costume. He made it in time for the judging and the nut-job from California won!

I don't know where he moved to next or what he's up to nowadays, but if you see a guy on the streets in a chicken suit, it just might be Alex. Whether he's giving rides for a buck, checking out the local restaurants, winning costume contests, or just doing his grocery shopping, know this - he's having a blast, living life to its fullest, squeezing every drop of fun out of each day. If you are wise, you will laugh and learn from this odd fellow. That crazy kid from California taught me just how little it takes to have a great time. Who knew that all it takes is one great costume!