This was the most fun Sunday: Halloween!

Mum brought home beautiful frocks from the thrift store. She was very proud to say they only cost $1.99 each. Lily is not impressed. She tells me she was once a witch and had her picture in the newspaper and since has had many frocks and hats and collars. She wears them, for a little while, to please Mum but she does not agree that this is the corgi way. She says the old corgis, Lovey and Megan, loved to dress up and loved to have their pictures taken but that she was never convinced. I found her basket that held leather Harley Davidson hat and jacket, a Vikings jersey and assorted plaid vests and collars with bells and sneezed from the dust. Daddy tells me about cousin Mac (the great Scottie) and his Christmas collar with silver bells. Daddy can’t help but laugh when he mimics poor Mac tip toeing in slow motion so the bells would not tinkle.

When Mum pulls on my frock I squirm because it tickles my tummy and then I wriggle when she buttons the pearl buttons up the back. She is very ceremonious when she affixes my brooch; the Order of the Thistle. The Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland. It is second only in precedence in the UK to the Order of the Garter. She kisses me on both cheeks and then laughs when I trip over the hem and end up in a ball of tulle but she pretends to be stern as she sets a glittery tiara on my head. I’m quite surprised to see how perfect it looks on a corgi head. Mine itches and I shake my head to make it fall off and Mum puts it back, wagging her finger at me but laughing all the same.

Lily lifts her chin with determination as her crown is perched between her ears. She sits still while Mum fastens the crown but I can tell she is suffering fools for this endeavor. She gets a silver marquisate thistle brooch. Mum coos and says she looks just like the Queen of England which, from just the way she says it; must be a most grand thing. Despite her silent protest, I do think Lily is rather like royalty – so dignified and superior. But I think she is blaming me. When I come close, she looks at me from the corner of her eye and sighs. “Be still, be still” she whispers as I fidget in Daddy’s arms. “This won’t take long if you’ll just be quiet!”

Mum takes out the camera and makes ‘tsk tsk’ sounds as she tries to make it do something. I hear the little bell as the lens pops out and see the little green light. That means she is taking the picture so I try to dance and sing but Daddy also says I must be still. This makes no sense to me because I always like to dance when the camera is out. Lily sits regally, her eyes half shut. I think, ‘this will never do!' We are so splendid in our royal frocks and Mum calls Lily ‘The Queen of Everything” and she calls me “The Princess of QuiteAlot” and laughs.

Matt and Jessica come to see us in our splendor and later, Daddy and Matt go to the door when there are knock, knock knocks. I sneaked around the gate, once so I can see all the strange little creatures that peep in the opened door and grab handfuls of candy from a bowl that makes scary sounds and wriggles it’s fingers when a piece is taken. I want so much to play with all these little people I forget what Daddy says and think I’ll just go out the door to play with a little quarterback. Mum scoops me up and the coach says, he has a Pomeranian at home and Mum nods knowingly. Then Mum says I am not a Trick nor Treat -- just her wee bonnie Molly May – and that is more than good enough for me.

After a while all is quiet and Daddy holds me in his lap while Mum sits on the floor with Lily. They take pictures of us on the sofa and undress us, Lily snoozes on the sofa and I try to take my lovely tiara to hide it with my toys but Daddy caught me and gave it back to Mum. I don’t know if it’s a Corgi thing or not but I very much like my pretty tulle frock and sparkly tiara and as I fall asleep I dream of how I will dance in them the next time Mum takes them out.

Happy Halloween!

The Queen of Everything

The Princess of QuiteAlot