October is the month the whole town remembers we're here. The racks that hold the school shows all year get rolled into the back, out come the vampires and the flappers and the gorillas, and for four weeks the shop is the busiest place downtown. Here's what you need to know to get the costume you want. Halloween costumes can be reserved with the deposit starting Friday, October 1. After that it's first come, first served.

Every Halloween has its hits, and you can tell what the summer movies were by what people ask for in September. Here's my list so far, and what I've got.

1. Austin Powers. The number one request by a mile. I have nine crushed velvet suits, mostly blue, with ruffled shirts, and the wigs to go with them. Three are already reserved for Saturday the 30th, and it isn't even October.
   
   
2. Star Wars. Ever since The Phantom Menace in May. I have twenty brown hooded robes for Jedi knights. (Between you and me, they're the monks from my Robin Hood stock, and they do beautifully.) For Darth Maul I have the black robe, and the face paint is up to you. Queen Amidala, I can come close with one red gown and a great deal of white powder.
   
   
3. The Matrix. Long black coats. I have a dozen. Buy the little sunglasses at the drugstore.
   
   
4. The seventies. Every single year. Leisure suits, wide collars, platform shoes, and big curly wigs.
   
   
5. Elvis. The white jumpsuit with the high collar and the rhinestones. I have four, in four sizes, and they're never on the rack long.
   
   
6. The Wizard of Oz. The favorite group costume. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion, so get your four together and come in at once.
   
   
7. Titanic. Still! The 1912 gowns and the evening suits haven't slowed down since the movie.

For the little ones: I'm sorry, I don't carry children's character costumes like Pikachu. The department stores have those this year, and they're going fast.

The 31st falls on a Sunday this year, and that changes things.

• Check your trick-or-treat night. When Halloween lands on a Sunday, a lot of towns set trick-or-treat for a different evening or set special hours. Call your city or town hall before you promise the kids anything.
• The parties will be Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th, so the shop will be busiest that whole week. Come in before the 22nd for the best choice.
• Daylight saving time ends at 2:00 Sunday morning, the 31st. Set your clocks back Saturday night, and you get an extra hour of party, or an extra hour of sleep, whichever you need more.
• Church folks, plan your party for Saturday. You'll thank me Sunday morning.
• Returns: since we're only open till 2:00 on the 31st, bring costumes back Monday the 1st or Tuesday the 2nd. No late fees till Wednesday.

• Makeup is better than a mask. They can see where they're going.
• Keep hems above the shoe tops so nobody trips on the steps.
• Put a strip of reflective tape on a dark costume, and send a flashlight along.
• A grown-up goes with the little ones. Always.

People are throwing costume parties for the turn of the century, and I'm already taking reservations for December 31. The idea at most of them seems to be "come as your favorite decade," so I've got a hundred years of clothes ready to go. If the computers all quit at midnight, at least you'll be dressed for it.

Call (555) 555-0119 or write to [email protected].