Halloween in a Box

Have you been to one of the Halloween superstores yet? Believe me, I have. They’re a great place to go, though I tend to only get a few pieces there each year. I prefer to put my costumes together myself to ensure I don’t encounter anyone else who is dressed just like me.

That’s harder to do these days, but back when I was a kid — back when kids got to wear costumes to school and parade through other classrooms to show them off — it was very easy to find yourself in a room where others were we...