No One Under 12 yo Allowed in Basement

This Halloween memory comes from Peter's niece Marie:

Josh, Billy from East 15th Street, Pete at Halloween party in basement

When Peter was about 17yrs old he asked my Grandparents if he could throw a big Halloween party in the basement.. Nettie and Peter said yes, and Peter set up the rules for his Halloween bash: 1) everyone had to have a costume 2) No one was allowed under the age of 12.

Well, I was 10 at the time!!!

I cried and cried to go to Peter's big bash...But I was told I was under 12...So I wasn't alowed to go. For weeks before the party everyone was getting their costumes ready. Peter was buying  decorations. I saw beer, chips, dips, cookies brought in.  And All I could do was watch and cry. All my cousins were invited because they were all older than 12 yo -- except me

I Remember sitting upstairs in my grandparent's house the night of the party. All the cousins were coming in the house with their costumes on. A pirate, a clown, a swordsman... sigh... While everyone was heading to the basement I remember standing there and sobbing because I couldn't go downstairs to the party. I could hear the voices of Peter's friends coming into the house. I could hear laughing. joking, music blasting.

I turned to my Nana Nettie and said that I really wanted to go downstairs and that it wasn't fair that Peter invited everyone else but me. She gently wiped away my tears and said "come on...hang out with Gramps and I...Midget wrestling is coming on tv "( Nana's Favorite).

As the night went on...Peter had to come up and downstairs to get ice cubes and stuff...Everytime he came up I would stand there and cry...Begging..." PLEASE...Let me come to your party!!! I'll behave!!! I'll just sit and watch..I Promise Pete...."

After about the third time he came up I stopped asking...I just stood there looking pathetic. Then  Peter turned to me on his way downstairs, and said "Come on....You can come down to the party"

I'll never forget that moment.  I Looked up at him and said, "What about your friends?? Are they going to be mad that a kid is hanging out with you??"  Peter looked at me and said, " Who cares what they think!!!  Your the only one out of all my nieces that's not there...I want you to come" 

I remember Jumping up and down and screaming on the top of my Lung's YEAH BABY!!!!!  At that moment Peter looked at me and said, " None of that shit downstairs" 

Caveman Pete and Marie sans costume

That was one of the best Halloween Parties I have ever been to...I had no costume on...I sat in the corner like I promised and just watched and smiled the whole time  Everytime Halloween comes around I think of that night...How Peter let me join his Party...Iam Forever Grateful...