I was on staff for Oak Park, Illinois' Countdown to Midnight Festival. Staffers could choose to be "official" incarnations of the characters for this event, being completely theatrical and illusory. Taking the opportunity to introduce my then-boyfriend, Matt, into cosplay, I created Cissy. I altered a gaudy dress that my mother never wore, made a hat and cape, handed the boy a wig and a cane, and we were off. This was probably my favorite cosplay experience; we enchanted and tortured all of the children, and it was delicious.