Friday the 13th Part XI: Jason Toddles to Hell

I was a kid in the 70's and 80's.

Consequently, when I see anyone in a hockey mask, unless they're under a well-lit dome and on ice skates, I get the willies.

I think Jason.

I think Friday the 13th.

I think "Keh keh keh keh..."
"Hah hah hah hah..."
"Keh keh keh keh..."
"Hah hah hah hah..."

Remember that music? Just thinking about it is enough to give me the shivers. So you can imagine how I feel about my son's latest obsession. His current favorite toy is a hockey mask.

He LOVES it. He cannot get enough of it.

No, he has not seen Friday the 13th. He's never even seen a hockey game. He holds none of the cultural or social associations that we do about hockey or masks or hockey masks. It's just something that he can put on his face.

I think he fancies himself invisible when he wears it. And who among us doesn’t want to be invisible from time to time? A little ambiguity? A little mystery?

I don’t think you necessarily have to be an adult to appreciate obscurity, whether you understand that you appreciate it or not.

When he first discovered the mask, he stood in front of the mirror raising it, lowering it, and raising it again to his face, over and over again. I think he actually wondered if he was still there when the mask was up.

Sometimes when he puts the mask on, he immediately stands perfectly still, totally motionless for a full second or two, as if to give anyone within visibility a moment to gather themselves while coming to grips with the fact that he has vanished into thin air. Then he dashes across the room, hands up claw-like, until he finally releases a "RAAAAAAHHHH!" I must say, it is excellent.

Other times, he puts it on and makes no fuss whatsoever. He simply chooses facelessness for a little while.

He dons his mask and casually basks in the anonymity. He might read a book or play with cars or stack his blocks.

Or he might just sit there quietly on the couch, watching me or his sister or the Red Dog. And I just leave him be in glorious obscurity.