When the kids were considering Halloween costumes, The Fonz wished Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak existed so he could go as the invisible man. I told him I’d actually read a story about scientists developing an invisibility cloak and he grew excited.
“How much does it cost?”
“It’s not for sale. It’s just an experiment.”
“Where can I buy it?”
“You can’t buy it anywhere. It’s just an experiment and they’re not going to sell it in stores.”
A few hours later he asked me again:
“Dad, I know you said they weren’t going to sell the invisibility cloak, but if they were, how much would it cost?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a million dollars.”
A few hours later:
“Dad, if I could get a million dollars, where are they selling invisibility cloaks?”
“They’re not selling an invisibility cloak anywhere. It’s not for sale.”
Two days passed before he asked again:
“Where can people buy the invisibility cloaks?”
“They can’t. Nobody is selling them. I’m sorry you got excited but you can’t buy one.”
“But I thought you said they were a million dollars.”
“That was a guess of how much they would sell them for if they were selling them but they’re not selling them.”
The next day he asked:
“How much money do you and mom have?”
I didn’t answer. Part of me was annoyed that he wouldn’t stop asking. The other part remembered what it was like to be seven and knew he was imagining impressing all his friends and playing pranks like making his teacher’s books appear to be floating in mid-air, and I really wanted him to have that invisibility cloak. Does anybody know how much they cost and where I can buy one.
…..
I’m not a bird expert, but my Dear Good Greatsby post about Spectra’s dove has brought me a number of bird-related search terms:
what does it mean if a bird poops on you
It means you have to change your shirt.
pigeons roosting on my house! symbolism
Pigeons sitting on top of your house is usually symbolic of poop literally sitting on top of your house.
…..
Only one day left to vote in the caption contest. The winner will be announced at 6AM EST, but if you’re planning your day around the announcement, make sure you know tomorrow is the daylight savings time change in many places. I don’t want anyone complaining I threw off the entire weekend schedule.
…..
This week one searcher asked:
apologies i’m sorry i didn’t come to your party
If it makes you feel any better, I don’t remember any party so I guess I wasn’t invited to my party either.
The Good Greatsby 
Kathryn McCullough
November 5, 2011
Hell, I want an invisibility cloak, as well. Think that will help me avoid the pigeons perched and pooping on my roof–not to mention, find a way around daylight savings time?
Now how much do they cost again?
The Good Greatsby
November 5, 2011
I’m guessing about a million dollars, but I’m pretty sure you can make that money back pretty quickly once you get the invisibility cloak.
Ape No. 1
November 5, 2011
I suspect the complication for your cloak hunt will be that you are possibly assuming that you buy invisibility cloaks from visible people. The search for a seller will be difficult in my opinion if my suspicions are correct.
The Good Greatsby
November 5, 2011
I wish I’d told him that. Actually, I’m going to tell him that right now.
Snoring Dog Studio
November 5, 2011
Hilarious, Ape No. 1! And so wise. I come to this blog for all the latest info on invisibility and cloaks.
She's a Maineiac
November 5, 2011
Good point, Ape!
georgettesullins
November 5, 2011
Ahhhh “I don’t know. Maybe a million dollars.” As soon as you put a price on it, it existed. What a wonderful boy that Fonz not giving up on his quest. Now his relentless goal will be how to get a million.
The Good Greatsby
November 6, 2011
I’ll get excited once I’m certain he doesn’t just plan to search for the million dollars under sofa cushions.
bigsheepcommunications
November 5, 2011
If Georgette is right, you may have inadvertently sparked Fonz’s entrepreneurial spirit. He may be the next Donald Trump (but with better hair, I assume) or Bill Gates. Looks like you won’t have to save for retirement. Nice going.
Louise
November 5, 2011
It’s amazing how determined kids can be. Your 7 year old sounds like my son. If mine knew about invisibility capes we would never hear the end of it.
Thanks for sharing!
Have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Louise
madtante
November 5, 2011
You’re raising quite the intrepid consumer, there! When he collects that life insurance money, hope he comes back to the states and fuels our economy!
jacquelincangro
November 5, 2011
Maybe The Fonz and I can pool our money together to buy an invisibility cloak. What’s that? You say it’s not for sale? But what if we throw in some Halloween candy to sweeten the deal? How about now?
I saw this article on Shanghai in the Smithsonian Magazine and thought you might be interested.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Shanghai-Gets-Supersized.html
gerknoop
November 5, 2011
I have ALWAYS wanted an invisibility cloak! Greatsby….(take a sip) where can I buy one? How much will it cost?
PS: Watched a show about a couple looking for a house in Shanghai last night to rent…they ended up looking at three. One in the middle of downtown and two in the country. They had a budget of $5,500 per month….and that is what it cost them. WOW! ….they moved from TEXAS! It was really interesting and I thought of you.
pegoleg
November 6, 2011
I wish every imaginative seven-year-old could have an invisibility cloak or a flying carpet, because that’s the age where you KNOW just what to do with such things.
pattisj
November 6, 2011
Oh, yeah, wouldn’t they have a blast?
The Good Greatsby
November 6, 2011
You’re absolutely right. I’d have a thousand uses for invisibility as a kid, but I can’t think of much I’d do with it now.
Laura
November 6, 2011
I don’t know where you can find an invisibility cloak, but I’ll be happy to sell you an invisible cloak for just $900,000.
pattisj
November 6, 2011
I didn’t get my invitation to your party either. If I’d had an invisible cloak, I would have crashed it.
Invisible Mikey
November 6, 2011
I would let Fonz borrow my invisibility cloak, but eh…I’m still using it. (I got it when I was 5. It cost about a million dollars, adjusted for inflation.)
Spectra
November 6, 2011
Just tell your son you found a moderately priced ($764,878.00) Invisibility Cloak online, and it’s in that (empty) box on the counter. When he opens it and sees nothing, you can assure him it’s there. When he excitedly puts it on,you now have the added advantage of being able to ignore him, maybe for hours on end. You could mention this one also comes with a “mute” feature (that appears to broken and is always on) so he’ll have to adjust for the fact that you can no longer hear him, either. You win points and can now sit on top of him when he dares to recline in your favorite chair. And you are not required to react to his cries of agony, either.
Win-WIn.
The Good Greatsby
November 6, 2011
That’s perfect. Yesterday I did try and introduce him to the invisible creator of the invisibility cloak.
gojulesgo
November 6, 2011
I heard a rumor that you can only acquire an invisibility cloak if you’re really good at solving riddles and distracting trolls.
On second thought, I think maybe Pauly Shore has one.
The Good Greatsby
November 6, 2011
Zing! Take that Pauly Shore.
Arindam
November 6, 2011
good one! But do n’t you think that one million dollar is little less, as approximate cost of an invisibility cloak! May be i am sounding like a seven years old boy, while asking this question! 🙂
bearmancartoons
November 6, 2011
Can always distract a kid with video games.
bluebee
November 6, 2011
Apparently, if a bird poops on you, you should buy a lotto ticket. But it only works if you’re into magical thinking…
Bridgesburning Chris King
November 6, 2011
Spectra has the perfect solution!
John Erickson
November 6, 2011
I think we both went to that party. I don’t recall it either, but there’s a few hours of my life I can’t account for. Either that, or my random blackouts are ret………………..
I’m sorry, what were we talking about again?
amblerangel
November 6, 2011
IF it were for sale, could you buy it, use it with the tags on and then return it for the million bucks back?
Dana
November 7, 2011
^^ Now THERE’S some savvy shopping! If you still had the receipt and the cloak was “like new”, I don’t see why not… There’s gotta be a 30-day return policy, right?
modestypress
November 6, 2011
It’s often said that “No one can tell if you are a dog on the Internet,” but it’s also true that no one can tell if you are invisible.
Patricia
November 6, 2011
I would like something to make the pigeon poop on my balcony invisible!
shreejacob
November 8, 2011
Oooh the things one could do with an invisibility cloak! I was at your party..I just can’t remember it..I just remember drinking out of a punch bowl….
The Hook
November 9, 2011
That cloak rocks! As did your post!