Spike and the balaclava

Not long after having enterted Junior school and when it was getting close to winter, my mum came home with a present for me. It was a blue balaclava. At the time I'd never heard of one, but she explained that if I wore it on my head that it'd keep me warm.
I think this was possibly one of the worst things that my mum could ever have bought for me as a child, as I got very attached to it. During the winter it kept me warm, however no other kids seemed to wear one. I looked like Kenny from South Park. The thing is though, as I had become quite attached to it, and as I also used to chew the part that went round my chin, I didn't want to stop wearing it.
Maybe it was a comfort thing, maybe it was also the fact that i felt a bit more mysterious and like a superhero, I'm not quite sure.
My fate was then sealed, I was then known as the odd child in the balaclava. I wore it all through the year, and when my first one had worn out, my mum bought me another one.
I wasn't picked on as such for wearing it, but all the other children certainly thought I was very odd, especially when wearing it in the summer.
After about two years I gradually wore it less and less, and eventually not at all. I have learnt one thing from this though. If I ever have children I am not going to buy them a balaclava.