Leopards don't wear clothes

This year, Bea decided to be a leopard. Mainly, I suspect, because it gave her a legitimate excuse to growl nonstop. (This scene unfolds at least once a day: Bea growls, I yell at her to stop making that gross hairball noise, she continues, I lose my mind and flee the room.)

She did a little school activity about it, complete with invented spelling (the first we'd seen from her). She also drew a picture of herself in the leopard costume.

It bears a striking resemblance to the Angry Beavers.

Despite my best Nancy Reagan intentions, I just could not say no when the teacher asked for a parent volunteer for the class party. 

Before I got to the school, the kids had changed into their costumes and paraded around the campus. When Bea returned, I noticed that she wasn't wearing any socks. Now, I knew I sent her to school in socks. Also in leggings and a shirt that would be easy to wear under the leopard costume. I was positive. 

"Bea, where are your socks?"

"Oh, they're in my backpack."

Thinking it was strange but not any stranger than the other stuff she does (uses her pillowcase as a sleeping bag, for example), I shrugged my shoulders and turned back to passing out the craft supplies.

The teacher, having overheard this exchange, walked over.

"She insisted on taking her clothes off before putting on her costume. When I realized what she was doing, I had her go change in the bathroom."

"Um, ALL of them?" (thinking just socks, shirt, pants)

"I'm afraid so."

And so the party continued and the ghost lollipops were made and the snacks were consumed and then it was time to take off the costumes.

Bea the leopard retrieved her clothes from her backpack and strode into the bathroom. After a few minutes, I knocked on the door. She opened it, half-dressed.

"Mom, I losted my unnerwear. And I can't find a sock."

Dude. 

When she went off to another costumed school event the next day, we had to have a small chat about how we do not get completely undressed to wear our costumes and how leopards really do wear socks and unnerwears. And pants. And a shirt.