Spies R us: US kids learn art of disguise for Halloween

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — As millions of American children and adults focus on picking out their costumes or masks for Halloween, a select few have been initiated into the art of deception through disguise by experts here.

During a workshop at the International Spy Museum, 43 fledgling masters of disguise, aged nine to 12, learned the difference between donning a costume and undergoing a complete identity change.

The latter requires skills that parents -- who are banned from the three-hour workshop -- would have preferred their kids didn't acquire.

"To master the art of disguise, you have to learn to sneak around without being detected, to lie and make people believe you," agent Josie, also known as museum staff member Kim Popetz, told the group -- illustrating to...