I love Halloween. It’s a complete kid holiday – dressing up in public, pretending, and getting treats. All no only allowed, but mandatory. As a kid I loved dressing up, running around after dark with friends (normally forbidden), and wondering if the bush that was moving was going to jump out and grab us. Of course, if it was giggling, the question was who was hiding. Then there was finding a good spot to jump out on other groups of kids. And trying not to giggle and get caught. High school pranks were much more interesting, but since I never got caught I’m not ‘fessing up to anything now.
Even though I’m past the age where I can do any of this, playing tricks is just part of Halloween. I don’t fill the yard with spooky things because 1 – I don’t have a yard and 2 – the preschoolers are just too cute to scare away. I will trick the trick-or-treaters though.
No, I do not do dreadful things to the candy. I also reserve my tricks for the kids who should know me by now, like the ones I’ve taught on Sunday or who’ve been my neighbors for years.
How it goes is this – they say “Trick or treat!” I yell “Yay, trick!” and snag something out of their bag. Not so easy with the kids just starting out and carrying pillowcases. That’s a pretty deep snatch. Some kids are so confused by this that I have to dip in there two or three times before they catch on. The confused looks on their faces are simply priceless. Especially from the kids I’ve done this to three years running. I did say these kids should know me.
The ones who really crack me up, though, are the ones who grin and start negotiating. “Ok, you can have the peanut butter cup (pause) but I want two pixie sticks and a bag of skittles,” or “Drop the taffy, but you can have the dark chocolate in exchange for Starbursts.”
I love Halloween!