It Works

It Works

“Trick or treat!”

I wanted to scream.

We originally bought this house in spring. I love it. The house, yard, even the look of the neighborhood. We’d been living in an apartment, small, noisy. Halloween was little, because the only kids who came in, lived here. It was over before the news ended! Not so in our new neighborhood.

My neighbor, Jill told me to expect lots of trick or treaters. Our houses were between two other neighborhoods, also lots of kids. I never liked Halloween even when I was a kid. Walking all over, begging people for candy by being cute… ukk. The first two years John did it all, and I watched TV. But that year John was away.

I actually considered turning off all the lights and pretending I wasn’t home, but I knew John would ask, he loves Halloween. He’d told me many stories, and about many costumes he and his father cooked up. He’s planning the same for when we have kids. I will choose not be included, father-kids thing! But tonight, I had to do the deed.

The first doorbell rang. I opened it to one small skeleton, no parent. I assumed the parent was hiding, letting his “skeleton” do it him (her?) self.

“Don’t you have to say Trick or Treat?” I asked, kind of dryly, after we had a staring contest for minutes.

“No,” said an adult voice, “You have to get with the flow girl!” and it suddenly grew up to about fifteen feet tall, and exploded! I woke up.

It was actually morning, on the thirty first. Ten years later, John thinks I do the most wonderful Halloweens, best on the block! Everyone says it! Our two kids absolutely love it!

Me? Just scared, but, that actually works…