Halloween has always been a holiday solely dedicated for children to have fun. Think about it: What other purpose does Halloween serve other than dressing up, meeting your friends and family, and incessantly knocking on every single one of your neighbors’ doors? Unfortunately, many of us have grown out of trick or treating because “we’re too old” or “it’s not cool enough” or “we want to party.” (lame). Not to mention Covid has made trick-or-treating more difficult logistically; this year, we might not be able to trick or treat, even if we wanted to. For that reason, I thought it’d be nice to look back, relax, and reminisce about the Halloweens of yore. Curl up at a spoooky fire -- or tea candle -- and read with me.
Barely forcing my eyelids open, I look at the moon, up the street, and then down the street. Not a car in sight. I separate from my little group of sidewalk-following zombie-minions and trace the double yellow lines.
Piermont Avenue was always my favorite trick or treating haunt: beautiful houses, memorial park, and not to mention Rosie O'Donnell's house. She always had full size candy bars. There was always that one lady that gave out pretzels. We’d still smile and say thank you. I look down at my bag and back up the street, marveling at the lights and elaborate decorations. A thought jumps into my head, this would be my last opportunity to walk the double yellow lines all year... Oh, there’s a Snickers in my bag! I pop it into my mouth, smile, and watch the lines converge with the horizon.
A face pops through the cardboard
Skinny legs prop it up
A candy corn asks for candy corn
And pops it into their mouth.
Thank you! I turn around, look left and right, look left and right again -- oh no.
“Mom? Do you know where my friend is?They were here a minute ago?”
“They’re not with you?”
“No? Why did no one else notice this!?”
That’s not good. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no oh no.
“Get in the car.”
I got in the car. We drove back home. I prayed.
“Please. PLEASE bring our friend back to us.”
...
Ages later a knock sounds on the door. My friend walks in.
“Hey. Sorry about that. I got lost.”
“I can tell, idiot.”
“I sneezed boogers on someone’s phone.”
“DUDE! Disgusting!”
We sat, sorted, and traded candy. That year we fell asleep to the sound of Goosebumps. It was a good Halloween.