Another year, another Halloween. I went out on a limb this year and bought a box of miniature Cadbury chocolate bars, in case of trick-or-treaters. Mind you, we have never had a trick-or-treater, and as you may remember Dave and I normally turn off the lights and stay in the back of the house so as not to invite any. But the new neighbors upstairs have a couple of kids, and though they're probably well past trick-or-treating age, I wanted to be prepared in case they knock on the door. They'll know whether or not we're home so hiding from them wouldn't be an option.
There's also a house a couple doors down, festooned with fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, where an American couple live with numerous small kids. I figured they might turn up too.
In any case, we're ready.
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| Found in a returned library book |
I had a funny exchange with a little girl yesterday in the Lower School, a first-grader. She asked me how old I am.
"Pretty old," I replied. "How old do you think I am?"
She thought for a moment and said, "Twenty six!"
I told her that was the nicest thing anyone had said to me for at least a month, but I was much older than that.
"Seventy nine!" she said.
Criminy.
When you are first grade, twenty six IS old!!
ReplyDeleteI also have new neighbours with kids, I'm not sure if two or three, but they're a noisy bunch so I think primary school age. Most people in these flats don't do trick or treat, including me, but my flat is close to the road so if they come knocking I have some small bags of popcorn to hand out.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly sure that around here ( and probably UK in general) kids only knock on doors where there are Halloween decorations showing, or they know the people. It wasn't a " thing" here at all when I was a kid, and not even when my boys were little. (80s)
ReplyDeleteSome years ago a gang of about 6 teenagers turned up at the door, not dressed up and one making sure we could see he had a knife....they had apparently just pulled a shrub up from a garden across the road and the neighbour followed them up our drive....... they decided to leave. Called the police and the next day one of the lads was brought to our door by his Dad to apologise! Husband didn't quite know what to say, but told him to choose his friends more wisely!
Happy Halloween to all who enjoy it !!
I think I remember you telling this story in previous years! I would say that is not typical Halloween behavior, at least not where I'm from. Although it's called "trick or treat" we never did tricks, like pulling up landscaping, and I think that's true of most kids. Teenagers are too old to be trick-or-treating anyway.
DeleteSome cities in the states (like Detroit) have a "Devil's Night" tradition that can involve crimes as serious as arson. But again, not typical of Halloween or the country as a whole.
I live in a city 50 miles west of Detroit. Devils Night activities have dropped tremendously over the past few years, thanks to neighborhood watches, scheduled activities for the youth, increased police patrols, and the removal of thousands of empty buildings. This is largely the results of the current mayor, who has now set his sights on Michigan governorship as an independent party candidate. I hope he makes it, but probably not enough voters will be willing to vote against their chosen party. Voters can be creatures of habit.
DeleteI like that skeleton in the flower bed!
ReplyDeleteI love that skeleton and the bat drawing (great energy). You look phenomenal for 79 or even 26.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that any trick or treaters will come a-knocking on your door as the experience would be too scary for them. Watchful parents will usher them past saying to the little ones, "No! Not THAT door my lovelies!"
ReplyDeleteThat is fine by me! LOL
DeleteWhen my Mum used to be a regular reader at a kindergarden, the kids would often tell her how old they are by holding up three, four or five fingers. When they asked her how old she was (already retired and in her mid-sixties then), their eyes would nearly pop out when she would hold up ALL TEN FINGERS multiple times!
ReplyDeleteThe skeleton is great, as is the drawing of the bat.
The skeleton is great - but not something you'd want to come across on a dark night after a "few" pints at the local pub!
ReplyDeleteLaughed at the youngster's choice of ages!
Reminds me of that line: 3 things that never lie--children, drunks, and yoga pants.
ReplyDeleteI love the bat! What kind of candy did you buy?
ReplyDeleteHow quickly they build you up and then whoosh your back down again, that's young children for you.
ReplyDeleteOur Indian population caught on quickly to the costume and candy side of Halloween, but haven't grasped that lights out means no candy! They still stumble up the dark path and knock and ring insistently. I don't do Halloween for reasons that don't belong in this comment, and I notice my dark house doesn't deter them!
ReplyDeleteIn such a short time you aged rather quickly! Little girls know stuff- I asked Flora to tell me the street number of her house- she said every number ever invented and it went on for about five minutes. But then, she is only four ,so, she gets a pass. The quick sketch of bat is a goodie!
ReplyDeleteGotta know when to stop pushing! When I was in Junior High for a project on the Depression we had to ask someone what it was like in that time. I asked my science teacher what it was like teaching in back then. She gently told me she was still in grade school at the time. I'm more careful now! I like the bat and hope you get kids tonight!
ReplyDeleteWhen kids ask me my age (and I am a lot older than you) I just say "I am older than dirt." Kids think it is very funny and it ends the question.
ReplyDeleteCheers Peter
I thought this was perhaps our first year as non-participants of Halloween but my youngest daughter just informed me at the bus stop that she would like to go out. I guess we'll see if she can scrounge up a costume when she gets home from school.
ReplyDeleteNever ask kids to guess your age!!!
ReplyDeleteThe first year we lived at Casa Bob y Carlos in Camden, we bought all the candies for Halloween and got excatly zero Trick-or-Treaters. I realized it's probably because we have a rather long gravel driveway from the street to the house and it can be dark at night so ... we bought no more candy and still have not had any kinds come by.
Children have no concept of age beyond the ages of their oldest siblings, if they have any. It was nice of you to provide for any trick-or-treaters who might happen by .
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had any "tricks" in my neighborhood that I can remember. Just treats. I'll take my grandsons around the block - one will be Harry Potter and the other a policeman. I'm glad the weather will be good and Grandma won't freeze or get rained on! ;)
ReplyDeleteI used to at least make an effort by carving a pumpkin and putting him on the fence in the front yard but no more. No kids around here! I figure our house already looks haunted so why bother?
ReplyDeleteI sort of love that bat.
Very nice bat drawing. I have candy for the few kids who stop by. Enough for leftovers for me and Tom.
ReplyDeleteThe number of Halloween visitors one gets is unpredictable but fun.
ReplyDeleteGood On You For Being So Neighborly - Well Done - And Terrible As It Sounds , We Are Closer To 79 Than 26 - And Yes , That Totally Sucks - Just Keep Dancing Like Nobody Is Watching
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween ,
Cheers
Should have gone with the 26. I remember when I was a teenager anticipating the change from the 20th century to the 21st when I would be 50 and I thought that was ancient. Now I'm 75 and my thoughts on old have changed considerably.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were growing up in our inner city neighborhood we only ever got a few trick or treaters and sometimes none. Out here, nary a one. I don't even buy candy anymore just on the off chance.
Kids have no concept of age. Several years ago, one of John's young neighbors asked me if I was his (John's) grandma. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteWe had nature trick or treat us last night with several large thunderstorms, so I think that may have put paid to any wanderers who may have wanted candy - just as well, as we had none. Its been a while, so also congratulations on taking a package and a date for freedom!
ReplyDeleteI love all your photos today, especially the skeleton. We haven't had a trick-or-treater in decades. People don't visit homes out in the sticks.
ReplyDeleteThat little girl's comments made me laugh out loud. Good one. I hope your preparations paid off.
ReplyDelete