In the fifteen years Harlow was in my life, I did not leave a light on for trick or treaters on Halloween. I knew she would bark incessantly from the time they started up the stairs until they were gone and two blocks down the street. Just the thought of it stresses me out, frankly.
When I came home this afternoon I turned off my porch light to indicate that I do not have candy and any trick or treaters would be disappointed if they stopped here. I have these white twinkle lights on my porch which are there year round, but they’re not very bright and I hoped that kids today used the same signifiers we did as kids – no porch light or jack-o-lanterns meant the owner of that house was lame and had no candy. Skip it!
This evening I heard some little feet make their way up my steps in the dark and braced myself to deliver some bad news.
The bell rang and I answered the door to three children. One about ten, the other maybe around six. They did not yell at me a “Trick or treat!” (Which was a bit disappointing. Where has tradition gone?) but I wished them a Happy Halloween, “I’m sorry, but I turned my porch light off because I don’t have any candy, but you guys look great!”
“Oh, sorry” said the oldest as he looked up at my light for confirmation. I told him it was no problem, but I just felt bad that I had no candy to give them. “That’s OK!” He responded, “thanks!’ As he herded the younger ones back down the steep steps.
At the first landing of my steps, in the pitch black, was another little one. “She doesn’t have any candy!” The exiting trio informed her. Hearing this news, she began up the stairs with a air of determination. She was about seven, this one, and she wore a headband of clear plastic lit-up spikes a with a magical horn protruding up from the middle. She wore white wings which also lit up. As she climbed the steep stairs with a full bag in her hand she proudly shared “I can give you some of my candy so you have some if someone else comes!” She looked up at me in my doorway with a slight expression of concern, sneakers on her little feet, shiny chestnut-colored bangs below her glowing crown.
“That is so generous of you, but you earned your candy, and you get to keep it!” I assured her, adding “You look GREAT!”
“Thanks!” She said, and thought a bit more, “but I have a lot of candy!”
“I can see that, and it’s very sweet of you to offer but it’s your candy”
She thought for a beat and made a decision, stating, “Well I have another whole bag and it’s full too!” As she reached in and grabbed a handful (which for her tiny hand was three pieces of candy), and handed it to me.
I could have died it was so sweet “That is so incredibly thoughtful of you! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome!” She sang as she headed back towards the stairs to catch up to the others.
Between the effects of the pandemic and information overload from our screens and society in general, I worry about kids today. But maybe the kids are alright.
