Each year on Oct 31st many countries, certainly most of North America celebrate Halloween.  Adolescents indulge their fantasies (with a little help from parents usually) and dress up in innovative and creative costumes.

They go out after dark and threaten innocent homeowners with the chant “Trick or Treat”.   The implication, of course, is if you don’t give me a treat I will give you a trick (ouch).

I have participated in this annual ritual probably since at least when I was 3 years old, first as a trick or treater myself, followed by enjoying the holiday as an observer,  then assisting my kids trick or treating and finally handing out candy from my various homes.

Panic Ensues

Not to gloss over it, also in my observing days, there was a little trickery executed by myself and friends, all in good fun.   This all leads me to this year’s Halloween and for me the first-time occurrence of panic.

We had provisioned for 45 trick or treaters and for the first time in over 40 years of handing out candy annually on this hallowed day we ran out of candy and had to turn off the lights and shut-down early.

“Oh no,” I thought without treats to give away I am susceptible to tricks.  Then I thought back to my own tricks like dog excrement in a paper bag set on fire placed on the doorstep just after you ring the bell and watch the homeowner stomp on shit.

Hilarious when you are 16, not so much at my current age.  Fortunately, I was not subject to any of this really funny mischievous (depends on your perspective. )

I hope all had a happy celebration, tune in to my post next year for the gruesome follow-up to yesterdays tale.