It’s a fine day – and evening – when you can take your two adoring daughters out for a little candy collecting on Halloween night. The older one was Dorothy, from Kansas of course, and the other a respectable and cute leopard. Getting into the spirit of the evening, I went as a monk. Well, as a leopard, the 13-month-old isn’t very frightening. She is rather cute, though. And this being her first Halloween out on the prowl for some treats, she got a chance to hold her big Jack O’ Lantern bucket and go door to door.
She started off on the step of the first house we visited and ended up being carried by daddy the rest of the night. She stayed in my arms for the six or so houses we visited with her and she managed a respectable cache of candy. Daddy was proud.
Now, the older one has less trouble going up to house and ringing a doorbell for a few treats. In fact, if there’s candy involved, she’s game. Give her a Hershey’s Kiss and she just might lead a squad on an assault of an enemy bunker. She forgets her lines sometimes (Say “Trick or Treat” honey. Now say “Thank you”) but she’s always got the candy in her bucket. Unless, of course, no one rings the bell. I think when she gets older, she’ll start doling out the tricks if some deadbeat doesn’t give up the candy. “But I rang the bell,” she says.
Last year, we visited a house with a very lovely witch who treated her very well, gave her lots of candy and was very nice. Well, as Dorothy this year, the “Wicked Witch” didn’t sit well with her.
“Is this the Wicked Witch’s house, daddy?” was the refrain at the last four or five houses we went to. “No honey, the Wicked Witch doesn’t live here.”
As we walked past the house of the lovely witch we visited last year (we didn’t stop because the light wasn’t on and unfortunately, we’ve heard that she’s getting a divorce from the Wizard and has put the house up for sale), I pointed out the house to my daughter. “Eek!” she cries. “Don’t let her get me, daddy.”
“Don’t worry honey, if she tries to get you, I’ll throw some holy water on her.”
We stayed on the other side of street.
Now, I know if the “Wicked Witch” had been holding a cauldron of candy, I might have gotten my daughter to cling to my leg as we strolled over to get a handful of candy. But on Halloween, I guess it’s better not to take any chances.