I know Halloween is over and judging by my quick trip to the thrift store, Thanksgiving is just a bump in the road to Christmas, but a childhood memory is stuck in my brain. I want to share it with you.
When I was about twelve years old, I was Trick or Treating with my best friend, Mary D. The only times I got in trouble were when I was with Mary D. We didn’t get into trouble this Halloween night, but what we did could never be done today.
We were walking along Magee Ave., and not many other kids were around. I was ready to pass this dark house when Mary turned to walk up its sidewalk.
I stopped.
“Mary, nobody’s home.”
“Come on.” She beckoned me, waving her hand.
I hung back. “But no lights are on. I don’t think they’re home.” And I thought, if they are, they’ve left us a clear message.
Mary was already on the porch. I trudged up but stayed on the edge near the steps. She rang the doorbell, and we waited. No lights came on.
She rang the bell again.
“Let’s go—” I froze.
The door swung slowly open with a creaking noise M. Night Shyamalan would envy. Out jumped a man dressed as a devil twirling a noisemaker.
I grabbed the porch railing to keep from falling down the steps.
Mary was delighted.
He threw open the door and swept his arm toward the inside to welcome us.
“Uh, Mary, I don’t think…”
She was already inside.
I followed. Reluctantly.
In the kitchen, a woman dressed as a wizard was stirring a cauldron of apple cider. A gorgeous spread of Macintosh apples and freshly baked doughnuts covered the table.
This couple owned the local bakery.
How did Mary know this? She had a “sixth sense” about these things.
After eating our fill of glazed doughnuts and fried cakes topped off with warm spiced cider we headed back out. We told all the kids we saw to stop there.
This memory is seared in my brain. I think of it every Halloween and wish those simple days were still here so our kids and grandkids could enjoy a scare and a treat like that.
What is your favorite Halloween memory? Maybe it just happened this year. Leave a comment and let me know more. I’d love to hear from you.