Invited to a Party and the Hosts Weren't Home

Last evening, as the sun setting light reflecting of Diablo faded, I donned my chicken mask and prepared for an eve of Ghosts and Goblins, Tricksters, and Treaters. The costumed sect began arriving on my porch promptly after dinner hour, if that still exists, making their presence known by ringing the bell next to my front door, rapping on the glass, or pounding the frame, letting their desire for chocolate and sugar, Tootsie Rolls, Dum-Dum suckers and other confectionery compilations be known. It has, I admit, been a while since I have participated in the celebration of Halloween.

There are few kids in my neighborhood so I knew front porch occupants were being driven in from another land. However, since I was not traveling to distant assignments this October, the thought of taking part in the celebration seemed enticing. It was an eve of a national party. I don't know who invited them to begin with, but every year kids show up on porches across America and adults play host. Actually an incredible concept.

Standing in front of the massive, packaged candy counter at Long's Drugs was a perplexing experience. Not knowing how many Goblins to plan for I didn't know whether to buy candy that I didn't like, so that if nobody showed up I wouldn't eat it. I knew I could give it to the girls on the 10th floor, but I am very fond of them, so it would have to be shipped up to the 11th. If I bought a nice variety of chocolate, Reeses Cups, Kit Kat Bars, and miniature Milky Way and Snickers, they may not make it home. I have been known to consume massive amounts of confection on both my best and worst days. The perplexity was solved as the clock ticked and I realized I didn't want to be late for the party on the porch. I grabbed five bags of appropriately wrapped sugar, got little change back from my fifty and darted home.

I decided early on that a Foster Farm chicken look-a-like would be an appropriate costume since my chicken clucking has become quite professional over the years. Columnists are very similar to chickens- no matter how much you cluck you are still ignored. The mask fit perfectly.

The first knock, a slight bang, on the lower portion of the door was heard at 6:05 p.m. The toddler, and his sister, and a friend stepped back after the chicken opened the door. Swapping Halloween greetings, my fist full of candy, sticks from suckers protruding through the gap of my fingers, found its way into what appeared to be a pillow case, a plastic pumpkin, and a homemade drawstring sack. Everyone was thankful that the first wave went off without a hitch.

The stream didn't flow steadily. The next knock came some fifteen minutes later, and then in intervals that seemed further and further apart. The candy bowl, which was originally heaping was still hearty after three or four groups had left the porch. My hand couldn't scoop much more at one time. So as the night went on many of the masked got more than a handful.

As I looked around my upper middle class neighborhood, most of the lights were out for the entire night. It was a depressing sight.

As Americans we have become complacent when it comes to our social obligations. And Halloween is a social obligation to the children. But yet, we shirk our duties and disguise them under the guise that it is dangerous to go door to door. We claim it is safer to have parties, to go to pre-planned functions. All of that may be true. But the spirit of Halloween, as so many know it, is to run up to the porch, bang on the door, and when it opens be able to grab a handful of junky candy.

Kids haven't nixed the festivities of Halloween. Its the adults who have decided it is easier to turn off the light, darken the neighborhood, hide in the great room under the darkness of only a TV. Its easier than it is to buy a few bucks worth of candy and join in on the fun.

Yes, complacent adults have put the damper on Halloween. Someone invited the kids to our porches in celebration and we are not home. I say buy a mask, turn on the lights, and next year join in on the fun.

Now I have to deliver this bucket of Dum-Dums to the 11th floor.