Stolen - Jack O'Lantern
Since moving to Lower Hutt, each year we have participated in Halloween handing out chocolate bars to children who knocked on the door and declared "Trick or Treat".
Last year, we put out a glowing plastic Jack O'Lantern (Y'know, the Pumpkin) to encourage children who were trick or treating to come knocking. Word got out and soon we had every child in the neighbourhood at our door - not one of them in costume - asking for chocolates.
So this year, I put up a sign as well - "You must be in costume to be get a treat". Two kids (aged about 12) saw the Lantern and came to the font door, trying to get chocolates. I pointed out the sign, and they agreed to go and get into costume. An hour later they were back, stuffing their faces with chocolate from other neighbours - but still no costumes. So they were turned away empty handed again.
We had three other groups visit - all in costume, all supervised by a parent, and all getting a handful of chocolate each. I especially impressed by the kid in the vampire costume who had painted his face with dark circles under the eyes and blood dripping down his cheeks. (I managed to resist getting out my holiday photos from Romania to show him the sights of Transylvania)
At nine o'clock, I went out to get the Jack O'Lantern from the gate, only to find it had gone. While I know it could have been taken anyone who went by, my gut feel is the two kids I turned away have taken it. I've seen them around and I know they live around the corner, but I don't know which house.
So now all the other kids who go to the effort of dressing up miss out on seeing our cool Lantern.
Anyway, I am now more determined to stick to the 'no costume, no treat' rule next year.
Last year, we put out a glowing plastic Jack O'Lantern (Y'know, the Pumpkin) to encourage children who were trick or treating to come knocking. Word got out and soon we had every child in the neighbourhood at our door - not one of them in costume - asking for chocolates.
So this year, I put up a sign as well - "You must be in costume to be get a treat". Two kids (aged about 12) saw the Lantern and came to the font door, trying to get chocolates. I pointed out the sign, and they agreed to go and get into costume. An hour later they were back, stuffing their faces with chocolate from other neighbours - but still no costumes. So they were turned away empty handed again.
We had three other groups visit - all in costume, all supervised by a parent, and all getting a handful of chocolate each. I especially impressed by the kid in the vampire costume who had painted his face with dark circles under the eyes and blood dripping down his cheeks. (I managed to resist getting out my holiday photos from Romania to show him the sights of Transylvania)
At nine o'clock, I went out to get the Jack O'Lantern from the gate, only to find it had gone. While I know it could have been taken anyone who went by, my gut feel is the two kids I turned away have taken it. I've seen them around and I know they live around the corner, but I don't know which house.
So now all the other kids who go to the effort of dressing up miss out on seeing our cool Lantern.
Anyway, I am now more determined to stick to the 'no costume, no treat' rule next year.
posted by Michael at
10:24 AM
2 Comments:
I might soften up by then but at the moment I'm thinking of a sign on the gate saying "due to the kidnapping of "mr jack-o-lantern" last year, this year we will not be participating in halloween.
And then throw a party for our friends you'll appreciate the effort.
Although that is hard on the well behaved and cute kids...
By
Chaucey, at 12:57 PM
Go on .....Soften up. The Jack - o - Lantern was probably asking for it!
Now as you know if you don't give out treats you get tricked.
Perhaps next year use your digital camera to photograph all callers and of course all those in costume would be perfect while all those out of costume would be cheats!
By
Steven McLachlan, at 2:08 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home