Halloween preparation equals buying Pop-Tarts
Published 1:00 am Sunday, October 23, 2011
I’m not much for Halloween. The decorations on other people’s houses are nice and, as a kid, Halloween was the best.
Dress as anything from Gumby to a soda fountain and neighbors will provide bags and bags of candy? What a deal!
But as one grows older and if children are not in the picture, the give-and-take of candy just isn’t as fun. Neighborhoods are clogged with minivans and pickups. The chance for mischief is elevated. And the candy, oh the candy, have you checked the prices lately? If I am going to spend half a paycheck on a bag of candy, I’m giving it away to myself.
I will have something to give away, though, because you never know.
Years ago, living with a roommate who had similar disdain for Halloween, there were no plans to share our holiday joy with revelers. The lights were out and the TV silent.
Then a knock on the front door revealed the two small children of a co-worker, decked out in Halloween glory. In unisoned squeaky-tones, they said, “Trick or treat.”
Bachelorhood, many times, means living on what is available. Cooking real food is rare. The roommate’s staples were Hebrew National hot dogs and honey buns; I had Pop-Tarts, white bread, milk and a few “emergency” canned items. It was not a home of culinary excellence.
To the pale-blue eyes staring from behind the Superman mask, though, none of that mattered. It was Halloween and they wanted candy. I knew these children since their mother left the hospital. What to do?
“Hold on,” I said, confidently, before a kitchen dash.
Refrigerator — Milk, hot dogs and a cheese slice.
Counters — dust, some hamburger helper that was forced to help itself and a can of tuna.
Cabinets — A few cans of Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup and box of Pop-Tarts.
Had I given the kids the soup, it certainly would have found its way through the front window. The milk would have ruined the orange plastic pumpkin.
So I slipped a foil-wrapped package of Pop-Tarts into each pumpkin. The kids smiled, said thanks and walked away. The lights were back off. It was the last piece of Halloween candy I ever gave away.
But make one thing sure, come Oct. 31, there will be a package of Pop-Tarts in the cabinet — just in case.
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Sean P. Murphy is web editor. He can be reached at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com