EXTERIOR KUHN HOME — DUSK
SOUND: CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH AS TINY FEET RUN THROUGH A THICK BLANKET OF LEAVES ON THE FRONT YARD.
CHILDREN DRESSED IN HALLOWEEN COSTUMES APPROACH DOOR. KNOCK.
SOUND: HEAVY WOODEN DOOR CREEKS ON RUSTY HINGE.
DOOR OPENS.
CHILDREN
Trick or Treat!?
OLD MAN
(smiles)
Why, those are the best costumes
I’ve seen all night.
SOUND: PLOP! AS CANDY HITS THE BOTTOM OF THE TRICK OR TREAT BAGS.
CHILDREN
Thank you!
THE CHILDREN RUN OFF TO THE NEXT "HAUNTED" HOUSE.
AND REPEAT
# # #
I don’t rake leaves until AFTER Halloween. It’s my tradition. I believe that the sound of children traversing through front yards (the only day it’s really permissible), and kicking a patch through leaves is part of the ritual that is Trick or Treating.
"Crunch, crunch, crunch. Knock, knock. Creak of old door opening. Trick or Treat!?”
Treat, of course. Repeat.
I also love all the costumes. Sure, I’ll give a kid a piece of candy for just showing up (don't want to tempt the tricks), but the kids who make the effort, they get an extra piece or two. Kids (and adults, too) dress is everything from super heroes to villains.
Before the Trick or Treaters showed up, I started a new tradition: Early voting!
The voting room floor at the library wasn’t covered in autumn leaves — more like egg shells. Polite conversation. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Vote. Given an “I voted” sticker. What? No candy? Not even Circus Peanuts or AirHeads?
Candidates: Super Heroes? Villains? Trick or Treat!?
We shall see.
No matter what happens, I hope we keep in mind that what we do today will alter the lives of those little feet who trampled through our leaves last night.
Carpe Diem Life,
David Kuhn
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