Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

The Halloween I remember most vividly was when my son Stephen was just seven years old. His grandmother made him a costume of The Sorcerers Apprentice. Along with my wife Carol and older daughter Michelle, disguised as Snow White, we gathered
our loot bags and set forth on an adventure into a neighborhood disguised.

For some unknown reason Stephen only wanted green lollipops that year. He was so determined that he would knock and without even giving the homeowner enough time to answer, walk in, on his own, and scream, " Do you have any green lollipops!" " Stephen, that's rude" I proclaimed as I reached to pull him back onto the Mrs. Wilson's stoop. Unfortunately Stephen mostly had to settle for Snickers and bubble gum.


For me, it was an opportunity to visit neighbors and share some stories. I liked to see inside some of those McMansions up on Hampton Hill. Wow, I wonder what he does for a living? Or the old Tudor on McKinley. They went all out on Halloween. They had a grave yard out front and you could hear the theme music from Halloween, the movie, through the windows tinted in amber light. As we approached the goody basket, suddenly a lifeless scarecrow jumped to life and screamed BOO! We all jumped and then doubled over in laughter as the face of Billie Travis appeared through the make up.
Well, those times have passed although they seem like yesterday. Mrs. Wilson has passed on and Billie is now Officer William Travis. My son Stephen now has kids of his own and there is no obsession with lollipops that I know of although I'm sure they have their candy of choice. Halloween is a night when neighborhoods come alive, kids get to dress up, and fear becomes fun.