My neighborhood, which is flat with sidewalks, became super popular for trick-or-treating about a decade ago. Families drove in from other areas of LA, parked at the nearby schools, and made the rounds. I was thrilled, especially once our son Dalton decided I was “not allowed” to escort him tick-or-treating anymore. I’ve never met a holiday I didn’t like, but the elaborate costumes and piles of candy make Halloween one of my favorites.
Because dogs go insane over door knocking and doorbells (and we always have at least one dog), my friend JM and I sit at the bottom of my porch on Halloween night, wearing witch hats and handing out candy from a huge cauldron. Last night, I even had my K-Pop Demon Hunters playlist and speaker ready to blast the second we saw any members of Huntr/x or the Saja Boys.
Andy, who is not a holiday person, was happy to raid the cauldron, take all the Reese’s, and watch TV inside.
Generally the cauldron is emptied of candy by 8:30 PM. Until last night.
We had far fewer tick-or-treaters last night than last year or the year before. No one parked in the school parking lot, either.
Much to my sorrow, there was only ONE Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters.
We told every kid to take whole handfuls of candy. If they passed us again, we insisted they take some more. We pushed candy on every parental escort.
We flagged down adults walking their dogs AND the UPS driver, reverse-robbing them by demanding they take candy.
The horde of teens that usually comes by to mop up (maybe with a single mask or wig shared between 5 adolescent males) never showed.
We were ready to pack it in, cauldron still more than half-full, when a minivan finally stopped right in front of us. And sat there for a full minute.
JM and I saw a flap of black fabric, perhaps a Dracula cape, caught in the rear passenger door. There was movement in the car, maybe the twinkle of sparkly fabric briefly catching the streetlight.
We held our breath, like you do when you’re afraid to startle a wild animal.
Finally, the minivan disgorged a mass of costumed kids: an inflatable capybara jockey, a walking tombstone, something requiring glittery orange veiling, and more that I can’t remember because I was entranced by the capybara.
Those trick-or-treaters were bit taken aback by the enthusiastic cheering from two middle-aged white women. We had to encourage them to take as much candy as they wanted, which they did. It still wasn’t as much candy as I wanted them to take (but probably it was more than Dalton the candy hoarder wanted them to have).
Even though there were elaborate decorations and lights on all down the block, most of the group immediately returned to the minivan. Only the capybara jockey tried the house next door (yes, the one belonging to my infamous, asshole cop neighbor).
No one answered.
After the cabybara jockey returned, the minivan drove away. JM and I stared at each other, confused.
JM asked, “Um…why just your house?”
“I know, right? Every other house on the block looks like an infestation of Halloween inflatables and I just have the wreath you made me. I didn’t even do a jack-o’-lantern this year, since Andy thinks it’s a waste of money to buy food for decoration.”
Shaking my head, I looked back at my porch and its minimal fall decor.
And saw the flag I hung out months ago.
I barely notice that flag any more. But I’m glad someone else did.
Super weird that your ‘hood was abandoned this year. I’m am entranced by visions of inflatable capybaras! The world seems a little brighter knowing that such things exist!
Yeah, I think a lot of LA was quieter. At first I thought it was the Dodger game, but I suspect it has more to do with ICE.
Also: Hey, Mark: suck it! In my haste to comment, I didn’t even proofread and fix my typo. That was the level of my ardor to win.
Can I have some Reese’s as a prize if Andy hasn’t eaten them all?
Are you two having a competition? Even though I don’t have trivia? Hilarious. And yeah, Mark, you snooze you lose…although it’s Saturday, so probably you and Tara are out and about and I should probably revise to, “you booze, you lose.”
Ha! Normally we’d have stayed in, but there did happen to be a fall festival…and it was right next to our favorite bar…
Love your flag! And I appreciate Andy’s sentiment, but does anyone actually use a whole pumpkin to cook?
Well, at one time they did. But I think it’s actually a kind of squash now used for pumpkin pie filling, because pumpkins are no longer engineered to be tasty. Although my dogs loved them.
That’s what I’d always heard too.
Oh, and yes, all the Reese’s are yours…in exchange for a signed copy of your book.
Wow, I didn’t think of that as I was reading your post. We’ve had some kidnappings locally but not nearly as many as you have. It must be scary.
It is scary. I’ve even had had some assholes drive by in their massive trucks and yell obscenities at my various flags. I’m like, “OH YEAH? COME AND SAY THAT TO MY PITBULL’S FACE!”
Sure sign of intelligence! I have developed an attitude about anyone with a pick up truck especially big fancy ones. Not always deserved but it’s there.
When I was at BLM protests and protesting Trump’s first ban on Muslims at LAX, we kept track of the various pickup truck models and how supportive or hateful the drivers were. Dodge and Chevy had the most racist drivers, followed by Ford. The little Nissan white truck drivers were almost all supportive fist bumps and honks–one was even flying resistance flags. One of my white mom friends refused to let her husband buy anything but a Nissan pickup after that.
Somehow that doesn’t surprise me!
OMG I LOVE your abolish ICE flag. Yay!! The image didn’t immediately download to my computer, I was imagining it was the rainbow flag, but this was even better. Maybe you have both up?
Actually I currently have a “Vote Yes on Prop 50!” flag flying on the pole. I did have progressive pride flying in June, which is when I think I put the ABOLISH ICE out on two hooks permanently.
Omg… I literally choked up at the end of this post. Bless that little capybara’s heart.
And bless you for hanging that safe zone flag.
❤️
I know, if I’d realized they weren’t going to hit the whole block, I’d’ve given that capybara the whole cauldron. Some neighborhood in LA County were still packed, but unfortunately our area is notorious for being conservative and having the worst cops.
You made the capybara happy and proved there’s still goodness in the world. That’s a successful Halloween in my book.
A cauldron full of candy. I love it. My grandkids are all grown up, so I don’t know the music for K-Pop Demon Hunters. I have seen photos of the costumes, though.
You could be right about more people in LA staying home because of ICE.
I never have trick-or-treaters. The most popular place in Edmonds on Halloween is downtown. The stores give out candy, but the main draw is that it’s the place to see and be seen. Fantastic costumes, all ages, dogs too. Our problem this year wasn’t ICE. It was the rain.
Reverse robbing! ♀️Love your colourful writing. I’m happy Halloween isn’t that big over here, it seems a bit stressful. Though i did wake up early before school and work on Friday to do vampire makeup on my kid, because it was so important to him…
Great job, mom! Not every parent will prioritize what’s important to their kid. Especially over sleep.
This is very sad. (Let’s see if this comment goes through – my power is out so trying to comment from my phone for the first time in a long time!)
You made it through! And, yes, it did make me sad. I am pleased to report that in other, less red neighborhoods, people closed streets and set up a perimeter with folks keeping an eye out for ICE and large crowds had a great evening.
I saw someone (else) on Threads commenting that their numbers were massively down, and they put it down to the same reason (ICE). Love your banner and your moxy to keep going in the face of your neighbourhood’s right wing behaviour.
In the old days, being considered safe was simply that parents told other parents that you were safe to visit despite not having kids the same age (or that was my, albeit limited, experience). It’s a sad indictment of our times that safe means what it now does in the US. I bet the parents who brought the kids to you were so grateful to know you (and your dog) were there.
Like the others have said, this is a sad reflection of our times. And just when you think it can’t get crazier, it seems to get crazier. Honestly would have thought with a fun holiday like Halloween, people would be more excited.
If I were closer I’d rock up and help myself to your candy. Oh, but perhaps Andy finished them all even though you had a lot of leftovers.
Dalton is the one who finished all the candy. Within days. That kid can eat! Also, “Abolish ICE” is no longer enough. Next flag should arrive soon: “Prosecute ICE.”