01 November 2009

Halloween time again


Yesterday history repeated itself in a strange kind of way. This is what I wrote last year......

We live in a small cul-de-sac off a fairly busy road in London. There are 32 houses in the cul-de-sac and everyone knows everyone else by name. Quite rare by any standards, let alone in somewhere as large as London. The children all play with one another and are in and out of one another's' houses. It was great when Kay was growing up, because, as an only child, she always had someone to play with at the click of a finger at any time of day. There is a new generation of children now since Kay outgrew such things - out playing on their bikes, pushing toy prams, playing football. The cul-de-sac is a village all of its own and we are quite separate from the goings-on in the main road. Halloween is always a special time here, when all the cul-de-sac children go around in a large clump knocking at doors to trick or treat. The grown-ups go round with them, keeping a safe distance so as not to destroy their child's feeling of independence, yet watching over them in case they fall into the wrong hands. In the past, when Kay was little, I was known to host small dinner parties for the children before the tricking and treating commenced. On the menu would be bloody eyeballs (scoops of water melon), followed by dead man's fingers (sausages) with worms in blood sauce (spaghetti in tomato sauce). Kay and I found one of the home-made menu-cards yesterday while we were searching for the battery-lit pumpkin.

Before it got dark, we prepared a basket full of chocolate mini bars to hand out to any callers that might come by and hung the plastic pumpkin on the front door.
At seven o'clock yesterday evening, then, Kay was getting ready to go out to a teenage party at a friend's house. All black dress, high heels and red lipstick. Not a pointed hat or white sheet with holes for her. Definitely not cool. Suddenly the doorbell rang. We opened the front door to find about twenty monsters, ghosts and ghouls standing on our doorstep. They ranged from those who could barely toddle and still in nappies to those who were at the age of eleven or thereabouts. All looking fabulously scary and holding out bags for their treats. Their parents stood much further back, shivering in the chilly night. Wanting them to work a bit for their treats, we playfully asked the group what they would do, if we did not give them anything. A little witch, not much older than four with blonde ringlets, acted as spokesperson at the front of the group.

"We would trick you", she shouted. The others all nodded and giggled in agreement.

"So what would that involve?", we asked.

The little blond witch thought long and hard, biting her bottom lip, and then blurted out with all the aplomb of the Godfather delivering his sentence.....


"I'd say BOO". Her little face was a picture. In fact, I'd say a real treat. The chocolate bars were passed around.

Swing forward one year to last night. A few changes but more of the same. The same little group knocked on my door, standing a few inches taller and one year older, with a few more younger ones in nappies added to the crowd. There they stood giggling and expectant. The parents stood further back shivering in the cold. Two hundred miles away Kay was getting ready for a Halloweeen party with her new friends. Was I scared by all these little ghosts and witches? Not a bit.... I felt toasty warm inside remembering the lovely times I had with Kay at that age.

10 comments:

Working Mum said...

Glad you had a nice evening even with Kay away. Hallowe'en has turned out to be quite fun evening round here now as more young families are moving onto our road. Daughter went trick or treating for the first time and when asked for a trick she said she'd tell a joke:

"Why did the camel cross the road?" she said

"I don't know" said the neighbour.

"To get to the barbers!"

No, I don't get it either, but it tickled Izzy!

June said...

Nice!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rosiero,

Great stuff. That's what Halloween should be like. I'll bet all those children went to bed with big smiles on their faces and slept soundly.

All the best

Nechtan

Gone Back South said...

I love the "I'd say BOO" threat. Precious! I've had a quick scan down your recent postings to try and catch up.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Fabulous - I loved this Rosiero. I always enjoyed Halloween at our previous home. I used to decorate the porch with cobwebs and a witches broom and hang plastic newts and spiders etc as well as lighting the "lantern", then make up bags of treats including party blowouts and poppers etc. Always had loads of ghastly and ghostly visitors and it was the youngest who were the most appealing. Don't remember if I ever got a "BOO" though. A x

Gill - That British Woman said...

this is the first year we didn't have any trick or treaters, could be the fact we have moved to the country and its too far for any trick or treaters to walk.

In our last place we would get at least 100 kids within the space of a couple of hours. I always loved the little ones costumes the best.

Keep hold of those memories.....

Gill in Canada

Flowerpot said...

Glad you had a good evening, R. And that Kay did too! We went to a 50th birthday party and saw some wonderful costumes!

Rebel Mother said...

Ahh! I love seeing the kids all dress up and coming knocking for their trick or treat. It is fun. A sense of community as well.

So pleased you had a good evening.

RMxx

DD's Diary said...

Lovely to have such good memories. I'm sure Kay was thinking of you too xx

Ellen said...

I hope that you are enjoying the fireworks this November - I can hear them whizzing and popping as I type - and that Snoopy isn't as afraid as my dog Pippa (sitting by my knee). Hope that all is on an even keel in your world. Take care. Dx