Each year on Halloween,
the grown ups in our neighborhood
has a contest to see who can make their house
look haunted and the most spookiest.

This year was no different.
Our neighborhood looked like a ghost town.

Mom's afraid of the dark.
So she always takes me out
before sundown.

This year I was eight.
I was a big kid.

So...I said, "Awe...come on Mom.
Let's wait 'til it gets dark.
That's when all the big kids are
goin' out...besides..
I won't let nothin' happen to ya."

Mom said, "Oooooo. My son is my shepherd."

I said: "And though ya may walk in
the valley of death...ya will feel no evil...
'cause I'll be with you."

Mom said: "Your resemblance of your dad
will comfort me?"

"Yeah, Mom. Aside from no cactus
on my chin...I got Dad down packed."

Mom laughed.
"Well...I suppose...okay, Batman,
I guess I can play Robin for one night."

Mom said that because of my
Batman disguise.

When crickets started creakin'
I said, "Mom time ta go sneakin."

So out we went.

Mom was peeking all around
like she was expecting that
the Joker would suddenly pop out,
and make me have ta zap him.

I didn't want her ta see me laugh,
so I waited 'til she look behind us.

The second house we went to I rushed up the steps,
and rang the door bell.

A witch answered the door...and said...
"Trick-or- Treat."

I reached in my bag, and gave her
a snickers bar. She took it, said, "Thank you,"
And shut the door.

As we were leaving Mom was laughing so hard,
that she sat on the step slapping her knee.

I looked at Mom. Then I looked at the door.
Then I scooted back up and rang the bell.

When the witch answered I said,
"Hey. That's not how it was supposed to go."

She said, "Why not? I like candy too."

"I said, "But...my snickers bar...
it's the only one I had."

So the witch dropped my snickers bar back in my bag,
plus a bunch of other goody stuff.

I said, "Thank you."
She said, "You're welcome, I'm sure."

I said, "Your house is not very haunty,
and I know that's you, Auntie...
so what are you and Mom laughing for?"