Halloween

First we park downtown,
We struggle out of the car.
Hoop skirts hold back the beautiful seer.
The shimmery velvet-gowned evil empress
works at freeing the little beaver from the carseat.

The stores are holding a trick or treat evening.
We start in at Heebee JeeBee's.
The owner sits astride the mechanical horse, passing out candy.
The little one learns that a big handful doesn't cut it.

Then down the sidewalk we walk,
picking up a piece here and there.
The teenagers are sharing a pillow case,
the little one has her own, with kitties.
Bold teenagers explain to each merchant,
"We're sharing a pillowcase, may I please take two?"
Polite and pleasant. Store owners smile and accede.

The little one is waayyyy down low in the crush.
Other small kids share the same fate.
I wonder how they can see anything but knees, leggy trees.
Dressed holiday windows sit for naught 'cept for parents.
The fanciest Halloween baskets and bags almost shimmer around the periphery, humbling the practical pillow cases, but no one cares.

Stumbling along with the crowd, several treats are accumulated.
Pillowcases begin to sag in one corner.

We get to Copperfields'.

We settle down into the calm and quiet of the bookstore.
Back in the dimmed children's section
the candy pumpkin is open for business!
A handful is allowed!
This is the place to be.

Teenagers head for the young adult books.
Little one peruses the goods.
She buys a tiny Cinderella sticker book which is tossed in with the candy. Teenagers are locked into the Manga books.
The beaver and chaperone wander downstairs to the used books and discover an empty store, candy 'a waitin', big handfuls allowed!

That was a serene break from the crush!

Onward, we traverse the crowds, sticking hands out through the forest.
"One candy each!" or apologetic "So sorry, we ran out." begin to slow things down.

Another break at the pizza place.
They sell by the slice and throw in a glass of water for those who thirst.
"Did you get some candy? Get some candy!" Handfuls again!

Off we go, refreshed and fed.
The pickings become thin...lots of sorries we ran out.

The old library, now a museum,
seems a good spot for meeting up with mom.
Suddenly no one's around. So dancing and chasing up and down the Arts and Crafts steps, and round the huge columns is a release!
Yelling, reading, teasing we wait.

Here she comes and they're off to D Street, land of thousands of trick or treaters goggling at the incredible creations decorating the front steps of the grand Victorians. Even a stop for parents at the Clo the Cow house, for free coffee and ice cream!

There the crush really begins.
Real Estate Agents must disclose to potential buyers,
"You'll need 200o pieces of candy on Halloween."
I'm glad we had the breaks, D Street is for the sturdy and driven.

Weary and sick, a Peter Pan cries in the darkness.
The tiger is getting a talking to.
The Genie is cold and whining.
Those in black with makeup blood running down their face get pushy.
Householders grump at the big kids.

Time to go home.
Time for teeth to be flossed and brushed.
Time to sneak some candy and fall asleep sticky.
Time for parents to secret away the bags,
candy to be doled out later, as needed.