Trick or Treat

Over the past three years, Ben has shown exactly zero interest in Halloween.  He did not want to wear a costume, he did not want to hand out candy to other kids, and he certainly did not want to go trick or treating.  This year was shaping up to be no different -- other than mild interest in carving a Jack-o-Lantern, he insisted he didn't want to dress up or go trick or treating.  We went ahead and got a pumpkin, and Ben had a good time designing and carving it.

Still, there was no indication that he wanted to do anything beyond that.  However, a few days before Halloween, things changed.  Suddenly, Ben announced, "I want to be a dinosaur and I want to trick or treat at Neighbor Dave's," ("Neighbor Dave's" being the house across the street).  It was too late for him to be dinosaur, but we did give him a choice of two "costumes" at hand -- his chef hat and apron, or his Royals shirt and hat.  Ben chose the Royals.  So, on Halloween night, we dressed Ben up as Royals designated hitter Billy Butler, armed him with a bat and prepared to hit the street.  We rehearsed the proper sequence of events:  Ring a doorbell, say "Trick or Treat", answer any questions about his costume, hold out his bucket, and say, "Thank you."  Of course, we figured it was a fifty-fifty proposition as to whether he'd actually follow this procedure at Neighbor Dave's, much less at any other houses.  If Ben made it three houses before glaring suspiciously at a neighbor and asking to go home, we'd consider the night a success.

So imagine our surprise when Ben not only stayed on script, but wanted to canvas the entire neighborhood.  He liked ringing doorbells, he stuck to his lines, he enjoyed seeing other kids in costume, and he had to be dragged home after about fifteen houses.

 Ben as Billy Butler.  To be honest, the only thing that separates this "costume" from something he might wear on the average Thursday is the eyeblack.

After much indecision, Elizabeth decided to dress as a pumpkin.

Showing off the spoils.