Well, another Halloween has come and gone. I haunted the yard again and received many compliments and much praise for the work. My friend Dave, and my younger brother Simon helped by scaring our visitors, and each one receives a hearty clap on the back. There was something missing though, and I think it was the people.
There seemed to be a lot less trick-or-treaters than last year, a lot less parents following along behind. I don't think it was the weather, and we did have good candy, so I am afraid to say that I think it was fear. Not the good fear we have at Halloween because you can't quite tell if the man in the costume is a dummy or a real man who might grab you, it was a fear of real terrorists lurking in the shadows. I can't really complain, since it is understandable in the aftermath of what has happened, but it makes me sad.
I can only hope that next year we will all enjoy something closer to normal. Streets full of little kids shrieking in happiness as they are chased down driveways by pretend mummies wrapped in toilet paper, and parents congregating in vast amoebas as they discuss the latest, greatest house along the route. We will get better.
Despite my feeling of emptiness, we did have a good haunt this year! At numerous last-minute halloween sales I found great deals on many things, including some incredible tombstones! I added nine new headstones to the graveyard in front of the house (though I still used the white wooden ones from last year to fill it out) and my most expensive single Halloween purchase to date, a Lite/FX Fog Master fog machine (the one chosen by Halloween Online)! The fog added great atmosphere to our haunt and so many people asked where I got it (Spenser's Gifts at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ont.). I dressed again as the grim reaper and glided about my little cemetery with a lit candle lantern. It created a very creepy effect, especially when I walked through the fog.
Dave and Simon had much fun scaring our victims... I mean, guests. Dave wore a black cloak and a particularly gnarly wood-imp mask I picked up on sale last year. He would move from the low stone wall to the tree stump on the other side of the driveway and back, pausing to sit still so that daring TOTs could try to determine if he was, in fact real. Simon, meanwhile, in purple robe and long-haired mime mask roamed the driveway, stopping here and there to stare off in a random direction. Most people were sure he wasn't real, and as a result he seemed to cause the most mayhem when people turned their backs and he followed them silently along.
My goal was to amuse the young ones who stared at me in awe and uncertain fear. I didn't want them to cry, but to be pleasently surprised when the skeleton man waved hello, or bowed to them. As for the older kids, anyone ten or older was fair game! It was a great reward to send adolescent TOTs screaming down the street after they poked and prodded me in a sorry attempt at bravery.
Like last year we had lots of people stopping to take pictures, and gathering to talk amongst themselves about our display. Many of them had a good laugh at the expense of their frightened children! We received lots of praise for all our work, and all I can say is that we did it for them. I would like to thank all the people who came out to see it, especially the ones who kept coming back, and even the ones who wouldn't leave (they know who they are!).
We must remember that, like the fans of professional sports, without the TOTs, there would be no Halloween displays. They force us to be more creative each and every year. Next year I will add even more, maybe a wall and an arch, maybe a coffin, anything to satisfy our Halloween fans. As for you, dear reader, I hope your Halloween was a great one, and that you scared many a trick-or-treater yourself. Happy Halloween, and see you next year!
