Halloween

Dramatis Personae 2006
Shaula, age 10, as Geisha Girl
Matthew, age 4, as The Pumpkin
Gavin & Betty as The Semi-Bored Parents

The kids' trick-or-treating began at my parents-in-law's house and soon fanned out to their immediate neighbours, followed by a short drive to Shaula's friend's (Courtney) place. After a half-dozen more homes, Matthew got into the groove of things and became pretty cocky, running and forging ahead of us to knock on the doors, tripping twice in the process. This is a far cry from his anaemic 'fraidy cat showing last year. A few more houses and it was off to Rosemary's, an ex-co-worker of Betty's. Then it was homeward bound.

Unlike the previous ten years—Hey, Winnie, quick, turn out the lamp, here come the kids!—our block was ablaze with porch lights. Maybe the forecast of good weather brought out the extra goodwill. Betty took the kids up and down both sides of the maple-strewn street to the sights and sounds of fireworks going off in the nearby park. Below is a picture of Shaula's final booty, before parental sifting. Matthew ended up with pretty much the same loot.

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As for me, I never once went out trick-or-treating. Or had friends over for my birthday. Or had many friends for that matter. Since we're on the topic of a deprived childhood, allow me to tell you something about my Christmases. Aside from the traditional Chinese red envelopes stuffed with money (and evidently, very little thought), the crowning childhood memory of my Christmas presents is when I received a restaurant-style napkin dispenser and a package of Chinese sausages from my aunt Florence—but even that was short-lived: the items were mine in name only. The dispenser and preserved meat were actually intended for my mother, so even these were taken away.

As I got older, I spent Halloween night at the local McDonalds parking lot trying to blend in with the egg throwers and petty mischief-makers. Times altogether unfulfilling and filled with angst.

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My workplace treated everybody to some Halloween goodies this afternoon. Incongruously, all they served were Chinese egg roll biscuits in no fewer than three flavours, and hundreds of bubble tea drinks in various flavours. I'm still trying to figure this one out...