Tricks, Treats and sticky finger swindlers...

Another Halloween night has come and all the candy is gone!  For me personally, Halloween brings me great joy as I hand out teeth rotting goodies to children.  You're welcome dentists!  I overloaded our stash this year to well over 300 pieces of sweetness to quell the candy induced collection frenzy.  This however was not enough as well over fifty children came to our door this year.  They came decked out dressed as ninjas, firemen, witches, clowns, football players, cowboys and ghosts.  I enjoy seeing all the cool costumes and seeing their eyes light up as I give them a handful of candy.  I like hearing them say Happy Halloween, trick or treat or please and thank you as they grace our doorstep.  I like spooking them as I answer the door in costume and have our bushes rigged with eye popping sound effects.  For all of the fun though, there is always something that puts a damper on the night...

The sticky finger swindlers.

They attacked our candy stash with sly tricks of deception. The first tactic used tonight by a little girl was the "oh you have the cutest dogs can I pet them tactic".  I crouched down, with candy dish in hand, to contain the dogs so she could kneel down in the open doorway to pet them.  As she began to pet them with her right hand I noticed that her left hand had slipped into the candy bowl as she reached for a handful.  She thought she had me fooled!  In the end I still gave the little con artist two pieces of candy.   The second tactic used tonight by multiple larger groups was the "overload the doorway tactic".  The large groups crowd the door and try reaching into the bowl like it is a China Buffet food line.  Some succeed with their sticky little hands full before I have time to retreat into the entry way.  Then I open the door holding a few pieces of candy to disperse without the bowl available for the free for all.  This seems to work but in the end they still win!  Another group maneuver is to be the first to get the candy and then get behind the group and reach the bag through the crowd to get a second helping without actually being seen.  There is no real way to defeat this tactic unless you make them get in a single file line before approaching the door.  Good luck accomplishing that with children that are all hyped up on Red Bull and could strike out at any moment.  Never put personal safety in front of the candy stash!

In any event, Halloween still continues to be one of my favorite holidays!  I just have to try to stay one step ahead of the sticky finger swindlers.  At least I have 364 days to plan before next Halloween...