Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

“Trick or treat!” yelled the small ghost who rang the doorbell.

Ted was tired. He had gotten this job by picking the short stick, so stuck here while the rest of the guys went to Tracy’s party. He was told he could just shut down the house, but that seemed mean. He loved Halloween, but now he was feeling mean.

“Trick” he said. He didn’t want to hurt the little ghost, or even scare him or her, he’d just run out of nice.

“OK,” came the answer, throwing Ted off.

“Huh?” he said, thinking he miss-heard the tyke.

“Trick it is,” came the voice, a tad louder, and definitely lower than a six year old.

“Sorry,” Ted said, “I was just feeling tired.”

“No taking back-sies. You get a trick.”

Well, this was a pretty snotty attitude for a little kid, suddenly Ted was angry. Missing the party, not getting any candy himself, and now this brat, giving him a hard time!

“Fine! Do your trick!”

“I’m not supposed to do the trick, YOU are!” it said, actually stamping it’s foot!”

The absurdity of the entire situation finally caught Ted. He burst out laughing. “Here,” he said finally, “take it all!” He poured all the rest of his candy into the kid’s bag, then closed the door, he was going to the party!

The ghost stood there for a second, then four more appeared around it.

“Told you it was easy! Let’s go eat candy!” they disappeared.

Ted had looked out the window to make sure the brat was gone, he saw it all. The rest of his life, every year, he insisted on being the candy man.

Who knew that the Mars crew changed costumes each year, just because it was always the best, fun night, when monitoring earth.