The Night I Screamed On Halloween
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 7:23PM
A few years ago, I told my mother about the scariest Halloween I ever had. I was with a friend from the neighborhood. She questioned whether she would have let me venture out without her at the tender age of 6, but I wasn’t alone, I reminded her. Besides, times were different then. We left our windows open all day and night during hot summer months because air conditioning was a luxury. Screens were what separated us from the outside world. Crime wasn’t something that was ever present in our minds. Heck, we left our front doors unlocked. It was a different era…
It was a chilly autumn night, that Halloween of 1958. It was my first foray out alone. Well, not really alone. I was with a classmate, Harold. We had planned on doing this, by hook or by crook, and no mothers were going to be allowed to come with us! We were out to prove we were men that night, or so I thought, as we ventured out into the early evening. Harold and I were instructed to make our rounds and come home after full darkness fell.
There were lots of other children in all sorts of costumes roaming around, stopping at most of the two story homes in our close knit community. Many were decorated and they seemed like the most inviting - the ones that would give out the best candy!
I remember watching candlelit pumpkins flicker with each eerie twist and turn throughout the neighborhood. Skeletons hung from trees and porches, swaying in the cool, gentle breezes. We spoke of ghosts and goblins and stayed away from dark alleys and back yards — not to mention the houses with no lights — because it meant they were going to grab us and take us down into the dank basement where we’d never be seen again. Or else it meant they weren’t home, but we weren’t going to take any chances.
I had a big brown double paper shopping bag to fill up. That was my mission. There were no paper or plastic options at the grocery store back then. Those were the days when milkmen left glass bottles at your doorstep and rabbit ears or rooftop antennas were the best way to watch black & white televisions. Color TV? Hahahahaha!
Harold wanted to finish the night at his house. After all, we did start at mine. I had never been there before. He lived a handful of houses up; across street from me, and when you’re only six, that’s pretty far away. I wasn’t too crazy about being almost out of sight of my own place. At that tender age, the world isn’t all that big.
Around and around the neighborhood we went. Back and forth, up and down paved streets; to the left and to the right, including places we’d never been. We visited hundreds of homes, or so it seemed. Eventually, we worked our way to his house. It was now dark and I remembered what my mother told me. We’d been out long enough and both of us had plenty of goodies to last a long time. Most importantly, it was a school night.
When we arrived, we walked up the sidewalk and climbed the stairs of his front porch. The porch light was off and it was downright sinister. Pure evil was lurking about. I knew it.
“Are you sure your parents are home?” I asked. We knocked and, in a snap, the door swung open. There stood Harold’s father.
“TRICK OR TREAT!” We screamed in unison.
“I want to see a trick,” he responded. A trick? I didn’t know what he was talking about. Saying trick or treat meant that we were going to get candy. That’s it. What was this trick thing all about?
“When you say trick or treat, I can ask you to do a trick first. Then I give you a treat. Do you have a trick for me?”
Harold and I gave each other a puzzled look and said, “Huh? Nooooo???”
“Well, then, I have a trick for you,” and just like that, his top teeth jutted far out of his mouth and quickly slid back in. I froze dead in my tracks and just stared up at him. Then… he did it again! Those teeth popped out of his face and dangled for a second before disappearing back inside his mouth.
WHOA!!! I let out a blood curdling scream that must have awakened the dead. Today, anyone within hearing range would have called 911 after hearing the panic in my voice. I turned to run but, suddenly, Harold’s mother appeared from behind the door. She quickly came out to comfort me.
“Did you see what he did? He… he…”
“Yes, yes,” she answered, as she wrapped her arms around me. Whatever his name was, she sure did scold him.
“He shouldn’t have done that.” The guy was rolling on the floor, laughing like crazy. I didn’t know what to do, but I wanted to get away from there fast. “When people’s teeth go bad, the dentist has to pull them out. Then, he gives you new ones - FALSE ONES - to chew your food and have a nice smile. They come out of your mouth and you put them back in over your toothless gums. They’re not real.”
She turned to him and demanded an apology. Me? I was trying to figure out why a grown man didn’t have any teeth, but I was too frightened to give it much thought.
I don’t remember if he said I’m sorry or not, but I doubt it. He was still laughing, I’m sure, and I was still shaking in my boots. She said she would walk me home. I was not about ready to tremble back by myself. Not after that! When I got home, she explained the incident to my mother. What a horror! I think I sensed a snicker or two.
Anyway, I know that my mother reminded me to brush my teeth before going to bed, especially after eating candy. I do remember telling her I would never go back to that house and I never did. Before the following fall, we moved away and that was the unfortunate demise of our friendship. I never saw Harold’s father after that fateful and frightening night. When I was old enough to understand what false teeth were all about, I wondered how the father of a six-year-old boy could have lost his teeth so young. He couldn’t have been that old.
Perhaps, he ate too much candy when he was young. Maybe, just maybe, he didn’t bother to brush his teeth.
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Reader Comments (17)
Love this account of Halloween. Today, it is so different, but I, being the good mother I am, DID make sure to buy my daughter a new toothbrush tonight, since it is the day before the *big* holiday. I was reluctant to even allow her to do a "trunk or treat" but Grandma was appalled that I would even THINK of denying her this fun. :) Thank you for sharing some of your childhood with us!
You know, Melissa, I had to look up "trunk or treat" to find out what it means. I think it's a good idea because it seems to be a safe alternative to trick or treating, especially if it's held in a church parking lot. Yes, times are a lot different than when I was growing up. I like to believe most people are honest and good, but there's no way I would leave my doors unlocked, at home or in my car. I generally buy several toothbrushes at a time so I never use one for too long. Even so, with diabetes, I don't eat much candy these days. Thanks for enjoying my story. I really enjoyed writing it.
Hi Dave,
I sure remember that time in my life when things where no bigger then my world could imagine. The times were so different then. I remember running & playing in the street in front of our house in the town we lived in back then.
I just loved the way you tell a story, as I was thinking of days of old and having a nice picture in my mind My husband thought I lost it when I just busted out laughing. My mind went from a serine picture to a picture of a child's face with the most frighten look my mind could come up with. Thank you for sharing. It sure made my Sunday night. Have a great holloween :-)
Hugs! Johnsy
Yup, Johnsy, times have changed; some for the better and some not. When we were young, no matter what the era, our worlds were quite limited. Today, it's a lot different because of mass communication and the Internet. But still, as large as it is, it's still the size of our TV screens, our iPads and our smart phones. Children can see much more today because of it.
Nothing pleases me more than when people tell me they laughed while reading one of my posts. To me, that's what life is all about. This is the type of thing I love to write about, so when you told me you busted out laughing, that made my day. I'm happy it made your Sunday night. Thank you!
I still laugh at this story-you poor thing!
I hope all of the little ones have a safe night collecting candy and that the older "kids" stay out of it! lol
See, Sherry? That's how much the experience impacted me. I still remember it to this very day, and I'm compelled to tell it over and over again. I always rewrite it, too, because I like to think my writing improves over time. I'm glad you still laugh at it. To me, it's a good story and it shows how safe Halloween should be even today. Too bad those easy days are long gone. Thanks.
Heart warming and memory rendering story Dave..Thank You!
Happy Halloween.
Thank you. GLENDA, I'm very happy you enjoyed my special Halloween story. It's the tooth... I mean, the TRUTH!
Happy Halloween to you, too!
Love This! Brings back memories of good time!! Plus you had me laughing so hard. Thanks Dave
Nothing beats a good belly laugh, Kathy, and I'm glad this brought you fond memories and a hearty laugh. I enjoyed writing it, too. Thank you.
I was thinking about doing something to scare the kids when they come to the door, but now that I have read your story, I have tossed the thought. Actually, because I will be alone this night I will just put my bucket of candy out and not go to the door because I am afraid, yet a little sad that I will not have the fun. Dave, I know what you felt at the sight of false teeth. When very small, I would literally RUN if I had to pass near my grandpa because he would show his false teeth like that. Of course it is funny now. What I think is unique is that in those days people didn't mind anyone knowing they had false teeth, they just had fun with them like Harold's dad. HAPPY HALLOWEEN NITE!
Hi, New Puppy! I don't know if you should just put a bucket of candy out or not, because some of those children will probably be greedy and take more than they should. A lot more. I think half the fun is greeting the children, but I can understand your position on not wanting to go to the door. Do you have a screen door that you can keep locked? That way, you can have some fun while remaining safe. Unfortunately for us, there are no children on the street, so we never have trick or treaters. That means there's always leftover candy to eat and that's not good for any of us. Oh well, we can't let it go to waste.
I think you're right about false teeth. It wasn't such a social thing that people had to hide. There wasn't a stigma about people not taking care of their teeth. Some people have problems regardless of how they take care of them. Today, everyone whitens their teeth to the point that they no longer look natural. Many with false teeth take special care to hide that fact. I think when I saw that set at Harold's house, it was just as if I had seen a ghost. No way did I want to see anything like that again!
Thank you, and I hope you have a very nice Halloween. Don't forget to leave a light on.
Yeech! One thing I've always had a horror of- false teeth. I had many elderly relatives when young, and a few had lived hard rural lives with precious little in the way of discretionary funds and unfluoridated well water to boot, so I was often surprised to find dentures here and there when visiting. Loved them dearly but loathed those scary false teeth. Brought me right back there, Dave. Have a very fun and much less frightening Halloween!
I'm not too crazy about false teeth, either, Karen. It's most likely due to that scary experience, but I always think of old people when I think of them, and I hate the thought of getting old. Oh well, I already am, and I see back partials in the near future, but I will never, ever leave anything out where anyone but me can see them.
I seem to remember when our town water was fluoridated. That was a long time ago. I also remember drinking water out of a well, which is still the case, but back in those days, NJ well water was filled with minerals and very good tasting. It tasted just like... well, water.
I'm glad you liked my story and that it brought back some memories. Thanks, that's what stories are all about.
Dave,---hope you and your family are doing well. My husband just got his remaining teeth pulled and false teeth last week. Soooo---did enjoy your story as I do all your articles. Havent checked in lately but havent forgotten you. Your friend always
Hi, Martha! Yes, my family and I are doing well. I hope you and your family are as well. When teeth become problematic and painful, there's no relief until they're pulled. I know. I'm having trouble with a few and they've got to get pulled and replaced soon. I'll bet your husband is sighing in relief. Good for him. Thank you for enjoying my story. Always remember that it is a real pleasure when you drop by and leave a comment. I always look forward to seeing you.
This is a great Halloween story. I can just picture you at the door and Harold's father doing that. I am sure had that been me I would have had the same reaction. When I was young we used to take pillow covers and use those as our bags to trick and treat with. We always made a haul. My poor parents had to sort through so many bags of candy that night since there were so many of us. Everyone have a safe and happy Halloween night.
Thank you, Mary Jo. It's one of my favorites. At that tender age, I had absolutely no idea false teeth existed. He leaned out that door and bent over to stare at me looking up at him. He couldn't have been more than 6 inches away when those teeth came out and attacked me. That was the most frightening experience in my life up 'til then. Years later, as an adult, I drove back to that neighborhood, and what seemed so far away, meaning Harold's house, was really a stone's throw away. Things look incredibly large when we're little. I also remember taking pillow cases with me and my mother sorting it all out, but that was probably when I was a little older and my appetite for candy had grown. That's when a candy bar was a nickel instead of a dollar, and they were bigger in size. Gee... I haven't seen a Chunky in a long, long time. Maybe, they're not so chunky anymore. Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween, Dave
Thank you, Snoopy. Same to you... FUNNY TEETH AD
Well, times have certainly changed. Last night we finally let our 13 year old son, out with 4 other buddies. My husband, who usually walks the group, he gave almost enough instructions to the boys to fill a phone book. Then he passed for 2 hours. Back and forth, back and forth. Finally, at 7:45 he called him. He was same and happy will be home in just fifteen more minutes. Gosh, Trick or Treat last from 6 to 8. Talk about be parinoid. All in all everyone was safe and happy,. Good time had by all.
They certainly have, Annie. While there seems to be an incredible increase in crime and deviants, most people are good. And it's always safe to play in numbers. 13-year-old boys are not what I would call strapping, but in a group, they can pretty much take good care of themselves. Actually, they can be downright mischievous, because I can remember those days. Anyway, I'm glad everything worked out for you and the other boys' families. I had a lot of fun back then, but it was a different time, for sure. Thanks for sharing!
Happy Halloween Dave! This was hilarious thanks, about the teeth, not you being scared by them. It was unofficially Halloween here last night, more and more Aussies adopt the tradition annually. I read this to my daughter after we returned from trick or treating, it was the perfect end to the night. Also loved the dose of nostalgia, paper shopping bags etc. You have excelled yourself again.
Thank you, Tiffany! It's one of my favorite stories, too. I never really researched the history of Halloween, so I have no idea where it originated, but leave it to the good old USA to capitalize on it. I'm not the least bit surprised it's spreading to your country, either. It's a fun night, especially for children. I think the last time I dressed up, I was a pimple.
I'm tickled that you read this to your daughter? Nowadays, false teeth are advertised on TV, so it's not quite the shock it was when I was her age. In any event, I always like to hear when someone enjoys my stories, so thanks for letting me know. Imagine that... No plastic bags back then!
Thanks for that funny memory Dave .........I did post a long responce last nidht an filled out the sppam deternt thingy but it still didnt show up....PS also said that someone thing?Has cloned my email an is sending people on my contact list a scam quick money email pretending to be me.So if you get one just ignore an deleate...Ive contacted windows an its all on the downlow basicly they want to moniter it to catch them out trace ther I P ect as they are doing it to hundreds of victims without them being aware.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, ecossie, and I'm sorry you lost your original comment. About your e-mail address, I get spam e-mails from several people, and I know it's not them. It goes to one of my accounts I seldom use any more, but they're easy to pick out. They say things you and others would never write, like, "You need to check out my new Facebook pictures! Click here!" No one would send a message like that, so whenever they come in, I trash them. Anyway, good luck catching the trolls, and thank you for telling me you liked my Halloween story. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Oh how I love this story!!! I pictured it all in my mind and what a great movie this would be!!! Kinda like Christmas Story only Halloween Story!!! It reminded me of my Uncle who lost an eye, arm, leg, in a horrific accident at his place of work. He looked at everything in a good light which was good for someone who suffered greatly. When my children were little he would sit and tell stories and they would listen intently to his tall tales. One day, he set his spare glass eye up on the outdoor table we were sitting around. My son looked up and asked if he could have a look at it. He said certainly. Then my son asked why he carried two with him. He replied, "One is for short vision" "The other is for long vision" My son spent the rest of the day just staring. Oh how I love those days!!! Thanks Dave! Another good hearty laugh! What a treat before my bedtime!
Hi, SageMom - Just to let you and everyone else know, I am presently in NJ to attend my 40th class reunion, so I haven't had much free time. I get a great deal of satisfaction when told my posts bring up old memories and make people smile, not to mention laugh. It's even better when you can relate your own story. The experience your son had is one of those priceless moments. Thank you for sharing it.
Dave; I love your stories, they give us a very real pictorial of the situation you find yourself in.
When I was about 8, I remember going to a house where a well known Dr. used to dress up and when he opened the door out would slide this ugly rubbery, blood soaked hand with long purple nails, and then as the door opened further, the rest of his hideous costume appeared, where upon he jumped out of the dooway and into the group of us standing around, waiting for our candy. We ran all the way down to the end of the walkway and he was cackling out loud. "Come back you forgot your candy". I just said forget it, I have enough already. I pretty much went home shaking and wanting to get a hug from my Mom and Dad. When I did empty the bag of goodies onto my parents bed, my Dad took all his favourite things out before I could go and eat my self senseless. It was the best of times. Also I used to always get lots of pennies for UNISEF. I didn't see one child collecting this year??? I guess they too would be robbed of their boxes. THE LATEST ROBBERIES ARE THE POPPIE BOXES FOR REMEMBERANCE DAY ARE BEING TAKEN from places like MacDonald's and Tim Horton's Donuts. Are people for real??? Honestly.
Anyway Dave you just brought back some wonderful thoughts. Thanks.
I couldn't add my response to your comment, Weezie, so here it is:
Dave; I love your stories, they give us a very real pictorial of the situation you find yourself in.
When I was about 8, I remember going to a house where a well known Dr. used to dress up and when he opened the door out would slide this ugly rubbery, blood soaked hand with long purple nails, and then as the door opened further, the rest of his hideous costume appeared, where upon he jumped out of the dooway and into the group of us standing around, waiting for our candy. We ran all the way down to the end of the walkway and he was cackling out loud. "Come back you forgot your candy". I just said forget it, I have enough already. I pretty much went home shaking and wanting to get a hug from my Mom and Dad. When I did empty the bag of goodies onto my parents bed, my Dad took all his favourite things out before I could go and eat my self senseless. It was the best of times. Also I used to always get lots of pennies for UNISEF. I didn't see one child collecting this year??? I guess they too would be robbed of their boxes. THE LATEST ROBBERIES ARE THE POPPIE BOXES FOR REMEMBERANCE DAY ARE BEING TAKEN from places like MacDonald's and Tim Horton's Donuts. Are people for real??? Honestly.
Anyway Dave you just brought back some wonderful thoughts. Thanks.
Thanks, Weezie, that's great to know you love my stories, and as I told SageMom, it's even better when they conjure up your own stories that you're compelled to tell us. Your experience was just as scary as mine, too. As for giving your father first dibs to the good stuff, I don't know about that, although mine was never much of a candy eater until he got much older, but by then I had already stopped canvassing the neighborhood for treats.
You know, I remember collecting pennies for UNISEF, but that was so long ago, I forgot. How anyone could steal that is beyond my comprehension, but I do occasionally hear about store break-ins where even the charity boxes are pilfered. What a crying shame.
Well I put out a basket of candies, one group of older children came along and dumped the whole basket into their pillow cases. Too much traffic on my street so little ones were not around this block. So it was pretty quiet.
HOWEVER, I think times are changing because some little spook came back and left a package in my mail slot. It was a very great collection of someone's favorite music from a famous artistic. What a nice surprise!!! They must have peeked in through my front door glass where they could see a guitar an electric piano keyboard, a ukelele and a violin inside the entry and must decided I liked music so gave me a very kind Halloween surprise. NICE!!!
Good morning, New puppy. How greedy of those older children to steal all the candy. That's what I call it... Stealing. At least you didn't get too many trick or treaters. That's the way I like it.
So, you got some sort of package in your mail slot??? Gee, I wonder what that was all about? And it contained music from someone's favorite artist. How nice! Someone must really like. Surprise, surprise!