When I was 12 years old
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
June 1, 2017 6:26pm CST
When I was 12 years old my brother dressed me up in a halloween costume. I wanted to be a vampire and he went to the painstaking effort of putting the make up on me. We made a deal, he would put the make up on me and I would give him part of my candy.
He was 22 at this time, and so far too old to be going out trick or treating. I agreed and soon set off with my father to trick or treat around the neighborhood. It wasn't long, perhaps a half hour before my social anxieties kicked in and I was begging my father to take me back home.
By this time, my brother had already left to go back to his house. I don't remember how disappointed he was, but I imagine it was a lot.
I don't know why this popped into my head just now, but it has, and I thought I would share it here. I was never too big on trick or treating anyway. I think being frightened at a young age by being lost in my grandparent's neighborhood, scarred me.
That's a tale for another discussion though.
Did you enjoy trick or treating? Or was it something your Country did at all?
8 people like this
10 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
2 Jun 17
Sorry to hear you had to come home early because of that dang anxiety.
I know some of that.
Yes you just remembered it and glad you shared it here.
Its cute your brother did that for you..but no candy for him huh?
We went crazy on Halloween as kids hitting every house we could with pillowcases full.
Once when I was 12, we were waiting at a gas station for my Dad to pick us up..and I just remembered this happening..so we were waiting on Halloween night and this guy (18 or so) started chatting me up..you know trying to get me to go with him and my Dad pulled up and socked him ...I will never forget that.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
That does sound like it would leave a lasting impression on you. Good for your dad too!
I think I was made to share what little candy I had.. I can't quite remember. Every time I do remember, I feel bad for having bailed out on him. Of course, I was still a kid so I can't be too hard on myself.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69185)
• Centralia, Washington
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum He was 22!! He should have had enough cash to get his own candy.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@sallypup True.. It wasn't a matter of whether he had enough money to buy his own candy, it was a matter of a promise I broke.
I don't remember anyone being too upset about it...
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
2 Jun 17
It didn't become a big thing here till more recently. It was usually the bad kids who went out to do some tricking. I'm sure he wasn't disappointed ... you survived for half an hour!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I don't ever remember doing any "tricking", but there were some bad kids who did. A lot of TP'ng (toilet papering) done on Halloween as well...
@GardenGerty (169487)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I liked trick or treating. At one point my dad bought or invested in or took as trade a thrift shop. The inventory was in our garage. There was an awesome, beaded gypsy outfit I wore several years. My brother got beat up one year and his candy stolen.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I bet that gypsy costume was really colorful as well.
Ouch, did him being beat up put him off from trick or treating? That's horrible!
@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum ......Yikes! I would think.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@celticeagle The placing couldn't have been any better either, a it was at a T- junction.
The tree was in the midle of the top of the T.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
There is a tree in the neighborhood I was trick or treating in (at 12 years old). It was dying, and so never grew leaves. It was very scary looking by day, but imagine what it must have felt like at night.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I went trick or treating until I was like 16. I always went in groups with my cousins or friends. One spooky Halloween was when my friends and I were going trick or treating around my neighborhood. We saw a lady in all white, tell us to come and we said okay just after we go to the house closest to us. Then we crossed the street to her house and it was pitch black. We all just saw her standing there joyful to hand candy. It was creepy.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
That does seem like it would be creepy!
You reminded me of a few times in my teenage years that I did enjoy trick or treating.
There, and I am not sure if they still do it or not, used to be a couple who would make apple cider in a big cauldron and dress as a witch and warlock. They made the atmosphere so much fun and were generally a hoot to be around.
I always felt a little.. off kilter with them, but they were still very nice people.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum There were nice people, some handed out full size bars or bagged filled of candy per person. :)
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@infatuatedbby Remember the ones that would hand out fruit instead? Had a few of those.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43621)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Jun 17
I loved it when I was a kid. Now, we turn out the lights and don't answer the door! 
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
haha! Same here!
I remember as a kid having those people who would leave out the bowl of candy with a sign "Only one piece per child." hahahahah, like we EVER followed that rule.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 Doesn't matter how well behaved a kid is in front of their parents, they will always do something "rebellious' when no one is looking..
I, on the other hand, did take a few more, but didn't clean them out.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43621)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum - Our neighbors did that one year. Got cleaned out within 15 minutes. We watched the three kids do it.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69185)
• Centralia, Washington
2 Jun 17
I loved being out in the night on Halloween. Your Dad's presence didn't help you to feel safe?
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
If you knew what a hulking figure he was, you'd understand.
You know that old wrestler guy, I think his name was Hulk Hogan. Always wore the bandanas, sunglasses and was blond? Or even Dog the bounty hunter. Imagine them. My dad wasn't exactly that built, but to a child, he seemed huge in comparison.
He also scared me a little just by his attitude, even at that young age. Maybe, especially at that young age.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@sallypup Yes, but my dad was the lesser of the two evils, atleast.
@sallypup (69185)
• Centralia, Washington
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum Wow. You were between a rock and a hard place: afraid of your Dad and also strangers.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I did once got to trick or treating one year. But i was mostly scary of the decorations.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
There was a tree in one neighborhood I lived in. It was old and never grew leaves. It was so very scary with all of it's branches. It looked grotesque and forbidding at night.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
2 Jun 17
Oh no. Sorry you had a bad time with it. I LOVED Halloween and trick or treating! We always went as a big group up until my Aunt stopped talking to us when i was about 13. But my mom. Brother and I and my neighbors kids who we were close to still went.
I went trick or treating just two years ago with all my nieces and nephews. Along with all the 4 years before that but only with a few of them those years.
No age for trick or treating. Its candy and costumes. So what. Ill never stop as long as i feel up to it. Its a good time. We all need that. And better than going to parties and getting drunk.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I think I stopped when I was 18. It was actually after my birthday, but that was the last year I did it.
I went to a friend's house, her mom handed me a pillow case and away we went to trick or treat. It was a lot of fun then, but I had some social anxiety even then.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum i did too but some reason the candy was worth it to me. Lol
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@Imperfet (130)
•
2 Jun 17
In india here , we don't celebrate Hallowe'en but I always wanted to it seems like a lot of fun
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I think every culture that does celebrate, has a different way of doing it.
I think it was a lot of fun for most kids. I did have moments where I enjoyed it, but usually not for long.
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