Trick or Treat
“I still don’t understand why you bought ten dollars worth of fake spiders.” Nia said.
”Because it’s fun!” Myles replied. He was hunched over a pile of candies, plastic bugs, and assorted packaging.
”Scaring children with fake spiders is fun?” Nia said skeptically. She too was sitting on her floor, preparing treat bags for the kiddos. It was October thirtieth and she and her boyfriend, Myles, were video chatting while they finished prepping for trick or treaters. It seemed Myles took the term “trick or treat” more literally that she did.
”Everyone has to pick a treat bag.” Myles explained. “Some contain only treats and some are full of bugs, with candy at the bottom. It’s fun.”
”For you, maybe.” Nia said. Personally, if someone had given her a bag of bugs for Halloween she probably would have cried.
”Well yeah, but what else am I supposed to do? I didn’t get to trick or treat.” Myles popped a candy into his mouth. He was very fond of the “one for the bag, one for me” method.
”You should have been born a baby like a normal person.” Nia said teasingly. Through the screen, she could see him rolling his eyes as he ate another chocolate. “Don’t you ever get your house egged?”
”Naw.” He said. “I make sure everyone gets candies specifically so that doesn’t happen. I learned my lesson after Halloween 1988.” Nia giggled. “By the way, where’s your costume, missy?”
”The candy-hander-outer doesn’t have to wear a costume.” Nia said.
”Nonsense.”
”What’s your costume then?”
”Wanna see?” Myles grinned.
”Duh. Let’s go.”
”Okay, okay. Hold on.” Myles disappeared from his living room. Nia continued filling treat bags while she waited. Last year she had run out after thirty minutes, so she had doubled up on her supplies. It was going to take a while. After a few minutes, she realized Myles hadn’t come back yet. “Myles?” Nia said. No response. She checked the computer to make sure their connection hadn’t dropped.
”BOO!” Myles suddenly reappeared on the screen dressed as a horrific zombie. Fake blood was dripping down his face and he had a false eyeball hanging beneath a blacked out eye.
Nia threw the bag of candy she was holding into the air. ”AHHH! You son of a biscuit! You scared me!” She said.
Myles was laughing hysterically. “Oh my gosh. That was great!”
”That was mean!”
”It’s trick or treat and I’ve already got treats.” Myles grinned, popping another candy in his mouth.
”Next time you come over, I won’t be making treats for you!”
”Aww, I’m sorry, babe.” Myles said, face full of instant regret.
”You’re gonna be sorry.” Nia said, crossing her arms.
Myles smiled sheepishly. “Happy Halloween?” Nia shut her laptop. Myles went to stick another candy in his mouth and accidentally ate a plastic spider. He spat it out. “Well shit.”