Marian Prim ’12
The end of October is one of the most awkward times of the year for teens everywhere. While all the kiddies excitedly grab their Firefly catalogs, unable to decide between an Egyptian princess and a McDonald’s Cheeseburger, teenagers nostalgically tweet about their best neighborhood pillages and the scariest haunted houses.
You remember that neighbor who obviously forgot what the date was and handed out Ziploc bags filled with popcorn. Or how about the dentist who, after giving a lecture on dental hygiene, handed you a toothbrush and apple slices? There was always the quaint elderly couple that lured you in with cookies and hot apple cider while regaling you with entertaining stories about Halloweens past. The ultimate score was the person who leaves the whole basket outside with a note that says, “Please take ONE.” You and your friends grabbed the whole thing.
For teens, Halloween night usually begins at a friend’s house, trying to decide what to do; trick-or-treating is obviously out of the question. Scoffing at trick-or-treating and laughing at how crazy the little kids look, the secretly sentimental friends sit and watch Amityville Horror. However, someone fidgets after ten minutes and mutters that they would rather be trick-or-treating. The room is silent for a split second before everyone jumps up and grabs either cat ears or a baseball hat. Odd looks are given by parents who open the door to a gang of sixteen or seventeen year-olds, but a quick reassurance that siblings are not far behind becomes the go-to lie.
Each year, everyone attempts to act like they will be original with their costume choices. Powerpuff girls? Too juvenile. Rocket Power? Already taken. Young Money? Too awkward. Being too creative can be controversial, so once again the cat ears come out. The guys throw on an Eagles jersey and they transform into Michael Vick for the night.
Anybody can fall victim to an awkward Halloween. Two years ago my friends and I decided to watch The Orphan (I don’t recommend it), and I found myself unable to lift my head up from behind the pillow. It was truly terrifying. It took little persuasion and only fifteen minutes of the horror movie to convince my friends that we were not above trick-or-treating, and soon we were scouring the house for costumes to compliment our sweatpants and Ugg boots. It took about three minutes to complete my transformation, with a pair of knee-high socks and a tattered baseball hat topping off my “Major League” look. Reusable target bags clutched in our freezing hands, we headed out into the night. Eagerly waiting for our first fistful of candy (but not too eagerly; this is high school), we were disappointed when the first few houses were dark and empty. We could have sworn we heard footsteps in one or two homes, but it must have been a ghost. Eventually doors began to open and parents uncomfortably handed us mini Reese’s and slammed the door.
The minute I had candy at my disposal a sugar coma ensued. I hardly remember anything until two hours later, when I found myself nuzzled against two sleeping friends on the couch. There was a pile of candy wrappers to my left, (“did I eat all of those?”) not to mention an empty tub of popcorn resting on my lap. I managed to convince myself everyone else ate it until I noticed a buttery glaze all over my fingers. Free candy is everyone’s guilty pleasure. It’s a proven fact. Why else would there be a holiday for it? So, in case you had any doubts, it is totally justifiable to mooch off of your kind-hearted neighbors for as long as possible.
This year, Halloween will not be any different. Trick-or-treating will be avoided for as long as possible, seeing as high schoolers should be mature enough to look at candy and not want to gorge themselves on it (yeah, right). So, Halloween night, go out and enjoy yourself however you decide to, trick-or-treating or creating a haunted house. It is a night of fun and excitement, and everyone should take advantage of it for as long as possible.