We don’t get over 1,000 trick-or-treaters in my neighbhorhood because our street is full Dugger-sized families. Most of our trick-or-treaters are coming from neighboring areas, and yes, some of those areas are poor. This is why I was particularly interested in a recent Dear Prudence advice column on Slate.com that addressed the topic of poor children coming to trick-or-treat in richer neighborhoods.
A person, calling his or herself “Halloween for the 99 Percent,” lives in one of the “wealthier neighborhoods in the country” (although notes that his or her street is one of the more modest parts). About 75 percent of the trick-or-treaters “are clearly not from this neighborhood.” The person asks Dear Prudence if he or she has to give these poor kids candy. After all, “we already pay more than enough taxes toward actual social services.”
Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, gives a perfect response to Mr. or Ms. Halloween for the 99 Percent. Read it the entire exchange here. The key line is
Stop being callous and miserly and go to Costco, you cheapskate, and get enough candy to fill the bags of the kids who come one day a year to marvel at how the 1 percent live.
Brava, Emily/Prudence, although I really hope the original letter was a joke.
Ours is not one of the wealthier neighborhoods in the country, but we are certainly better off than others. I am happy to be able to bring a little joy to everyone who wants to come trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. (Okay, I do begrudge teenagers who come to the house multiple times and aren’t even wearing costumes, but everyone other than them.) It’s fun. If you don’t agree, then boo humbug to you.
By the way this is one of the best deals on chocolate trick-or-treat candy I’ve found, in case you still need to stock up: MARS Chocolate Halloween Variety Box, 300 Count
For the month of October, Listing Beyond Forty is Listing Toward Halloween, featuring posts related to or inspired by Halloween. Read all the previous posts here, including my ‘Twas the Night Before Halloween poem.
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