Ahh, autumn. It’s my favorite season. I love the warm days and cold nights. Sweaters, pumpkins, scary fun. Plus, living in northern New England, Mother Nature is all about showing off her vibrant fall colors here. But what would life at Camp Hills be without some humor? Sit back and let me tell you a story.
It was a dark and stormy night. Kidding. I just love it when a story starts like that. It all began when Darling Daughter was a tween...
For as long as I can remember—and certainly for her entire quarter of a century life—we’ve celebrated Halloween. In a BIG way! Hayrides to pumpkin patches where you pick your own. Trips to Salem and theme parks with haunted events. Parties, decorations, festive foods, you name it. Don’t even get me started on the shows and movies we watch every October. So, when a neighbor introduced us to “Booing”, we wholeheartedly embraced the fun experience as a family.
Are you familiar with Booing? For those who aren’t, it’s when you assemble a bunch of fun Halloween-themed treats (candy and trinkets) and deliver them to an unsuspecting neighbor. I say “unsuspecting”, because you pull a “ding-dong-dash” maneuver. Ring the doorbell, leave the goodies, and dash away before you’re seen. Your “Boo” is a surprise for the occupants of the house, an anonymous gift of Halloween cheer, typically for the children. (Although, I have heard of adults partaking, delivering alcoholic beverages along with chocolate. Totally onboard with this idea if anyone wants to play!)
Once you’ve been “Booed”, you place a sign on your door so participating neighbors will know to skip your house and go to someone new. Then you Boo two other households, and the fun grows.
Charming, you might think, and it is! Super-fun, too, since you get to shop for someone else with the sole intention of delighting them. Plus, you get to speculate who Booed you.
So…where did we go astray? Because you KNOW we did. Darling Daughter, being the sweetheart that she is, didn’t just want to leave treats for her close friends. She knew there were two kids, living only part time in our neighborhood because their parents were divorced. No one really knew them; they came and went so often. “Why not Boo them?” she asked. “Make them feel welcome.” I was a proud mama when she shared her idea.
It was a real crock-pot bubbling, wood stove crackling, frosty fall evening when Mr. H volunteered to help our girl with the ding-dong-dash part of the plan. They bundled up, took the gifts and the corresponding “You’ve been Booed!” printed message that explains it all, grabbed a couple of flashlights, and headed out into the spooky darkness.
Time went by as I prepared our supper and fed the dogs. I glanced at the clock several times, wondering why they were gone so long. Just ring the bell and run. It’s easy. Half an hour later, they finally came home, laughing so hard they were crying. Apparently, the neighbor Darling Daughter decided to Boo was home alone with his wife. No kids that night. When the doorbell rang and no one was there, the dad whipped on all the spotlights, thinking he’d been pranked. My two hid behind the neighbor’s car, trying not to be discovered. The man inside began yelling, “It’s a package. What the hell? It’s a God damned package. Who did this?”
“I don’t know,” the wife said, obviously concerned. According to my two hooligans.
What's the moral of this story? I suppose it’s…sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty to be nice. Santa definitely will understand.
And the neighbors who initially Booed us? The dad in that family eventually admitted he took out our fence when he tried to dash away in the dark. Ouch! We were wondering how that happened. We live in a fun place. What else can I say? 😊
If you’d like to Boo your neighbors, family members, or friends this Halloween season, head to Pinterest for some great ideas and free printable signs for the gift bag message and for your front door. Just don’t mention me, okay? We Hills are notorious troublemakers. *wink*
If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more about my books, know that Halloween is exciting for my characters as well. Whether they're attending a costume ball in the past—as in the late Victorian era—or they're on the streets of Boston in modern times, thrills and chills are just the beginning. Visit my Amazon Author's Page to embark on A Time Traveler's Journey!
Until next time, thanks for reading. Stay safe and go spread some magic!
~ Kathryn
