I had been feeling generally pretty ‘bah humbug’ about Halloween lately having already agreed to assemble a Freudian Slip costume and schlep over to the Market on Friday and perform all night long (husband and sister in tow). Then I went on a walk around a certain West Seattle neighborhood with the two kids I take care of to look at the Halloween decorations. The little boy was on foot, wearing a large black faux fireman’s jacket and huge plastic sword in one hand and a strange piece of plastic that he’d designated as a back up sword in the other hand. The baby sat in an over-sized plastic car with a gigantic handle protruding from the trunk that served as a way for me to push her around. She was seat belted in, tiny hands on the wheel, and made car noises the whole time (which sounded more like growling but whose being picky?)

We admired the array of pumpkins–some carved, some natural–sitting on the wet front porches of various homes. Cobwebs layered the front doors. A large spider sat on a roof deflated. When we came within earshot of a huge, busy street, the little boy threw his body in front of the receptacle his sister was riding in, a desperate attempt to stop and prevent us from going further. I explained that the busy street was a good block away and we were going no where near it. He raised his swords in an X formation, as if their very nature (despite being plastic) would keep the threat of cars away. He remained fearful as we sauntered down a dead-in street, the baby’s plastic car stroller bouncing over the unpaved road. Admittedly, we did have to step aside as a very large truck rumbled by at a crawl. I very much wanted to avoid having to carry him while simultaneously pushing the baby all the way home. I stuck his sword in my belt loops and grabbed his free hand. We admired fall leaves, a plant covered with baby tomatoes, and I ignored his constant babble about being ‘nervous.’ There is only so much rationale you can provide right?

The fall colors were beautiful though, the pumpkins festive, and the Halloween decorations made sense now: they’re for the kids! How could I have looked past this?