Quick! Tell me some great Halloween stories.

I need something fun to read on Monday night.

The kids will be off at parties with friends and the cat will probably be hiding under the bed. It could just be me and the candy this year. That’s frightening and sad. And the candy will not be safe.

There are many things to enjoy solo in October: colored leaves, pumpkins, marching bands and football. But Halloween (especially trick-or-treating) is best shared.

When I was a kid, everything fun happened in our neighborhood. Halloween night was no exception. We’d jump into our pretend selves and collect our friends as we walked the block together. Our costumes were homemade and so were many of the treats we received. No one tried passing off anything bad, either. Because Mrs. Johnson or some other mother would track down the source and return it to them. Yes, really. Those were simpler Halloween times.

We didn’t need cars, because the good stuff was all within running or skipping distance. We begged for treats until we had to stop and eat them. Or until our parents whistled for us.

My favorite Halloween memory is when I was about six. My brothers and I  had just gotten home. We dumped all our candy onto the living room floor and were sorting through it for the good stuff.  Some older kids came trick-or-treating, while my mom was in the kitchen doing dishes. When she didn’t hear them, one of the boys opened the screen door and came in. Before we knew what was happening, he scooped up most of our candy and ran off.

While we whined and cried in disbelief, my mom chased them down the street. Yes, that’s how she did things. I don’t remember if she came back with any candy or not. But I looked at my mother differently after that.

What is the first Halloween memory that comes to your mind? Is it happy or scary? Is it funny or embarrassing? About you or your kid?

A friend who needs to be embarrassed today? Share them, please. I know you have them, Let’s compare notes in the Comment Section. Post pictures, if you like.

Remember, white wine with candy corn and red with chocolate. On the other hand, rum and Coke goes with everything. (Unless you live in Washington, then you might be careful what you’re mixing.)

While we’re waiting to see who’s brave enough to post, here are some fun Halloween facts from the internet.