Jimmy woke up when his mother called his name, and he knew right away that The Day had come. He was not fooled by the bright sunlight coming through his window. He was not fooled by the wonderful smell of pancakes coming from the kitchen. Halloween day had come, and it would be followed by Halloween night. And Halloween night was when the Candy Monster would creep into Jimmy’s bedroom and eat most of his candy.
Each year, Jimmy would put on his Halloween costume and walk from house to house. Each year, he would say “Trick or Treat!” and walk home when his candy bag was full. And each year while he slept, the Candy Monster would come. And when Jimmy woke up and looked into his candy bag, most of his candy would be gone!
Jimmy would tell his mother, but his mother would just smile and give him a kiss on his forehead. He would tell his father, but his father would just smile and give him a hug. He would even tell his dog Sparky, but Sparky would only wag his tail and lick his face.
Jimmy tried hiding his bag of candy under his bed, but the Candy Monster had found it and stolen most of his candy. He tried hiding his bag of candy in his closet, but the Candy Monster found it and stole most of his candy. He even tried hiding his bag of candy under his covers while he slept, but the Candy Monster had found it and stole most of his candy.
This year would be different. This year, Jimmy had a very good idea. He would put on his Halloween costume and walk from house to house. He would say “Trick or Treat!” and walk home when his candy bag was full. But this year before he went to bed, he would give his bag of candy to his mother and father. This year, Jimmy would ask his mother and father to stop the Candy Monster from taking his candy. No Candy Monster would get past his mother and father.
Halloween day became Halloween evening. Jimmy put on his Halloween costume and walked from house to house. Jimmy said “Trick or Treat!” and walked home when his candy bag was full. When He got home, he gave his mother and father his bag of candy to keep it safe from the Candy Monster.
Jimmy’s mother smiled and gave him a kiss on his forehead. His father smiled and gave him a hug. His dog Sparky wagged his tail and licked his face. And Jimmy went to bed knowing his candy was safe.
When Jimmy woke up the next morning, it was very early. He went into his mother and father’s bedroom. He was very quiet because his mother and father were still asleep. Jimmy searched and searched for his bag of candy.
It was not under their bed. It was not in their closet. Jimmy found his bag of candy hidden in his mother’s nightstand. He looked inside his bag of candy, but most of his candy was gone! Jimmy was very upset and very angry at the Candy Monster.
Jimmy climbed onto his mother and father’s bed. He woke his mother and father and said, “The Candy Monster stole most of my candy!” His mother said, “Don’t be upset. We will get your candy back from the Candy Monster.” Then Jimmy’s mother smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss on his forehead. And Jimmy’s father also smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss on his forehead.
Jimmy’s mother said, “The Candy Monster does not eat the candy he takes. That much candy would make even the Candy Monster sick. Instead, the Candy Monster keeps the candy in the cave where he lives. Every night, your father and I will sneak into his cave. We will only take back a little of your candy so the Candy Monster won’t miss it. And the next day, we will give those pieces of candy to you, and we will do that every night and every day until you have all of your candy back.”
Jimmy nodded and was not upset and angry anymore. He liked the idea of stealing his candy back from the Candy Monster. Jimmy liked the idea of doing it not just once, but every night of the year. That would teach the evil Candy Monster a lesson!
© 2018 Donald Firesmith
