Patrick: Wow! Today is October 30th! Halloween is tomorrow already! Have you decided what you will be dressing up for Halloween yet, Sara?
Sara: I’m not sure what I want to be yet. I want to be either a butterfly or a pumpkin. But why do we dress up for Halloween?
Patrick: Halloween is a festival for children, and costumes make it more special. I think we have much more fun going from house to house asking for candies (trick-or-treating) after sunset dressed in our favourite costumes.
Sara: Yes, I remember having a lot of fun last year when mom took me around in a bunny outfit. Do you know what you want to be yet, Patrick?
Patrick: I want to be Batman! I like wearing the cape and the mask. I think you should be a butterfly. You are so much shorter than me, and dressed in a pumpkin costume, someone might think you really are one and try to make a pie out of you.
Sara: How could anyone mistake me for a real pumpkin? Real pumpkins do not have a head or arms or legs. But I suppose I will be a butterfly anyway. I can have pretty wings.
Patrick: Great! So you will be a butterfly and I will be Batman. Let’s go ask Mom if we can go trick-or-treating tomorrow night by ourselves. Although you are still young, I think I am old enough to watch over the both of us.
Sara: OK, let’s go ask mom!
Patrick: MOM! Can Sara and I go trick-or-treating by ourselves tomorrow? I can watch over Sara and make sure she stays out of trouble.
Sara: Yes, Mom. If we go by ourselves, then you can stay home and relax. You will not have to get cold waiting for us.
Mom: Thank you for offering, Patrick. However, I will be worried and I will not be able to relax if you and your brother go by yourselves while I stay home. Let me ask Christine or Ian if one of them can go with both of you. Then I can stay home and relax. Christine! Ian!
Christine & Ian: What, Mom? You called us?
Mom: Do you have any free time tomorrow night? Can one of you take Patrick and Sara around the neighbourhood so that they can trick-or-treat on Halloween?
Christine: I can take them, Mom. I do not have any plans tomorrow.
Ian: Mom, I heard you wanted to go watch a movie tomorrow night with Dad. If you want, I can stay at home and give out candies to any trick-or-treaters who come by while Christine takes Patrick and Sara trick-or-treating.
Christine: Then you and Dad can have a little fun on Halloween too.
Sara: So Mom and Dad can relax!
Mom: Sounds like a plan, kids. Thanks a lot!
Patrick: Well, I think I am old enough to take Sara around by myself, but maybe we can get more candy if Christine comes. Hey Christine, how about you trick-or-treat with us, and give us your candy afterwards?
Christine: No way, Patrick. I will eat every Hershey’s, Reese’s, Snickers, and Twix I get. You can have my Jolly Ranchers though.
Ian: Well, it seems as though everything is settled and everyone will have some Halloween fun. I think I am going to have the most fun of all though. I get to eat all the candies that I do not give away, and I do not even have to trick-or-treat for it!