White Dog spent all day guarding the treat bowl Steve set out in anticipation of trick-or-treaters dropping by to scare us. Puff was charged with watching out of the window for potential customers. YoYoMa laid across the doorway to be the first to Howl-A-Ween a greeting. Nuka and Quinn paced the house and backyard scanning the neighborhood for signs as the clock ticked and the day waned.
They all had theories: "Maybe the kids want the benefit of twilight to be scarier," TOWD suggested. "We don't have decorations up," YAWD pointed out (he has made a pointing of "christening" the tombstones, and spider webs and pumpkins within reach during his nightly walks). "What if kids don't want cool stickers and lifesavers?" "Yeah but they won't KNOW what we're giving until they get here..." I cut the girls off.
There was a practice run when the mailman came but he didn't even react. Then SAWD barked a serious "Treater!" alert. Everyone clustered by the door trying to be the first. They all backed up, a bit taken aback, when the big Wolf figure actually walked IN the door, and then they surged forward in serious protection mode. But it was only Michael returning from his school party. The WDA was a little miffed when he at laughed at the fact they had been fooled.
Throughout the evening White Ones have periodically checked the door and sniffed the air, but there has been no reason for excitement (other than Steve coming home and HE wasn't even dressed up). WD has stirred the bowl a couple of times trying, I think, to create a magic spell that will bring forth little witches and cowboys.
I have begun to gently break he news that we simply might not have ANY trick-or-treaters this year. We live near the University and there are not a lot of children in the area; in good years we might possibly get a dozen or so kids. All day, the WDA has read blogs and seen posts on FB about cleverly dressed up two- and four-leggeds and have been eagerly awaiting the parade to come to our front door. Sadly, I think the parade has passed us by.
We hope you had a Happy Howl-A-Ween filled with ghosites and ghoulies, and lions, and tigers, and pumpkins. Be sure to head over to The World of Hansel and vote the clever costumes there.