For context, see this article on how several towns are making it illegal for teenagers to go trick-or-treating.
However you stand on the proper age for trick-or-treating, you gotta admit that spending time and energy on passing a law is the type of folly this blog feeds upon. 🤗
Hello, I’m Roger Stolid and this is your evening news.
Our lead story tonight — trick-or-treaters are making their rounds tonight, but before you pass out those mini-Snickers, be aware: You might be abetting a criminal. On location with this story is Paula Propellant. Paula, what have you found out for us?
Paula: Thank you, Roger. Yes, it’s true, some of these trick-or-treaters are risking steep fines and possible jail time for soliciting suckers from citizens. I’m standing at the corner of 12th and Ambrose Street and by my side is Officer Handy, who’s been patrolling the area. Officer, who are these desperate individuals seeking sweets?
Off Handy: Well, Paula, it’s now illegal for anyone over the age of twelve to trick-or-treat, and that means we got ourselves a situation. Fact is, some teenagers think it’s fun to get all dressed up like, oh, I don’t know, vampires or serial killers or Hello Kitty. And that’s all well and good. But if we catch them going door-to-door asking for candy? We’re just gonna have to run them in.
Paula: I see. What should homeowners do if they suspect one of the children at their door is past the age of legal trick-or-treating? Should they attempt any action on their own?
Off Handy: No, I don’t recommend that. There’s no telling what a teenager might do in that kind of situation. I’d say the best course of action would be to ask their age and if they’re over twelve, tell them to kindly step away from your porch. But if they say they’re younger and you think they’re lying? You can call the station with a description and we’ll send someone over.
Paula: I see. They could say something like, “There’s a witch on fifth street who looks old enough to drive.”
Off Handy: Exactly.
Paula: What do we tell parents whose child looks big for their age? Like, let’s say their ten-year-old looks fifteen? Should they be concerned?
Off Handy: We’ve thought of that Paula. What we’re recommending to parents is if their Tommy makes a tall mummy, consider slipping his birth certificate into his treat bag. That way if anyone detains him, he can prove his age.
Paula: What if they bring their school ID? Would that help?
Off Handy: Problem there Paula is school IDs don’t show their age, and we might have a SquareBob SpongePants who’s been held back a few years.
Paula: You mean SpongeBob SquarePants?
Off Handy: Yeah, that guy.
Paula: I see what you mean. Like over there, that boy in the banana suit. He looks like he needs a shave.
Off Handy: I’m on it! Hey, you there! Drop the candy! (Runs across street; Banana splits.)
Paula: Thank you, Officer Handy. Roger, we’re also speaking with Bella Buttinsky, head of the local watchdog group, No Treats for Teens. Bella, when did your group start meeting?
Bella: Let’s see… I guess it started after last Halloween. One of my neighbors posted on Facebook that a Batman grabbed her whole bowl of candy. I mean, he just took it! The whole bowl! So we were all like, how old was he? That sort of thing. She was pretty sure he was a teenager. It’s a real problem. These kids are just too blame old to be trick-or-treating. I know with my kids–
Paula: So all this is on account of one rogue Batman?
Bella: No, he just started it. Her post wound up going viral. I think it got over a hundred likes.
Paula: I don’t think that’s what “going viral” means.
Bella: Well, there were tons of comments. Everyone agreed teenagers were ruining Halloween. I mean, honestly, parents need to–
Paula: Did you have any specific concerns about teenagers? Other than the lone Batman?
Bella: Of course we did! Anytime you get a group of teenagers hanging around together, you’re just asking for trouble. They’ll be smoking, drinking… they could be selling drugs to your little princesses and cowboys. Listen, all you have to do is let your imagination run wild and then you’ll see my point.
Paula: Right.
Bella: And teenagers are just plain rude. The little kids will take whatever candy you give them, but these older kids are all like, “Don’t you have chocolate?” and “I hate coconut.”
Paula: Okay, thank you, Bella.
Bella: If you’re begging for candy, you take what you get!
Paula: Thank you for talking with us, Bella.
Bella: Where are their parents? That’s what I want to know. I mean, when my kids were little–
Paula: Thank you, Bella. Roger, we were hoping to speak to someone in favor of teens trick-or-treating — or just in favor of teens in general — but we couldn’t find anyone. Until now, that is. Roger, this is Bud Light, a concerned citizen and father of the banana we saw earlier. Mr. Light, were you aware there was an age restriction on trick-or-treating?
Bud: Damn straight, I knew.
Paula: And yet you allowed your son to go trick-or-treating?
Bud: Allowed him? Hell, I told him to do it! I said, “Son, if you want to go out with your friends and enjoy Halloween, you damn well do it.” I even helped pay for the banana.
Paula: Even though you knew he might get fined or arrested?
Bud: Oh hell, the banana suit cost more than the fine. Listen, it ain’t often the boy still wants to do something fun from his childhood. If it means I have to pay a little fine to help him do it, then I damn well will.
Paula: I see. But what if the fine was higher? What if it was five hundred dollars?
Bud: The fine is five hundred dollars?
Paula: No, I think it’s a hundred dollars.
Bud: It’s a hundred dollars?! He told me it was twenty-five dollars! That damn kid lied to me! (runs across street)
Paula: Sir? Sir?!
Bud: (from a distance) Someone grab that banana!
Paula: Well, that’s it from me. Back to you, Roger.
Roger: Paula, what about adults? Can adults trick-or-treat?
Paula: I don’t think so, Roger. The law states no one over the age of twelve.
Roger: Oh, that’s a shame. Guess I’ll have to break it to the wife. Haha.
Paula: Haha. Happy Halloween, Roger.
Roger: Happy Halloween, Paula. And Happy Halloween to all our viewers out there. Have fun, be safe, and keep a lookout for fugitive bananas.
Feeding on Folly 
and we should require that all trick or treaters must be old enough to walk to front door under their own power without being carried or in a stroller (come on dad, you really giving the candy to the baby?). Any one dressed as hello kitty should be arrested on the spot and sent to the closest mental health facility…
Now, now, Andrew. By requiring all trick or treaters to walk on their own volition, you’re missing a golden opportunity to teach parents a valuable lesson. In the case of babies or toddlers, the thing to do is offer a baby/toddler treat. That being, a teething biscuit, a pacifier, or a rattle. So you see? Lesson learned and no law required. 😉
too old to trick or treat and too young to go to the bar — no wonder teenagers all stare at their phones!
Right?! We’re forbidding all of life’s deepest treasures from them, we ruined Facebook for them, now all they have left is SnapChat.
Beware the villainous bananas of Doom… great, great post, Christi. I might have to share this one
Hehe, thanks Roo. Have to watch out for those slippery bananas. 🙂
Groan. True that 😁
Banana splits. Ha ha!! Cute post. I get annoyed when teenagers come to the door, but mostly if they are un-costumed. That’s especially lame to me. But really, it shouldn’t be that big a deal for teenagers to go trick or treating if they want to. So many other not-so-innocent things they could be doing instead.
No costume? Yes, that’s very lame. I like to see a little effort go into it, even if it’s just a sweatshirt with a pumpkin on it. Hey, if you want this mini-kit-kat, you gotta earn it! 😉
My thoughts exactly! If they feel they are young enough to be trick or treating, they are young enough for costumes!
Couldn’t they just leave it up to the people giving out the candy to decide who they want to give candy to? I really don’t get why people think there has to be laws like this…
That was my first thought. If you’re annoyed by who’s showing up at your door, turn off the lights and call it quits. You don’t need petitions and legislation to get your point across. Sheesh!
Great post – made me laugh! And gives me a chance to grouse about my biggest Halloween pet-peeve – accompanying parents who expect candy put in their bags too. This just kills me every year!
Haha, yeah I get that. Don’t they know proper parenting, which is to wait until the kids are asleep and steal their loot?
Right?!!!
I suppose you could have a second bowl for the teenagers – one with Brussels Sprouts…
Don’t be so mean, Dave. At least make them chocolate coated Brussels Sprouts.
Ah yes, I can see it now. Glee, at discovering a fine chocolates size chocolate goody in my goody bag. That first big chomp, and the discovery of a nasty, bitter, cabbage on a really bad day flavor instead of candy bliss. Shades of Harry Potter’s vomit jelly bean. Who’s the mean one? 😉
Hush, Dave, someone will hear you. The key is to place them in “treat bags.” They’ll never remember what house gave it to them.
‘Let your imagination run wild and then you’ll see my point.’
Acute observation on people that don’t like, well, anything, but have no evidence to support their blinkered view. Also a fan of the line ‘Banana splits’. Fabulous post 😊.
*gasp* — you pulled out the two lines I enjoyed the most! Granted, ‘banana splits’ I wavered on, as my Creative Writing teacher would have roasted me for such a pun. 🙂
I must join the crowd in admiration of “Banana splits.” Golden. (Your Creative Writing teacher just needs to chill.) This post perfectly encapsulates so much of what is wrong in society right now. If you don’t care for something, then don’t do it. Go on with your life and let others go on with theirs…
Oh man, ain’t that the truth? The Bella Buttinskys of the world all need to chill.
Of course, that begs the question, if we lost our outrage over senseless things, could Facebook and Twitter survive? I think not.
Really got me laughing with this one. Totally loved the Banana splits line, too. I loved trick-or-treating into my teens, but a costume is absolutely part of the deal. Great post!!
Thanks, Eilene. It’s the Bella Buttinskys of the world who make blogging so much fun. 😉
You use them perfectly!
I am thinking if this is your casual writing, imagine what you could come up with if you spent time over a post and wrote with deep concentration. Banana splits – got me in splits too.
The debate of whether teenagers should trick or treat sounds similar to the – whether one should break a boiled egg at the wide or the narrow end or whether teenagers can ride on park toys meant for younger children or like in our church where children over 12 are not allowed in Sunday School though many of them would like to continue to study there.
When will society learn to concern themselves about things that matter and not things that do not matter at all ?
Susie
This is a tricky subject matter that you handled brilliantly
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Can’t adults just say no to the teenagers trying to trick or treat? I mean does law enforcement really need to get involved? SMH.
Right?! If you don’t like it, don’t do it. There’s no reason to legislate it!