Trick or Treat

Let's be honest. No matter what the poets and songwriters would have us believe love isn't always happily ever after. Hearts get broken, even in Hollywood. Unfortunately, the whole world knows when a star's heart has been broken. Sorry to say, broken hearts make great copy. Frosty wasn't a star, just an old man who lived across the street from us when I was a child.

He was a former Hollywood stuntman who'd injured his back so severely during a scene, he was never able to work again. At least that's what he told Dad, that and many other stories of his early days in Hollywood, all the famous people he'd known, and all the beauties he'd loved. Dad said that Frosty had been jilted by a beautiful young actress and had never recovered from the heartbreak. True or not, we kids enjoyed nothing more than eavesdropping on adult conversations concerning Frosty.

Frosty liked to sit out on his porch, swig a big bottle of beer and watch the world go by. Hence the nickname Frosty. Of course, he didn't know that we kids referred to him this way. Then again, maybe he did, and this is why he seemed to dislike all of us so much.

Halloween must have been particularly disruptive for the reclusive old man. But, to our amazement he really enjoyed Halloween. It was his favorite Holiday. He decorated his house with paper ghosts and skeletons and always managed to pass out some of the tastiest caramel apples or popcorn balls around. A few days before the big night he'd hobble down to the corner market for his supplies, either apples or popcorn, depending on his mood.

I never will forget the Halloween when Frosty didn't pass out treats. Instead, he met each child at the door with the same words. "Happy Halloween. I'm sorry I haven't had time to make the apples. Run along now."

As it happened, my sister and I weren't able to go trick-or-treating because we both had colds and Mama wasn't about to let us out in the damp night air, Halloween or not.

Halloween was on a Sunday night and on Monday morning the whole neighborhood was abuzz with Frosty's rebuff. Grandma said it was probably that the old fool simply didn't have the money for treats. Dad agreed. It was a pity, but the old man did seem to live a meager existence. Still no one could figure why he bothered to meet each child at the door with the same excuse.

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