My Most Unusual Halloween Treat

Imagine a crisp, cool Halloween night in the early 1980s. The sun is setting, casting long shadows as you and your friends embark on a candy quest through your neighborhood. The thrill of the hunt is palpable as you dart from house to house, bagging sweets and treats in a race against the approaching darkness.

This particular Halloween night stands out vividly in your memory. It's nearing that critical hour when it becomes impolite to knock on doors, but you and your pals are determined to maximize your candy haul. You enter the fabled "clean-up" phase of the evening, where you swoop in on houses that are either candy-depleted or overly generous. This is the golden hour of trick-or-treating.

And then, you arrive at a brown ranch-style house that would forever be etched in your memory. This house, around the corner and down the block from your home, holds a delightful surprise. You'd been there earlier in the day, but Halloween's waning moments know no etiquette, and all houses are fair game for a second, or even third, visit.

As you approach, the woman answering the door admires your costumes, bestowing kindness even upon your less-than-stellar getup. Her husband, who'd likely been summoned to the door numerous times that day to ogle at children in vinyl store-bought costumes, gives his nod of approval. Then, with a friendly smile, she apologizes, announcing the regrettable news: she's run out of candy.

But there's a twist. She explains that she has something else to offer. Something that, as young comic book enthusiasts, you'd treasure even more. She retrieves a stack of comic books—presumably her son's collection—from a nearby table and, with a sense of uncertainty, divides the pile between your trick-or-treat bags.

It's an odd and unexpected treat—nearly 20 comic books from the early 1970s, primarily Marvel titles with a focus on "Avengers" issues. As you thank her for this unusual gift, you can't help but wonder if she's contemplating the appropriateness of giving away her child's cherished possessions. But for now, these comics are yours.

Bags brimming with sugar, chocolate, and now comic books, you and your friend decide to call it a night. Rushing home, you evade your sisters' attempts to pilfer your candy and head straight to your room, where you stash your treasure trove.

Dumping the contents of your bag onto your bed, you embark on a candy inventory, but it's the comic books that steal the spotlight. You feel a twinge of guilt, knowing that these comics were once part of another child's collection. But that feeling soon dissipates beneath the weight of sugar-induced delirium and dreams of superhero adventures.

As you fall asleep that Halloween night, you're immersed in the early exploits of Iron Man and Captain America, with a stack of Avengers comics by your side. Bit of Honey and Peanut Chews fuel your late-night reading, creating a memorable end to what began as a routine Halloween. It's a night you'll cherish, a Halloween treat unlike any other.