As with the previous 19 years, there were no trick-or-treaters coming to the door. In 2003, our first Halloween on Shroyer Road, I was well stocked and seated on the front porch to greet costumed neighborhood children. There were only two beggars, and they were current private piano students who lived around the corner. 

As I observed the parade of trick-or-treaters, they were rounding the corner from Rockhill Avenue, or on to the Rockhill Avenue and not bothering to come over to our property since we were the last house before the massive expanse of the high school campus.

The next year, I decided to abandon being a candy host and began a new tradition. After the boys returned from begging the neighborhood, we went out to a movie, stopped for some Bill’s Donuts, and returned home to watch the movie musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. 

The big event for my day was to meet Mama Kay a little before 3 PM so we could head to El Toro Mexican restaurant to meet Mary for our taco Tuesday binge. However, at 2:40 PM, I let the dogs out to go prepare their dinner, and when I returned to the deck’s door, Colonel Deeds was not with the other four pooches. I let the others in to eat their dinner, grabbed a leash, and left on foot to search for the little snot. I finally sent Mama Kay on to her dinner, so we didn’t keep Mary waiting. 

Naturally, this great escape was the same time school buses, and heavier traffic barricaded our island home against the high school campus. I scoured the area for a good 30 minutes, cramping and cringing in pain. At 3:10 PM, I returned home to make one last check in the backyard. The Colonel was waiting at the door. I don’t know if he had been in the yard the entire time or if he had actually escaped. I did a thorough check and could not locate any openings through which he could fit.

I was so aggravated for missing the gathering with Mama Kay and Mary. The remainder of my evenings, until I return the private lesson teaching this Sunday night, will be spent downtown for Dayton Live events.

Tomorrow, the temperatures high shall only be 44°. The following several days we will see temperatures in the 50s and 60s which pleases me.