CHILDREN OF MEN, IN REVERSE

THE OTHER DAY WAS HALLOWEEN. And far from being the fun, candy crazed, costumed madness of my childhood, this Halloween was genuinely scary. Admittedly we do live in a rough neighbourhood, but it was scary. The day was fine, but as soon at it went dark (5pm) people went mad. We caught the bus home, and driving past one of the government housing projects we saw 50 kids, no older than 12 running around with fireworks, firing them at cars and our bus. Also there was a bonfire of tyres and a seperate bonfire taller than a house. And this was in a small patch of grass on the corner of two busy roads, not in the middle of nowhere! There's nice houses on the otherside of the road.

We got home safely, walking past some kids dressed as skeletons (without the masks, which would require effort). They waited until we walked past and said "trick or treat". I told them to wait outside, I'd give them some candy. They were dressed up after all, so they did deserve some, even if they were rude. I went inside and got some Root Beer barrels for them.

ME: "Here you go. This is special candy from America."
KID: "We don't want that shit."

They walked away angrily. I was PISSED OFF! Mostly because I had already given them the candy, and wanted it back. Later I found out that kids here don't want candy at all, but money. No freakin' way!

There was another knock on the door. I thought I'd give the kids one more shot. It was a little 6-year-old girl dressed as a princess.

PRINCESS: "Trick or Treat." (not a question)
ME: "Here", handing her some more Root Beer barrels.

She stood there staring at me annoyed, like I was some sort of idiot, who didn't know what I was doing. No 'thank you's, no polite acceptance of the candy, even if she didn't want it. Not a princess at all.

I slammed the door in her face (remember; she was 6), making sure she knew I was annoyed. And locked the three locks.



There were more knocks on the door, but I didn't answer. We turned off the lights and stayed in the bedroom so they thought we weren't home. Stupid Dublin kids. I really really don't like them.

IESSO