Our Taekwondo Grandmaster tells us that competing with others is the best way to disregard physical pain, inconvenience, fear and push yourself to better results.

I feel like that's exactly what my boys have in mind when running door to door in our community in their Halloween costumes, with their pumpkin cauldrons. Also, since Arthur's school had a "Truck or Treat" event this year with teachers and parents handing out treats and gifts from the back of decorated SUVs and Trucks - Arthur takes this as a perfect opportunity to show off and be original:

- Truck or Treat!
- Oooh, I love your costumes! - another neighbor says as she moves the bowl of candy closer to them.
- Thank you! - yells Adrian so that parents know for sure they did say thank you, and gallops on to the next house, through the ice, through the mud, getting snow in his trainers.

- We'll get more candy than anyone else!
- Yes, we'll get soooo much candy!
- Truck or Treeat!

Faster, and faster, door to door in chaotic order. Only teens seem to be having more fruitful raids on candy bowls. Dogs back off from the door. Neighbors get educated on the costume being "T-Rex", not just a "dinosaur". In one house, the parents are kindly offered liquor shots "to keep us going"...

- Trrrunk or Treat!

The street is now completely dark and empty. Adrian decides it's time to go home and probably make Dad wear pants with bigger pockets next year. Arthur wants to do just a few more houses. No, he is not cold, in fact he is very-very hot, never mind his shivering chin and sniffing,please-please just a few more houses:

-Dddrunk or treat!

A quiet Mermaid walks on the other side of the street with her dad. As we pass them, Arthur makes a sudden loud observation into the darkness:
- I got more candy thank aaaanyone else!
The Mermaid makes a step closer to her dad and starts to walk faster.

We've got a couple of pounds of candy now, hidden in my personal Narnia and not claimed. Yet. I sincerely hope the competition stops here and there will be no attempts to EAT more candy than anyone else.