Halloween—Is This the Point?

When their bags were full of goodies, the kids stopped
at the schoolyard to stuff themselves silly.
“Trick or treat!” beeped the thing.
“There’s something weird about that new kid,”
whispered Lily.
 
                                                              from Space Case
                                                            by Edward Marshall
       
​       ​I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. Even at the tender age of six, I knew that was pretty impossible. First, I was the wrong shape, too round. Next, I didn’t have enough poise or grace. I’d bump into walls, sometimes, and we all know how I (sorta) learned to roller skate.
       But if I pretended, especially with a little bit of dress up, I could be ANYTHING, even a round, clumsy ballerina.
       So, back to Halloween. We’re always telling kids they can do and be anything they can dream of. So maybe the point of Halloween is to help kids identify their dreams and walk around as someone else for a little while, just to try it out.
       Astronaut? (jump into the future)
       Archeologist? (blast back to explore the past)
       Mad Scientist? (even the Mad ones discover stuff!)
       Ghoul? Witch? Vampire? (maybe especially important to feel powerful when when you’re very small)
 
       Okay, even the scary stuff can be useful. I understand, but I still don’t have to like it!
 
                                                                   --stay curious!