Ghosts, witches, monsters—Halloween can be scary. Decorating, carving, planning—Halloween is a time for panicking. It certainly is if you are Scaredy Squirrel. Halloween is dangerous. There are carnivorous plants, haunted houses, and pumpkins! What’s a squirrel to do?
Therefore, Scaredy Squirrel has put together a book of helpful tips* and instructions to help guide you and your child through common Halloween obstacles—such as goblins, dragons, and pumpkin carving.
First, did you wash your hands? There’s dirt, and where there is dirt, there is germs. Are they clean? No sticky fingers. That’s why you read this book before you unwrap your candy. Also, it’s important to use only fingers: this safety guide is not to be handled with tentacles or claws. You might get the pages wet, or tear them, and that might mean you aren’t human, and that would be scary.
You need a danger-proof plan. Do you have a dog? Not a problem. Get a dog house. This will create the illusion that your house is well-guarded. Werewolves will not be a problem, and a scarecrow will scare witches. Garlic will keep those pesky vampires away. Vampires and witches aren’t real, but you can’t be too careful.
Decorating should be fun and not scary. Carving Jack O’ Lanterns is part of the holiday, but be safe. Don’t use your dad’s chainsaw. You can draw a face with marker, or get a grownup to remove the seeds and then you can carve your lantern with a sturdy plastic knife. A flashlight will give it a ghostly glow, and be safer and last longer than a candle.
Picking a Halloween costume is no easy task. Zombie or ghost? Hero or villain? Makeup vs. mask? There are so many choices, so little time. It’s no easy task. You might want to start thinking about it in June. I do!
Crossing the street for candy can be risky. Watch out for flying saucers and cars. You are going to want to look both ways before crossing the street, and avoid bodies of water. There could be sea monsters. Be polite and smile when you knock. It goes a long way and there’s a sweet reward waiting.
You are going to want to know your candy. There’s chocolate, hard candy, sour candy, and then there’s candy corn. Each has pros and cons. Make sure you have a solid plan for your candy transport and have parent or trusted adult give the stamp of approval. A few examples that do not pass inspection: expired candy, or salamanders stuck to your candy corn.
The more you know, the safer you’ll be. Apples are a frightening fruit. Apples have a really bad reputation in fairy tales, and bobbing for apples was made popular by piranhas. Knowledge is power. If you meet the Mummy, just make him turn in circles. He always gets tangled.
Vampires can’t see their own reflection. So, you can just hide behind a mirror. Ghosts are known to be cold. Bring a sweater and stay warm. Remember enjoy the festivities, and don’t forget what I said about the apple bobbing. Now, where is my mask???
*Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween, with a little help from author Melanie Watt
Prepared? or Scared? Email me at from_my_shelf@yahoo.com and let me know. Miss a past column? You can did up the past at http://frommyshelf.blogspot.com Hobo, Bookstore Cat, has his Halloween costume all picked out. He’s going as a ninja. If you don’t see him, you know he was there. Have a happy, safe Halloween…
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