Seeing all of the glorious aisles and aisles of candy, set up for Halloween, just makes me smile.
Oh, not just that I have a little (big) sweet tooth. (And we all know I do. Unfortunately.)
But, I smile because I'm reminded of my childhood...and my mom's secret stash of Halloween candy--purchased every year, just as soon as the candy displays were put out.
You have to understand--we didn't have much candy around our house. It's not that candy was forbidden; my mom just bought mostly healthy food. Junk food was usually reserved for gas station purchases on long car trips. Oh yeah, and for Halloween.
This memory of the hidden stash of Halloween candy always makes me smile, because it was a house secret--that my brother, sister, and I all shared. We put aside the bickering when Halloween rolled around. Siblings have to stick together when there's secret candy involved. We'd conspire after school--just in time for a little afternoon snack: One of us would watch the door, while the other two would climb up, barefoot, onto the counter, to reach the very top shelf of the very top cupboard.
Ah, and when we'd find the stash, we'd find a treasure trove of candy bags. And my mom didn't scrimp on Halloween candy. She bought the good stuff. The Mars snack size candy bars, the Hersheys mini bites (we always left the Special Darks behind), and the Brachs' candy corn. Always Brachs for the candy corn.
We thought we were SO SNEAKY, making a small hole in the plastic candy packages, and only pulling out a couple of pieces every day. As Halloween got closer, we'd start getting a little concerned about getting busted. I mean--it was OBVIOUS the candy bags were pitifully smaller.
But, wouldn't you know it--just like magic--that stash was always replenished the day before Halloween. And, oh boy, did we ever think we'd hit the jackpot then!
Nobody got in trouble, and MORE CANDY!!!
Nothing was ever mentioned between kids and parents about the candy stash. Sure does make me wonder now if the kids weren't the ONLY ONES doing the pilfering...
Growing up, what did you conspire with your brother or sister?