It was nearly 8:30 and I was resigned to the idea that our long streak of zero trick-or-treaters was unbroken. Richard, however, had his towering Cat in the Hat hat on and was reading a book by the door, ready to spring out of his seat.

The doorbell rang.

It was the little boy next door in a skeleton costume, his proud daddy several steps behind.

He got a sealed cone of candied popcorn via Richard, some chocolate from me. I tried to encourage him to take more but his mommy and daddy had clearly defined the rules ahead of time–just one–and one of each was it.

We wished him a happy birthday, knowing he’d just had one.

He needed to let us know something important: our house was really close to his!

Yes! Yes, it is, little buddy, and I am so glad.