{This story may contain adult content. Parental consent is advised.}

They were poor sharecroppers on the Jackson plantation outside of Shorter, Alabama. James and Carrie could not afford to purchase costumes from the general store in town. Therefore, they made due with the items they gathered around the house. Carrie reluctantly gave them an old dress and suit to use as part of their costume. James gathered some of the cotton from the field and designed it to resemble a wig. The date on the torn calendar read October 31, 1931. The sun breathtakingly hung just above the thick grove of Pine trees behind the house. Arthur and Ethel sat on the porch of the small-unpainted wood frame house hastily adjusting their homemade Halloween disguises.

The children were going trick or treating in the small black neighborhood on the plantation. About 10 black families live on the plantation. They planned to visit every house in the small neighborhood. They hoped to return home with a bagful of treats. As Arthur handed Ethel the white flour sack, their mother opened the battered screen door. “Be sure yawl stay in the neighborhood. Mind yourselves and don’t forget to say thanks,” she lovingly instructed. Arthur and Ethel were good children but she knew that Arthur knew how to be bad.

“Yes, Ma,” they replied in almost perfect unison as they hastily walked down the long dirt road. They quickly went house to house. “Trick or treat.” they eagerly would reply and quickly thrust their bags out to receive the treats. Although the treats they received were sweet, the treats were not that good. They consisted mostly of popcorn balls or very hard homemade sorghum candy. After visiting the last house, the children returned home with the treats. “Baby sister,” Arthur said with disgust, “It don‘t look like we got much. The best thing we got is these here two candy apples.” he handed his sister one of the apple.

Taking the apple, she quickly took a bite. The apple juice ran down the front of her chin. After awhile, her brother replied, “I heard Sue say that Mrs. Jackson give them white kids some good stuff like chocolate when they go to the Big House.”

The children knew that blacks were not allowed on the other side of the field at night. With bits of the apple still in her mouth, Ethel replied, “Well, no need to even think about it; cause it is just about dark and you know Mom will never let us go.“

“It ain’t dark yet. It’s about two hours before dark. If we hurry we can get some good candy.” he replied. The two excited children quickly rushed across the cotton field to the house. They ran across the large lawn of the mansion and knocked loudly on the door. “BAM, BAM,” the dark brown rear door sounded.

Margery, the maid of the house, picked up the basket of candy and came reluctantly to the back door. “Who is it?” she replied and were greeted by an innocent melody of “TRICK OR TREAT.” Dumbfound, she looked at the two black kids. “Now what yawl doing over here this late?” she questioned.

Arthur humbly answered, “Mrs. Margery, we are James and Carries kids.

She replied, “I know who you are. Why you dressed up like that? Who do you suppose to be, anyway?”

The children saw the different candies and the large chocolate bar in the wicker basket. Arthur quickly straightened his roughly made wig. “Mrs. I am dressed as George Washington and this is Martha Washington.”

She laughs and replies, “Well I am sorry Arthur. Them are good white folks. Yawl just little black chillum. Yawl cannot be them. Yawl hurries up and tries again.” She closes the door and return to what she was doing.

It was almost dark. The children knew that they did not have time to run all the way home and change clothes and return again. Arthur wanted that candy. He had to think of something quick. “Baby sister, this is what we will do.” Arthur took the wig and attached it to his chin. With his tiny hands, he forced up the top of his hat. “Okay Baby Sister,” he said, “Let’s go try again.”

Quickly they ran from to the back door of the house and loudly knocked again. “Bam, Bam,” the door sounded. “Who is it?” Margery answered.

“Trick or Treat!” the children responded.

Margery came again to the door and looked at the children. “Now who does yawl suppose to be this time?”

Badly dressed Arthur replied, “We are Abraham Lincoln and his wife.” Again, she closed the door and sent them away empty handed.

By this time, the sky was turning dark. Arthur knew they had to go. Carrie was scared. “Arthur let’s go, it is getting dark,” she cautioned.

However, Arthur was thinking about coming up with a way to get the candy. He imagined the taste of the store bought chocolates and did not want to leave without at least one. “There has to be a way,” Arthur thought aloud to himself. “to get just one of those chocolate candy bars. I want the one with the almonds.”

Carrie replied, “I want the one without nuts.”

That was when the inspiration came to Arthur. His eyes grew wide with excitement as he envisioned what he would do. He stopped walking and loudly proclaimed. “That is it Baby Sister, That is it?”

“What is it,” she asked.

Arthur replied, “Listen, I know how we can get all of the candy we want. Take off your clothes and follow me.”

“What! Are you gone crazy Arthur?” she loudly protested.

“Just do it and come on. We got just one more chance.” Arthur said as they hurriedly run to the back door.

“Bam! Bam!” the door sounded again. Margery came to the door again with the basket in her hand. Opening the door, she noticed that they did not have their clothes on. “TRICK OR TRICK” the naked children replied. “My God, have yawl gone crazy. Where is yawl clothing. Who are yawl suppose to be.” she scorned.

Arthur boldly smiled and replied, “Mrs. Margery, I am a chocolate bar with nuts. Baby Sister is one without nuts.”

Surprised by the Arthur's response, Margery loudly laughed and dropped the basket. The children quickly picked up all of the candy. After keeping some for themselves, they placed the rest in the basket, retrieved their clothes and quickly returned across the field as darkness came.