Another group of kids ran past Mark, Fredrick, Amanda and Linda, trick or treat bags flapping in the wind. The four were in their late teens, and were considered a group of "do-gooders". They were out on Halloween night just hoping to keep the kids safe from the sickos who seemed to be showing up in the news more and more often. They were certainly too old to be trick or treating, but they had made a little attempt as dressing up, in the spirit of the night. Fredrick had a plastic pirate's sword swinging at his hip, Linda had a black cat's tail poking out over her jeans. Mark and Amanda had gone a little more all out. Amanda was wearing a brown sweat-suit decorated like an otter, and Mark was wearing a grey sweatsuit decorated to look like a raccoon.
"Man..." Mark sighed as he kicked a rock, "I sure do miss being a kid. I'd rather be trick-or-treating tonight."
Amanda smiled sweetly back at him, then tugged his "tail", "Honestly, Raccoon-Boy, this was your idea. And really, it's very noble to make sure the kids don't get hurt."
Mark sighed again, "I know...I'd just rather spend the night worrying about how good the candy at the next house is going to be, then whether one of these kids is going to be taken off and hurt or killed."
Then another group of kids ran by...and these didn't look so innocent. Four middle-school boys...and if they were in costume then they were all dressed like robbers.
It took a nod of Mark's head and all four were following them quietly. A few blocks up the street the stopped at an old house that had been for sale for years. Then one of them took a package of eggs out of his sweatshirt. Mark wandered quietly up behind the middle schoolers,who were snickering loudly enough that they missed his steps. Then, when Mark was right behind one of them, he said, practically yelling, "WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?" and snatched the egg out of the surprised kid's hand. By the time they recovered from the shock, Mark's friends had moved to both sides of the kids. The middle schoolers assessed their situation.
Even if they hit the house, the older students were much bigger, and probably faster. Standing and fighting wasn't an option, but running was probably a losing bet too. Which left negotiation: one of them, presumably the leader, since he'd been the one with the carton of eggs, spoke up.
"What do you want? Leave us alone."
"Like you were going to leave this house along?" Amanda snapped. "I don't think so."
"Butt out. This isn't your business. You don't live here," one of the other kids retorted.
"You don't either. Hand over the eggs."
By this time, each of the middle schoolers had an older kid close enough to grab them. Even so, none of them responded until Fred grabbed the carton of eggs. Amanda grabbed the last egg any of the kids was holding, and, without any way to respond, the middle schoolers walked away, grumbling to each other and shooting dirty looks towards the foursome.
"Well, I suppose that was worthwhile. With luck, they'll call it quits tonight."
"Yeah, now aren't you glad we did this, Mark?"
Before Mark could respond, the house's nearest window flew open, and an elderly woman stuck her head out.
"I heard a commotion. What are you kids up to?" she asked in a suspicious tone. Then, spying the carton of eggs Fred was holding, "You weren't going to egg my house were you? That happened to me last year, and if it happens again, you bet your booties whoever does it will wish they hadn't."
"No, we, er..." Mark stammered through a reply, "we didn't know anyone still lived here. We-"
"-Were just going to egg an abandoned house, eh? You should know not to do that. I've half a mind to call the police right now."
"No, no. There was a group of kids that were going to egg your house, but we grabbed the eggs from them."
The woman looked at them one by one and then, to their surprise, said, "I think I believe you. There are too many bad kids out there these days, and it's liable to make a woman suspicious. I owe you my thanks. Are you kids trick-or-treating? I don't usually give out candy, but I'm sure I can find something for you."
"No, we're a little old to trick-or-treat." Mark answered. "Besides, you don't owe us anything."
"Too old to trick-or-treat? Nonsense. In fact, I have just the thing."
She pulled her head inside, and for the next few minutes, the students could hear sounds of rummaging. Unsure of whether she could hear them, they simply exchanged looks. Finally, she stuck her head out the window again. "I knew I had these around somewhere. One for each of you."
One by one, they walked up to the window to take one from her. When it was Mark's turn, she added, "Too old to trick or treat? What foolishness. You had better have two. And don't save them. I know you're not too old for candy."
The four politely thanked her, and then turned around. The woman continued to watch them. "Well? I meant it when I said you should have them now."
Convinced that the woman was completely senile, they carefully unwrapped the pieces of candy. It turned out to be some brand they'd never heard of before, but wanting to keep the woman happy, they all ate what proved to be small pieces of chocolate with different colored stripes of ice cream inside. Only once they'd all finished their piece (and Mark finished both of his) did the woman say, "Have a nice evening!" and shut the window.