Tricked and Treated

A Q-Tip came to my door last night; so did a leaf blower. Behind them were gypsies, cheerleaders, doctors, nurses, witches and goblins. What else could I expect on Halloween night?
The numbers were down but that merely continues a decline I've seen in recent years: trick or treaters don't come around like they used to.
At its peak the street in front of our ranch had a parade of creatures that might have been from a John Carpenter movie. Each kid carried a searchlight so it looked something like a bunch of scary fireflies moving through the dark. But, as they say, that was then and this is now.
When I thought about it I realized that there were lots of kids in the neighborhood when we moved in. All those kids who provided so much amusement are grown and gone, some with their own kids now to take out trick or treating. We have few youngsters to keep up the tradition locally.
Still, the doorbell rang last night and those few faces came calling, sometimes having a short rhyme or a brief song to sing, perhaps a little joke, one I've heard at least six dozen times over the years. It was good and pleasant and not too spooky. It was a chance to see some up and coming talent, a chance to see some kids who, if we're lucky, might some day in the future come knocking at our door leading yet another generation of kids who go bump in the night.