The Buggy on the Roof
"The children who come to my door will remember All Hallows’ Eve as a night when they sold their right to rebellion for some sugar in expensive wrappings."
TL;DR
- The author contrasts childhood Halloween pranks in 1935 with modern trick-or-treating, viewing the former as a release of youthful anarchy.
- In 1935, Halloween in Cleveland, North Dakota, was a night for vandalism rather than collecting candy for charity.
- The author recounts participating in pranks with older boys, including rigging water buckets, moving privies, and waxing windows.
- A significant prank involved placing the vice principal, Mr. Merry's, buggy on top of his barn roof.
- Another incident involved rocking a privy behind a service station, nearly resulting in the author being shot at by the station owner.
- The author recalls the satisfaction of seeing the buggy on the barn roof, neutralizing the vice principal's authority for days.