“From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”
~Scottish saying
I was born and did my first trick or treating in Dayton, Ohio where both October 30th and 31st were celebrated. The 30th was Beggars’ Night, and we would go house to house crying, “Beggars’ night, give us a bite.” The 31st, we’d make a second round…or go to houses we missed the first night for “Trick or Treats.”
When we moved to Utica, New York when I was in Second Grade, I was surprised to only have one night of treats…but pleased by the popcorn balls and candied or caramel apples that were handed over by our well-known neighbors or the treats shared at a table set up and decorated in their garages. Though the number of houses on our street would expand over the years we lived there, initially we knew every neighbor well….except one, the people who lived directly across the street from our house.
The Bonitos were ghost people. At least the kids in the neighborhood thought they were. They had no children and were almost never even glimpsed. Mr. Bonito mowed the lawn at dusk and into the dark. Occasionally, we would see the garage door open, and a car pull out…but the Bonitos were as elusive as the fish whose name they carried.
Most damning of all, the Bonitos lived in their basement. At night, there were never lights on in their living room, only faint flickers from their basement windows.
Who knew what they might be doing in the dark! We imagined the worst about that basement. And stories grew up around these neighbors. It was said they poisoned the dog from the house to their left for daring to run into their yard.
Of course, many of us were convinced that any child who ran into that yard to retrieve a ball was risking their life to go get it. Surely, you would be kidnapped and dragged to the basement. It was a sign of courage to even quickly run to the edge of their grass on the border of the street and touch your foot to it and run home. Balls that landed on their yard stayed there.
On Halloween, theirs was the only house with no porch light on. As little children we ran past their house as fast as we could. Of course, as we grew older and braver, or maybe crueler, the biggest trick and largest dare the “big kids” could face was a challenge to actually run up to their porch and ring the bell and yell Trick or Treat.
Of course, serious bragging rights went to the kid brave enough to stay on the porch waiting, rather than just running in, ringing the bell, and running off just as quickly.
Then, one day I was the big kid.
I remember my heart was thumping in my chest when I ran up their driveway and onto their porch. I pressed the doorbell and it seemed my heart bumped up into my throat, pounding in my ears. I counted to 20. It was as long as I could stand it, and just as I turned to race away I thought I heard a hushed voice hoarsely cry, “Go away.”
It is fair to say all of us lived in fear of the Bonitos. They were the neighborhood bogeymen.
Of course, it was a long time later before I began to wonder what it might be like for them to be seen that way, or to wonder if they might even have lived in fear of us.
It was the 50s and the baby boom was in full swing. Our neighborhood was bursting with children. We played kickball in the summer, and even skated on the road in winter when our street would be coated with ice for a few days after every storm before trucks would arrive to shovel cinders onto it. The neighborhood was filled with children, and we ran in large groups.
What must it have been like to be childless in that time? Was that a choice or a terrible disappointment. Did it feel like it excluded them from the life in the neighborhood? Were their lights off to save money, did they use candles only as much as they needed and could afford? Were they lonely? What if instead of tricks we had brought them treats? Could we have changed their lives by bringing them cookies or by being nice?
Now I wonder, were they the bogeymen or were we?
Maybe that should be the lesson to take from Halloween. It can absolutely be innocent fun when children dress up and seek treats. And that is all it generally is. But it can become serious business to begin demonizing others, just like Halloween can stop being fun when tricks begin being played, candy poisoned, houses egged, car windows soaped, toilet paper webbed on bushes or even rolls of it set aflame.
In this time, as we approach an election that has specialized in demonization I find myself thinking about this lesson from the Bonitos. It is a reminder to me to beware of seeing demons in difference, to befriend neighbors, to reach out to those who are isolated and alone, to make fair assessments and judgements based on facts. And yes, to add a prayer or two that we all be delivered us from things that go bump…even when that bumping is in our own chests.
Note: I have added a link of this blog to a linked blogging site sponsored by Stevie Turner a blogging friend from England… tap on this link to view a number of posts, including her, and add a link to your blog if you’d like. InLinkz
joanneeddy's blog 
A lovely piece, Jo, and a timely reminder that we should get to know the facts before making judgements. Although there is a long traditional history in parts of the UK we didn’t do anything for it where I lived. But we had a house like this that we would have avoided too. I bet they were lovely people, but we never took the time or trouble to find out. Sad. (As the tweeting tyrant would say).
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Thanks, Clive. Forget Halloween, it’s the election that is scaring me and I can’t wait for it to be over.
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I know what you mean. It scares the rest of the world too.
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It’s dark now in the UK and I’m sitting here waiting for the doorbell to ring. I’ve got my trick or treat sweets ready, and want Hallowe’en and the election to be over as soon as possible!
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Absolutely agree to both! Given being in town with a very rural county around us, many of the country kids come to town to walk freely and trick or treat…even the town merchants have treats to give away. We have the church parking lot next to our house, so I must give away about $50 worth of candy! Jo
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Don’t forget to check Facebook for my friend request so that I can add you to the group.
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Hasn’t shown up yet, but I’ll keep looking.
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Oh, perhaps try sending me one then?
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Finally got it!
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You start with an ole scottish prayer, one said to scare the bejeesus out of us. Not made for your halloween but for old souls day. 😇
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Thanks, Ellen! Good to know! Here not much is made of either All Saints or All Souls days…and hardly any remember that Halloween comes from the idea of All Hallows Eve or E’en. Jo
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That is a great story and a wonderful conclusion. Fear of each other’s differences just leads to paranoia and segregation. Minorities (even if it’s a minority of one) have a right to celebrate their differences and not be judged as “noncompliant” and therefore “demonized” Just because most of society has decided to be “unified” in doing something doesn’t mean everyone has to join. Really nice post. I hope youl’ll join the Open Book Blog Hop more regularly..
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Thanks you for your kind words and your thoughtful comments. I certainly hope to be a part of Open Book Blog Hop again. Jo
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I’ve never heard of the traditon of going out two nights. It was strictly one night in my hometown.
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PJ I actually looked up Beggars’ Night and clearly it is a big Ohio tradition, and according to Wiki also observed in parts of Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Western New York, but certainly wasn’t in central (upstate) New York. It certainly gave us a chance to wear our costumes more than once! Jo
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Your story of the Bonitos reminds me of the movie, The Burbs. The imagined atrocities that were committed in the neighbor’s house turned into quite the comedy.
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I never saw the movie…but perhaps it was one of those universal truths that we fear, sometimes even comically, that which we do not know. Jo
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I loved the story and the neat , reflective contemporary twist. You are so right – its the demonizing that does the damage and sadly the lemmings will follow willingly if the shouts are loud and compelling enough. I live near quite Salem MA at the moment. It’s a great reminder of what can happen.
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Yes, Salem really is a perfect example. So glad you liked the post. Jo
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Awesome story thanks for sharing it!
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Thanks for stopping by, Nancy. Glad you liked it! Jo
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I have had several occasions to encounter residents of our town who behave in such a mysterious fashion. It is always a mystery when someone is that reclusive and does give flight to the imagination. Wonderful advise about trying to turn the coin over and look at the other side.
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Thanks, Bernadette!
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