Trick or Tr--wait, what?

Yesterday was the first Halloween I have ever lived in a house that had trick-or-treaters. ...I was unbelievably excited about this. From ages 2 to 18, I lived in a house with a lot of land and only 2 neighbors--both of whom you could not see their house from ours. Our driveway was an eighth of a mile long, so no one ever came knocking on our door for candy.

Since then, I have lived in apartments or dorms. Until now! I was so looking forward to seeing all the adorable kids in their costumes and being able to see the smiles on their faces as I put delicious (and really horrible for you teeth) candy into their bags or what have you. I was literally giddy yesterday as I anticipated the evening of fun ahead of me.

...

Then my roommate came downstairs. ... "Casey, it turns out [other roommate] isn't going to be here this evening either. And I'm not exactly thrilled about the idea of you being here alone. On Halloween. With all the doors unlocked and the security system off. (Because you can't exactly give kids candy and leave it on.) So. ...I have a gun upstairs, and I can show you how to use it. Are you comfortable with guns?"

Uhhh...well I wasn't freaked out about my safety until now. At this point, I am now running all these scenarios through my head of murderers and rapists and crazies climbing into my house while I wait happily unaware by the door with a bucket of candy, of hearing the voices, of the pounding heart, of candy flying as I race from room to room, of me slipping on a skittles packet and falling to my doom. ... "Go ahead and show me how to use your gun, please."

Now here's another dilemma. How do you have a gun close enough to you to use, should it be necessary, but far enough away that it doesn't freak out the small children? I mean, you can't exactly answer the door with a "Hi, kids! Cute costumes! Look at my gun!" ...Well, I suppose you could. But I wouldn't advise that.

...I also contemplated going somewhere for the evening, but then I wouldn't get to have trick-or-treaters. So I ended up inviting a friend over to watch a movie in the living room with me. And I also put the gun on a small table, far enough away from the door so that no one would be able to see it.

____

I only had about 10 trick-or-treaters. But it was so fun. There were some adorable kids. Also, I learned that these days, you say "Trick or treat" immediately after ringing the doorbell and/or knocking on the door, and well before the door is ever actually opened. Interesting.