And I also remember that the rest of Death Row reportedly cheered when he was executed. You know you’ve done something really bad when that happens.
That is an awesome story.
The worst treat was when they would sit a hug barrel of pennies on the porch with a sign that said, “Take Just One”.
Even though the kids would always be heard to say, “come on, ya’ll! He’s a nice man, take just one, let’s not be greedy”, I always knew that by morning, someone would have taken advantage of the situation.
It used to annoy me because not only does it mean that some kid was an ass and a thief…but I also strongly suspected that whomever sat that barrel out there had some sort of a martyr complex.
I think the worst gift to give would be a handful of flour, salt and sugar and a note with a recipe for donut making.
Back in Depression days, a few pennies actually would have been seen as a treat by most kids. However, my father claims that there were people in his neighborhood who’d put out a big bowl of Lincoln cents and invite the unwary trick-or-treater to grab a handful. I say “unwary” because the coins had just been heated in a frying pan on the stove, and the kids literally got burned for their “greed”.
Oh, and what’s that laxative gum-feenamint or something?
My mother actually did this for many years, and for all I know she still does. She would buy a big bag of mixed nuts in the shell - walnuts, brazil nuts, etc. Then she would get a black fine point marker and draw a little animal face and tail on each one. Each kid got one nut. Imagine their delight!
For the worst possible, I nominate clumps of clumping cat litter.
Used kitty litter?
I agree with you on the first, but the second? I’ll take yours!
I still remember poor Helen. I wasn’t allowed to go trick-or-treating and her mom thought this was sad and forced Helen to share her loot with me. I didn’t know enough to politely decline. :smack:
Some less savory ideas:
Bricks
leftover Easter Candy
leaking batteries
paper towel squares
hair clippings
packs of underwear (clean)
business cards
cans of kidney beans
sticks and leaves
lengths of wire or string
those sewing kits you get at hotels
Packets of Duck Sauce and Hot Mustard from Chinese takeout.
A teabag.
Sweet n’ Low and Splenda.
A cigarette and a pack of matches.
Oh, and I loved the squash! That would have cracked me up when I was a kid!
My sisters and I always called them Peanut Butter Boogers!
Just say it’s almond roca.
Buy a few bags of frozen Brussels sprouts, and some snack-size zip-lock bags. Put 3-4 frozen Brussels sprouts in each zippie, and hand them out to the kids. Won’t they be thrilled!
This year I am giving out Kraft carmel potatoes. I’ll roll some in crushed nuts.
Save your christmas and easter candy for giving out on the next halloween. Mmmmmm.
Scumpup, try some chocolate coated onions or garlic.
Even better if they’re too short to use.
The chewy little delights in the black and orange paper twists are called Peanut Butter Kisses and I think they are absolutely divine. I once ate a bag of the things in TWO DAYS when I was teensy.
The worst item in my candy bag (I was about eight) was a little container of cough drops. Not the tasty kind like Luden’s or Smith Bros or Ricola, which could pass for hard candy. These were unmistakably medication and tasted like such. I don’t think that person did it to be mean, though. I think they just didn’t have anything else. Oh, well. At least I didn’t get a ROCK.
We had one of those mad scientist types that gave out b-r-a-a-i-i-n-s.
“Dispensing fried chicken embryos and beer…” 