When I was a little boy, I grew up in a very small town. The kind of town you see on television shows that has one store, one diner, one gas station...and I realize now what a cool place it was.

Generally, my father would get a couple of pumpkins from nearby farms for us to carve, and we then proceeded to set up a factory of pumpkin death on the dining room table. The smell wafted through the air with an unmistakable odor that indicated it was late fall.

Dad, was generally the carver because my mother was always sure I would accidentally cut out my spleen while making a jack-o-lantern. I helped with design and cleaning, and once our creations were ready, a squat, little candle was inserted and then it was placed on our front porch to show our holiday spirit to the neighbors.

One year, I remember watching for the festivities to begin. As dusk grew closer, I kept looking down the street to see the official start of the night...finally, a cadre of costumed children could be seen traversing the street in a haphazard fashion that had some of the adult chaperones frustrated beyond belief. I felt my pulse quicken, and I made sure the candy bowl was ready and the jack-o-lanterns were lit.

The night went on as planned and I went and got my fill of sweets. I returned home and then helped to hand out the last bits of candy to the late stragglers. We actually ran out and my Dad began popping popcorn to give to the remaining zealots. The last group of kids that came to the door were much too old to be trick-or-treating, and were not even dressed in costumes...my Dad gave them the popcorn, and they expressed their displeasure with the treat. Then, they were told to leave.

Before I went to bed that Halloween, I opened the door to take a final look at the street. I don't know why, but I think I expected it to look like a battlefied still smoking from mortar rounds. When I opened the door, I realized that our jack-o-lanterns were gone. I called out in shock and then saw that they were now smashed in the middle of the street in front of my home.

While saddened, I remember becoming more angry than anything. Amazed at the fact that others would take away something from me and destroy it. Now, I realize that this was the first time I had been really made aware of the unfair nature of life. For a few days after, I was affected. But, now I am thankful for that night. It gave me my first experience of hardship, and even though it was a very minor infraction, it was a representation of the things I would endure in my coming years.

Halloween was always my favorite holiday. It still is, maybe more so because of that. Now, I keep my jack-o-lanters out of reach. You should too.