The only way to Trick or Treat

We are only 12 days away from that wonderful day when kids worldwide are dressed up and released into the great world of greed, avarice, and gluttony. More than one kind of demon is released each Halloween as kids are sent and sometimes coerced onto the porches of strangers to beg/demand candy.

I'm sure my first few porches included some prodding from my mom, but after I got that taste in my mouth I was hard to catch up with. I quickly learned that the key to Halloween was speed. The fastest way to get the goods was to run up just as the other kids were about to leave. I not only saved the 5 seconds it took for the stranger to open their door, but also the 3.5 seconds it took to say "trick or treat".

Running was the only option on Halloween, and sidewalks were optional. Steamrolling over fairies and princesses only slowed you down especially if there was a grownup around. The older I grew the better Halloween became. I learned the art of candy inspection and practiced this often on my younger siblings. Of course, I had to make sure their candy was safe (and that they weren't eating anything I wanted). I also learned that greed, avarice, and gluttony come with a price; usually an upset stomach and multiple trips to the dentist.

So what are your special "trick or treat" tips for the kiddies?