That Halloween, the candy wasn’t the only thing electrifying the night.

The Electrifying Trick

One Halloween night, my stepdad turned candy-hunting into a shocking adventure.

Jodi Rae Roy

2 min read

·

5 hours ago

15

My stepdad was mischievous and never missed a chance to pull a prank. One Halloween, the neighborhood kids and I spent the whole day buzzing with excitement, planning our night of trick-or-treating. We mapped out which streets to hit, argued over the best makeup and costumes, and bragged about how much candy we’d collect. Next to Christmas and Easter, it was our favorite holiday.

School that day was a blur of costume contests, spooky treats, and the grand finale: the Halloween carnival with its cake walk, games, and laughter. By six o’clock, we were charged with sugar and ready to make the rounds. This year, we decided to carrysuitcasesfor our candy. Why risk running out of space when you could pack like a traveler on a sweet-toothed journey?

The night was perfect. Every porch glowed with jack-o’-lanterns, every yard held cobwebs and tombstones, and every door opened with a smile and a treat. By the time our suitcases were groaning with candy, we were tired but thrilled. There was just one house left: mine.

Our home was a tiny, no-frills mobile home. My stepdad wasn’t one for decorations, but he was one for schemes. Instead of greeting us at the door, he had laid out candy on the hood of our old Rambler car. A treasure trove in plain sight. We ran up, eager hands reaching — only to shriek back as a jolt ran through our fingers. Not a painful shock, but enough to make your heart skip.

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Illustration by Author

Some kids gave up immediately. Others tried again and again, each attempt met with another zap. I kept at it, determined. Finally, I discovered the secret: if I grabbed the side-view mirror first, I could reach across and snag a piece of candy without getting shocked. I grinned, quietly pocketing my prize, while the others kept trying and failing.

To this day, I don’t know exactly how he rigged it. All I know is that on that Halloween night, the hood of our old Rambler seemed alive, and the candy came with a jolt of mischief that only my stepdad could dream up. The result? An unforgettable Halloween prank that left the neighborhood kids convinced my candy was cursed.

And that little shock of mystery still lingers…