Situation: Patrick
and Sara are planning to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Because they
are too young to go by themselves, their mom asks their two older siblings,
either Christine or Ian, to take them around the neighborhood.
Patrick: Wow! Today is
October 30th! Halloween is
tomorrow already! Have you decided what you will be dressing up for Halloween
yet, Sara?
Sara: I’m not sure what
I want to be yet. I want to be either a butterfly or a pumpkin. But why do we
dress up for Halloween?
Patrick: Halloween is a
festival for children, and costumes make it more special. I think we have much
more fun going from house to house asking for candies (trick-or-treating) after
sunset dressed in our favorite costumes.
Sara: Yes, I remember
having a lot of fun last year when mom took me around in a bunny outfit. Do you
know what you want to be yet, Patrick?
Patrick: I want to be
Batman! I like wearing the cape and the mask. I think you should be a butterfly.
You are so much shorter than me, and dressed in a pumpkin costume, someone
might think you really are one and try to make a pie out of you.
Sara: How could anyone
mistake me for a real pumpkin? Real pumpkins do not have a head or arms or
legs. But I suppose I will be a butterfly anyway. I can have pretty wings.
Patrick: Great! So you
will be a butterfly and I will be Batman. Let’s go ask Mom if we can go
trick-or-treating tomorrow night by ourselves. Although you are still young, I
think I am old enough to watch over the both of us.
Sara: OK, let’s go ask
mom!
Patrick: MOM! Can Sara and
I go trick-or-treating by ourselves tomorrow? I can watch over Sara and make
sure she stays out of trouble.
Sara: Yes, Mom. If we
go by ourselves, then you can stay home and relax. You will not have to get
cold waiting for us.
Mom: Thank you for
offering, Patrick. However, I will be worried and I will not be able to relax
if you and your brother go by yourselves while I stay home. Let me ask
Christine or Ian if one of them can go with both of you. Then I can stay home
and relax. Christine! Ian!
Christine & Ian: What, Mom? You
called us?
Mom: Do you have any
free time tomorrow night? Can one of you take Patrick and Sara around the
neighborhood so that they can trick-or-treat on Halloween?
Christine: I can take them,
Mom. I do not have any plans tomorrow.
Ian: Mom, I heard you
wanted to go watch a movie tomorrow night with Dad. If you want, I can stay at
home and give out candies to any trick-or-treaters who come by while Christine
takes Patrick and Sara trick-or-treating.
Christine: Then you and Dad
can have a little fun on Halloween too.
Sara: So Mom and Dad can relax!
Mom: Sounds like a
plan, kids. Thanks a lot!
Patrick: Well, I think I
am old enough to take Sara around by myself, but maybe we can get more candy if
Christine comes. Hey Christine, how about you trick-or-treat with us, and give
us your candy afterwards?
Christine: No way, Patrick.
I will eat every Hershey’s, Reese’s, Snickers, and Twix I get. You can have my
Jolly Ranchers though.
Ian: Well, it seems as
though everything is settled and everyone will have some Halloween fun. I think
I am going to have the most fun of all though. I get to eat all the candies
that I do not give away, and I do not even have to trick-or-treat for it!