From Jody’s point of view, Halloween started right after the Fourth of July when the grocery stores started stocking bags of candy. It seems like he bought at least one bag a week, often more. He would hid them in different places throughout our apartment, but I would eventually find them all. I asked him once why he bought so much candy given that we only averaged a dozen trick-or-treaters every Halloween. With his sly, Chesire cat grin, he would chuckle and say: “Don’t worry about it. I’ll eat it all eventually.” And so, he did, finishing the last piece between Christmas and New Year’s.

Today, five and a half years later, I find I have five bags of candy stashed in the kitchen cupboards when I only remember buying two. I guess Jody’s Halloween spirit has been busy multiplying the sweets. I just hope he comes back to eat whatever is left over. Otherwise, I’ll have to eat it myself.