It Gets Worse: Better Than The Real Thing

I bring Sam to and from work everyday and almost everyday, when I pick him up, his supervisor, Teri, comes out and chats for a few minutes while we wait for Sam. Often times we talk about about how he did that day - if everything went well, if he had any struggles, etc. Sometimes it's just to touch base.

During the course of a conversation earlier in the week, she asked what our plans were for trick-or-treating on Saturday night - what with the pandemic and the now-rising cases everywhere.

I told her that it was extremely unlikely that we would go out - at least not for trick-or-treating. I told her we'd probably drive around instead, and hope that people had a lot of lights and decorations lit up for us to look at. Not the same thing, I knew, but it was something.

Even though Sam was a little disappointed, he (sort-of) understood. It wasn't worth the risk. Walking around old neighborhoods, knocking on mostly stranger's doors, reaching into bowls of candy that other strangers have been reaching into, didn't seem like a great idea.

I mentioned to her how, for Sam, it's not really about the candy and how, as a matter of fact, his mostly filled bag of candy from last Halloween is still hanging from his dining room chair and how this year, like every year, I would have to empty it if we were going out.

I told her that I thought a part of Halloween is that he likes to see a few of the people on our route - but mostly, I think it's the adventure of it - or at the very least, the ritual of it all. We like rituals.

Yesterday afternoon, I got a call from Teri. She wanted to know if on Friday (today), was I going to be bringing Sam to work and picking him up - or was he taking the bus? "No," I said, "I would be doing both, like usual." Then she asked if I could bring Sam to work a half hour later and could he stay a half hour later? I told her that it wouldn't be a problem. Finally, she asked if Sam could wear his costume to work. (Earlier, I had mentioned that he was going to dress up as a doctor, wearing a jacket and stethoscope which Rachael had bought for him. Apparently he didn't like my mummy, construction worker or vampire ideas - which was no surprise.) "I'll check with him but I'm sure he'd love to," I told her.

"Good," she said. Then she told me what she was planning.

She remembered what I had mentioned about the trick-or-treating and she decided to arrange it so Sam could trick-or-treat at work. By waiting that extra half hour, all his coworkers would be back from their various routes and everyone would be able to participate. She would have his coworkers scattered around different rooms in the building and Sam could knock on the various doors, say "trick-or-treat," and and get some candy or small prizes. "But don't tell him," she said. "We'll let it be a surprise."

I couldn't believe it. I had to ask her to repeat it a couple of times.

After I hung up, I let Sam know that I would be bringing him to work a little late and picking him up a little late - and that he should wear his costume. Beyond a "Oh, that's a little different" there were no questions.

This morning, I reminded him to put on his costume, and brought him to work.

When I went to pick Sam up, I drove down to the usual set of double doors, parked and waited for him to come out. Right when I pulled in, one of the double doors swung open and one of the ladies he works with, darted out, closed the door behind her and stood facing the doors, waiting in the thirty-six degree weather, wearing some crazy costume.

After several minutes, there was a knock from inside the door. She opened it to hear Sam say, "Trick or treat!" and she made a big deal of it.

While Sam finished up, Teri came out to talk to me and fill me in. She shared a photo she took from the elevator, taken as Sam was trick-or-treating (see below). And she told me about some of the things Sam got, including a little flashlight she bought for him - since he's not big on candy. I told her how touched I was. And I thanked her again, profusely.

When Sam came out, he was thrilled. He stammered through telling me about some of his day, including the fact that people kept calling him "Doctor Sam" all day. We talked about what a wonderful thing it was for them to do something like that, and how lucky he is to work with people who care so much about him - and about how they must feel he's pretty special.

I'm so happy and grateful that Sam is working with such thoughtful and caring people - and in such a safe environment. What a gift.

I still can't get over it.