Arlene's Scratch Paper

So many things are obvious in this city. Some aren’t. But when the obvious is overlooked and then ignored, the simple expands into Kafka-eque proportions. This is one of those times. Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays since I was a kid. We wore flammable costumes, plastic masks, and were warned that people put razor blades inside of apples. And I love seeing imaginative costumes on the subway.  But let’s talk about Halloween decorations. Pumpkins, skeletons, and witches are all around us, from apartment lobbies and doors, inside of apartments, houses, stores, and offices. In just a few days, trick-or-treaters, most of them children, will be out visiting stores and other businesses in my neighborhood and around the city. A police precinct is a stop where kids, teens and parents are greeted by friendly cops with buckets of candy. There are no boundaries for horror during this holiday. Including at my local precinct. To continue reading, click here for my Substack  Tales from