Devils Night...

I recently sent out a "getting to know your friends" survey, and it asked about toilet papering. It reminded me of this night.... Devils Night.

In Milford, we lived on a quiet dirt road. We had one of the smaller pieces of property measuring a quaint 3 acres. Many of our neighbors had so much property, they divided it up when the moved. Regardless, we had about 11 houses in our entire neighborhood. It was a wonderful place to grow up.

On Devils Night, we would stake out a house where we knew the people would leave. Then as soon as they were gone, all of us kids were all over it with toilet paper. We had the best time. One very vivid memory is of us all toilet papering the Denewith's house. They had this HUGE white colonial, perched up on a hill. They had this L...o....n...g paved driveway leading up to it with trees lining it on both sides. Denewith's left and we arrived. We had that place covered. Joe Nutting impressed the hell out of me by throwing a roll of toilet paper (while holding on to the end of it) over the top of this huge ass house. His brother who was conveniently stationed on the other side, caught it, and ran it back around the house. We wrapped every single tree going down the driveway, crossing back and forth so that they would have to either drive through it or get out and remove it upon returning. It was quite impressive if I say so myself.

We waited quietly in the field across the street, and watched them come home. They drove up the driveway through all the ribbons of toilet paper. It was quite a sight to see.

Another favorite recollection is of this... all of us kids were walking up the dirt road heading in the direction of the Denewith's house (go figure). We were walking and suddenly, out from the woods comes a man with a bag over his head, a rope tied around his neck and he's weilding something like a knife over his head. It scared the shit out of all of us kids. Heather practically peed her pants. We were all bawling, and hysterical. Funny how my sister, Audrey, walks out behind the man, who just happens to be my brother. How funny. I do believe that was the very last Devils Night we celebrated.

It took me years to realize that I no longer have to turn on every outdoor light to ward off the little heathens, because it seems like no one really celebrates it any longer. I don't even know if it exists any more. I guess that's what country bumpkins come up with when they are bored. Oh we found out something too... Don't let off fireworks in your neighbors mailbox, unless you don't mind them tearing up your lawn with their car!