This story is for all the parents and grandparents out there with children and grandchildren young enough to be trick-or treating. It might be a fun way to remind them to have an enjoyable Halloween and a safe one too.
Tommy and Tara were becoming more and more excited as they got ready for Halloween. Tommy was getting dressed up as a pirate and Tara was going to be a ballet dancer. They had gone shopping with Daddy and Mummy in the mall and had found just the right costumes that they liked. As they left the mall, Tommy turned to Daddy and Mummy and said: “Thank you for buying this pirate costume for me. I always wanted to be a pirate.” Daddy and Mummy were happy that Tommy said “thank you.” Mummy said: You will look great in your costume, Tommy, and you will be a beautiful ballet dancer, Tara. Halloween will be lots of fun.
As they passed the ice-cream shop in the Food Court, there was a huge poster hanging in front and Tommy and Tara stopped to look at it. It was the pumpkin princess. Mummy asked: “Did Miss Jones or Mr. Marks tell you about the pumpkin princess?” Those were their teachers. Tommy was in the fifth grade and Tara was in Grade one. Just then, Daddy surprised them by buying ice-cream cones for everyone – vanilla for Mummy, chocolate for Tara, pistachio for Tommy, and Cheesecake for himself. Daddy said: “We can sit on this bench right here and eat our cones.” The bench was right across from the poster. Both children and Mummy thanked Daddy for the cones and licked away at their favourite flavours.
Mummy went on to tell the children about the pumpkin princess. She said: “Amber is her name and she wanted to be a princess for Halloween. She told her Mummy that she wanted to be a working princess. “I don’t want to be like the princesses in fairy tales who don’t seem to have anything to do.” Her mother asked her what kind of work she wanted to do. Amber said: “I want to be a Pumpkin Princess and Ambassador of Safety for Halloween. Mummy thought this was a great idea.
Tara asked: “Mummy, what is an ambassador?” Mummy told Tara that an ambassador is someone who wants to help others by promoting something. She told Tara that Amber wanted to teach boys and girls what were some of the ways they could have lots of fun at Halloween and keep safe too. “Mummy, she’s a good princess. I like her pumpkin hat,” Amber said. Tommy chirped in “an extra pair of eyes and an extra mouth. Strange!”
“That’s part of her costume,” Mummy said. “The extra pair of eyes shows that seeing is a very important part of being safe at Halloween. She has six hints for seeing at Halloween.
- Always go trick-or-treating with Mummy, Daddy, or a grown-up you know. Stay close to them.
- Stay far away from a lit pumpkin in an entrance or on a porch.
- Wear face make-up instead of a mask. If you happen to be wearing a mask, you have to walk very carefully and make sure that your mask does not cover your eyes.
- Ask Mummy or Daddy to make sure your costume is the right length so that you don’t trip in the dark.
- Wear something that glows in the dark or ask Daddy or Mummy to put some reflective tape on your costume. You want others to be able to see you at all times. No bumps in the dark!
- Ask your parents if you can carry a flashlight and they can get one for themselves at the same time.
“The extra mouth is not for eating extra treats,” Mummy said. The extra mouth is for speaking up. The pumpkin princess has five hints about communication at Halloween.
- Always say “thank you”when someone gives you a treat.
- Say “thank you” when someone admires your costume.
- Never go inside someone’s home or car for a treat. Say “no thank you” politely and go to Mummy, Daddy, or your trusted grown-up.
- Mummy and Daddy will check all your treats when you go home as some treats may contain items you are allergic to. If a friend you’re with offers you an opened treat while you’re trick-or-treating, say “no thank you, I’m having my treat when I go home.
- After your treats have been checked at home, your parents will let you have a few before bedtime. Too much sugar all at once is unhealthy. Listen to your parents. Thank them for taking you out and for all they did for you to have a safe and fun-filled Halloween.
ENJOY THIS HALLOWEEN AND BE SAFE. I WILL SEE YOU AROUND WHEN I’M THE PUMPKIN PRINCESS – AMBASSADOR OF SAFETY, NEXT TIME HALLOWEEN COMES AROUND.
Tommy and Tara were happy to hear the story about the Pumpkin Princess, Amber. They told Mummy that they were going to tell all their friends about her and her wonderful work.