Walmart Halloween Poem

by Jennifer Boyte
(Jesup, Georgia, USA)

Four years ago I had an idea that the local Walmart where I worked could be more involved with the community during Halloween. My idea was to offer free pictures to children in costume at our One Hour Photo Lab, then let the kids trick-or-treat throughout the store.

I wrote and submitted the proposal to my store manager, who thought it was a great idea.

My coworkers and I in the Photo Lab spent a couple of weeks putting together candy/treat bags stuffed with donations from local businesses. We rounded up candy, got volunteers to dress up and hand out treats. We put together about 500 bags.

The volunteers wanted to stop there, thinking that we had enough. But I told them we needed more, a lot more children would come.

On Halloween I got up early and put on my costume: I was the Mummy's Mummy - picture a mummy with curlers in her hair.

Two hours before we were suppose to start, a line started to form from the Photo Lab down the main front aisle of the store. The line got longer, all the way out the door, then all the way down the front sidewalk.

That Halloween our small Georgia town attracted over 2000 children to the Walmart trick-or-treat. We had not prepared enough candy bags for all the participants.

Since then, anytime one of the Managers sees me approaching them before a Holiday, they run in the other direction.

Twas The Night of Halloween Poem

Twas the night of Halloween and all through the town
every creature was stirring, even the spooky clown.

The children were dressed as zombies and hags,
with visions of candy being dropped in their bags.

Mom in her witch's hat and I in my cape
opened the door, and we just had to gape.

For on the front porch there rose such a scream,
I knew 'twas a nightmare, surely no dream.

There were goblins and ghouls and witches galore.
We'd give candy to one, then there would be more.

They treated, they tricked, the doorbell would ding.
I looked out the door and saw all kinds of things.

Batman got Snickers, the zombie an apple.
Oh no! Out of candy! Run grab the Snapple!

Finally they left as the witching hour grew near.
The night was over, no more need to fear.

I thought to myself as to bed I tripped,
all the ghosties and ghoulies are back in their crypts.

As I drifted to sleep I heard a voice in my ear,
"Sleep well my young man, we'll be back next year!"