The Slice: Survey: Sweeter treats, no tricks

Trick-or-treaters responding to The Slice’s Halloween poll say they want to be given high-quality chocolate candies in generous quantities.

So plan your shopping next month accordingly.

What do they not want to be given? “A toothbrush,” said Zack Hval. “This has happened to me!”

Others issued a thumbs-down on hard candies. And most respondents were not enthusiastic about nutritious snacks.

Everyone understood why their parents want to inspect the haul before any of it is consumed. “My mom is worried that someone might have poisoned them and checks for open wrappers,” wrote Maria Franchino. “My dad wants first dibs.”

Some respondents were quite candid in assessing the quality of the treats dispensed by their own families. “They are mediocre,” wrote Chris Reichert.

The best Halloween ever?

“That’s tough,” said Olivia Grace Davies. “Last Halloween, when I was 7, because we got to trick-or-treat really far.”

•Slice answers: “The generalization about Spokane that I hear most often, and bothers me most is the notion that Spokane is a small town,” wrote Steve Trapp. “I have lived in small towns, and know that Spokane is not.”

Gary Polser offered another generalization about Spokane that strikes him as seriously off the mark. “That all area residents fish and do snow sports.”

•The reason Slice reader Tim Crabb suspects he is not one of those people who can be fooled all of the time: “Because I can be fooled some of the time.”

•Inadvertent eroticism: “Many years ago the male half of a couple we were acquainted with was about to celebrate his birthday,” wrote Ruth Hensley.

So she sent him a card.

She was surprised when the man in question then called her and said he would like to take her up on her offer.

What offer?

Well, apparently her attempt to sign the card “Fondly, Ruth” read more like “Fondle Ruth.”

•Speaking of communications breakdowns: Dave Payne and his wife-to-be had just gotten engaged and were celebrating with a candlelight dinner at Ankeny’s.

The candle had just been lit and the drinks had just arrived when Dave looked across the table and told his beloved, “You sure are beautiful in the dark.”

Fortunately, she knew what he meant.

•The closer we get to autumn, the more I feel the urge to head to…: “Yuma, AZ.” — Linda Summerhill

•Today’s Slice question: What percentage of those who share a fondness for your favorite pastime can you not stand?