Grandma would you mind baby sitting the grandchildren for the Hallowe’en weekend, asked my daughter Stephanie as she thrust four legal length pages of instructions into my hands.

The grandchildren were Allison 6 and Adam 4. “Allie will have the house key,” she continued.

“Oh, sure”, agreed Grandma, “I’ll arrange to come straight from work on Thursday.”

Little did Grandma know how the weekend would unfold!

Scanning the notes briefly I noted that costumes for both children would be ready and waiting, Wendy costume for Allison and Robin Hood for Adam. Parents were coming to pick them up for parties around six o’clock.

Thursday evening I allowed myself lots of time to travel home on the subway, pick up my car and overnight bag, and get out to Scarborough in time.

The first “snag” occurred in the subway station. The TTC subway trains were delayed 15 minutes. In the meantime I was getting exasperated as the 15 minutes turned into 30. Finally when the trains began to come, crowds of people were pushing and I had difficulty getting into a car.

But, I was determined to get to Scarborough on time.

Finally getting home I rushed into the house, grabbed the car keys and leapt into the car. Reading the list, page 1, “don’t be late” I was cautioned, the baby sitter gets “snarky”. Well, I thought, let’s see how we make out. I gunned the car as fast as I dared and arrived in Scarborough without any mishap.

I began to read the list again, ah; here’s the address where the children are.

Arriving there I was startled to see a house shrouded in scraggly bushes with untrimmed vines creeping all over. The house seemed dark and eerie, spooky. There were no children around that I could see. I looked at the address on the list. Yes, it was the right place. I rang the bell. The door opened and a huge burly man stood there.

“Yes,” he snapped.

Are my grandchildren here?” I asked, as I gazed at the strange figure standing in the doorway.

He wore red suspenders, no shirt, bare feet, and sagging rumpled trousers. He turned and shouted very loudly “Ma? Are there any children here!!” peering over my shoulder trying to read the list in my hands. He pointed to the first item and said “Oh, that’s this address all right but the phone ain’t right! Would you like to call that number?” “Oh, yes, I stammered, thank you!” and followed him through the door into the house.