We never trick-or-treated on the rez. Nobody even mentioned it. In any case, Mama wasn’t convinced to let us go with our neighbor friends that night.
So I said something completely against my beliefs. “But Daddy, you said moving here makes us Americans now. And American kids trick-or-treat.”
There. I did it. I bargained my Indianness for free candy.
“That’s true. Go enjoy.” Daddy winked at us as he headed off to catch the bus for night class.
Shortly after that, Miss Elsie, dressed in tan plaid slacks and a matching brown knitted sweater, came to the door with Keith and Addie. She told Mama she would walk all us kids around our block since Mr. Bates was home sick.
Addie looked pretty in her princess costume. Anthony was dressed up as a pirate, complete with eye patch and plastic sword. And Philip was transformed into Count Dracula, startling poor Peewee when we stopped by the Hernández house to get them before we set out. Keith still had on his same Lone Ranger costume, and Peewee and I were still dressed as Raggedy Ann dolls.
With a half-moon overhead, a warm breeze at our backs and pillowcases in hand, our group headed across 58th Place in search of candy. The overhead street lamps lit the sidewalk and road. Porch lights welcomed us to houses that had sweet loot.
Freshly made chocolate chip cookies and gifts of big chocolate bars fell into our bags. Large popcorn balls in waxed paper plopped inside our pillowcases. What a haul!
After leaving the last house on the block, I suggested we go over to the next block to get more candy. Everyone agreed and begged Miss Elsie to visit a few more houses.
“All right, but just one more block and then I take you all home.”
We started down the next street, checking one another’s pillowcases and sharing what we had. So far, Halloween was the best holiday yet.
From out of nowhere, eggs flew above our heads. At first, I stood dumbfounded, not understanding what was happening. Philip and Anthony ducked behind a palm tree. I saw Miss Elsie shield Addie with her body. So I jumped in front of Peewee, spreading my arms out like an idiot. Eggs splattered everywhere. One missed me — barely. Two eggs busted open on the bottom of Miss Elsie’s slacks while yolk dripped off Keith’s cowboy hat.
No one had noticed the blue station wagon full of four white teenage boys.
“Having fun now?!” Then the boys yelled a word I’d never heard. “You niggers!” Keith’s eyes opened wide in fear. They laughed and shouted even more words I’d never heard. Words I knew meant they hated us. Then the car roared to life and sped away, tires squealing. Red taillights faded down the street.
Silence hovered in the air.
I trembled. My eyes filled.
Addie looked at Miss Elsie and bawled. Keith stood stunned. The Hernández brothers came out slowly from behind the palm trees.
Then Peewee choked out between sobs, “I w-w-want my m-m-mama!”
“We’re all going home, baby,” Miss Elsie whispered as she knelt to wipe the dripping egg from her slacks onto the grass. She rose up and touched Peewee’s cheek with her shaky hand. “Let’s all get moving quick, okay?” With a clenched jaw, she scanned the street and shepherded us back toward our block on 58th Place. I held Peewee’s hand tight.
We moved fast. When we arrived at Anthony’s and Philip’s house, Miss Elsie informed Mrs. Hernández about the egging. Mrs. Hernández covered her mouth and said something in Spanish that caused the brothers’ eyes to widen and look at each other. She patted Miss Elsie’s shoulder and then hurried the boys inside.
Then we got to our house. Mama sat smoking a cigarette in her rocker on the porch. I glanced down fast. I didn’t want her to know I was scared. But Peewee rushed up and sobbed right into her lap.
“I’m so sorry, Cate. Something awful happened,” Miss Elsie began and told her all about how the white boys in the station wagon threw eggs and said awful words.
First, Mama asked Miss Elsie if she was all right. Miss Elsie responded that she was ready to get herself, Keith, and Addie home. Next, Mama thanked her for taking us trick-or-treating and bringing us home.
But as soon as she closed the door and knew Miss Elsie was across the street, the screaming began. Most in Portuguese and some in English. Mama waved her hands with her cigarette circling like a glowing sparkler.
Then Daddy walked in the door from class.
Mama gave him an earful.
“It’s all right, Cate,” Daddy said, putting down his things. “You girls didn’t get hurt, did you?”
We stayed quiet, but shook our heads no.
“Why don’t you two show me what you got?” Chich said, touching our cheeks to calm our fears.
She went into our room and returned with some fabric for us to sort out all the goodies inside our pillowcases on the floor.
We did as we were told, showing Chich each kind of treat we had. Chocolate was put in one stack, bubble gum in another, baked treats, and so on. We kept our heads down, though, not daring to look up at Mama. She relayed to Daddy everything Miss Elsie shared about the incident. I wondered about that word those boys kept saying.
“Maybe we should think about moving to another area,” Daddy said. “You know, living here makes us guilty by association.”
“Guilty of what?” Mama snapped.
Daddy stayed quiet and glanced at us girls as he swiped a chocolate bar from my pile. I wanted to protest but thought better of it.
“Mama,” I asked, “what’s a nigger?”
She spun around fast. “Regina Petit! I better never hear that word from your lips again! Do you hear me?”
Cowering, I nodded. Tears filled my eyes again.
“It’s a very bad word! A filthy name!”
“I promise,” I whispered, just before Mama and Daddy headed into their bedroom.
I still didn’t know what it meant. What I did know was that I had caused this. If
