When I was growing up the New Apostolic Church asked church member parents to not have their children dress up out of respect for the departed on Halloween. It was very interesting growing up and telling all the other kids that I didn't go out trick or treating because it was "against my religion."

Both schools that I went to, John E. Riley Elementary School and John F. Kennedy Elementary School, took a special pride in their Halloween parade and having all the students dress up, so my parents had me take off either the whole or half day that coincided with the parade. This was the only day out of any school year I ever missed in my first five years of school.

Every year I would have this single absence on my record and at the end-of-year awards ceremony for all students, I wouldn't receive a perfect attendance award even though a bunch of my friends did. I was no academic over-achiever at the time, so this was pretty much the only chance I had to walk up on stage.

In fifth grade I had enough. I told my parents I didn't care what it took, I was going to be in school for Halloween because I want that stupid award. They agreed, but the only way for that to work was for me to sit in the principal's office on a bench and wait for 3 hours and watch all the other kids parade around outside. I suffered through it and annoyed all the secretaries incessantly.

At the end of the day my teacher brought me the bag of candy that all the other kids got that day. I ate the whole thing in the span of 3 hours.

I got so sick that night I had to stay home from school the next day. That was my only absence that whole year.

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