Dear Trick-or-Treaters: Please Learn from Oliver's Mistake

Dear Trick-Or-Treaters,

The season of pumpkin spice lattes, carameled apples, and corn mazes are in full swing! Your front porch is likely covered with elaborately carved pumpkins and other ghoulish decors that has neighborhood children walking a little more quickly past your home. Needless to say, you're anxiously anticipating October 31st, and you’ve probably had your Halloween costume picked out for weeks now. Perhaps you’ve chosen your favorite superhero from The Avengers or Justice League—or maybe you’ve been inspired by your favorite movie orphan from Annie, Despicable Me, or even Oliver!

However, if that’s the case, we'd like to warn you before you get any ideas from these characters. Many people get wrapped up in their costumes—striving to perfectly stay in character for the evening—and that’s one thing we’d like you to avoid if you are, indeed, dressing as Oliver Twist. While he might make for an adorable and creative Halloween costume, you definitely wouldn’t want to make the same mistake he does in this well-loved scene from the 1968 film:

Oliver tells the orphanage caretaker, Mr. Bumble, “please sir, I would like some more,” after the orphans are served a rather measly dinner portion, per usual. Mr. Bumble is outraged by Oliver, as no child has ever before been so greedy as to demand more gruel! The poor boy is subjected to terrible maltreatment for much of the film, directly resulting from this single “greedy” request.

Keeping this movie clip in mind while trick-or-treating this Halloween will serve you well, whether or not you choose to dress as Oliver. This means that when you reach the one house on the street where the “crazy cat lady” is handing out pennies or apples, you probably shouldn’t ask her for candy!

The lesson you must learn from Oliver is one of graciousness; be thankful for the charity you are shown, no matter how miserly. Who knows? Your whole life might spin out of control like Oliver Twist’s if you are ungrateful. So please trick-or-treaters, don’t demand more than you are given this Halloween.

Sincerely,

- The Evergreen Team