I slipped two small chocolate bars and two bags of chips into a pair of treat buckets while the kids holding them beamed and yelled, "THANK YOU!" so loudly Petunia barked. They bounded back down the steps to the street, matching kitten costumes adorable as they skipped away, parents waving and trailing after them.

I waved back before closing the door, my pug gazing with lustful longing at the basket full of goodies waiting for more kids to arrive.

It turned out ...