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A Hollow Halloween
After almost a decade of fanciful displays, the skeletons will remain in the closet this year. "It makes me feel so angry," Jim Beadel said.
(Photos By Katherine Frey For The Washington Post)
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One evening last week, Cathie Beadel arrived home from work and found a bright orange pumpkin on her doorstep with a card that said: "May this little pumpkin let you know the neighborhood cares!"
"BOO hoo! We miss YOU decorating for Halloween," read the card from the family of Sandra Kleinberger, neighbors whom the Beadels say they have never met. "We have always enjoyed your decorations and are sorry theft and vandalism has lead to your empty lawn this season."
Cathie Beadel said the note was so moving she almost wanted to cry. Such sentiments caused the family several days ago to briefly consider putting up the decorations.
"Deep inside of me I just want to stay home from work and put all the decorations up," she said. "But we can't. If we did, I know Jim would be back sleeping in his truck and I'd be worried."
Sherry Llewellyn, a spokeswoman for the Howard County police, said the Beadels' experiences do not represent a broader uptick in crime in the county. She said reports of vandalism in Howard dropped from 3,494 in 2002 to 3,142 last year.
"Halloween is a time that lends itself to mischievousness," she said. "When you put that stuff out, it comes with some risk."
The biggest concern for the Beadels now is the reaction they will get when trick-or-treaters show up tonight expecting the usual display. They said vans of children have pulled up in past years from neighboring counties and even Virginia or the District to see their decorations.
How will people respond?
"I believe there are going to be a lot of unhappy and very disappointed kids and parents," Cathy Beadel said. "I imagine some people will be very angry."
The Beadels said they will consider putting up the decorations next year. But their main focus now is getting through a holiday that just doesn't feel right without their traditional display.
"It's not the same. It's not Halloween," Cathy Beadel said. "But we're doing what we have to do survive."
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