Trick or Treat by Padgett Powell
"Trick or Treat" by Padgett Powell is a provocative short story that explores the complexities of desire and seduction between two unlikely characters: a discontented housewife named Mrs. Hollingsworth and a twelve-year-old boy, Jimmy. Set in a small Southern town during the fall season, the narrative unfolds from a third-person perspective, navigating the inner thoughts of both characters as they engage in an ambiguous courtship. The story begins with an encounter that highlights their mutual attraction, but it quickly escalates into a situation fraught with moral and social implications, as Mrs. Hollingsworth grapples with her unmet needs and Jimmy's youthful yearning.
The interactions between Mrs. Hollingsworth and Jimmy are laden with tension, as they navigate the blurred lines of their relationship amidst societal expectations. The boy's attempts to connect with her—initially through a job mowing her lawn and later through more intimate exchanges—culminate in a moment where both characters confront their desires. The story deftly encapsulates themes of longing, frustration, and the impact of societal norms on personal relationships, while also challenging the reader’s perception of innocence and maturity. As the narrative progresses, Mrs. Hollingsworth wrestles with her reality and fantasies, ultimately leading to a pivotal decision that underscores her desire for agency and connection.
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Trick or Treat by Padgett Powell
First published: 1993
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: The late twentieth century
Locale: The American South
Principal Characters:
Janice Halsey Hollingsworth , a middle-aged wife and motherJimmy Teeth , a sexually precocious twelve-year-old boy
The Story
"Trick or Treat" is a story of mutual seduction, told in the third-person through the minds of two characters. The action is what one would expect in an ordinary love story. It begins with the recognition of desire, proceeds through the uncertainties of courtship, and ends with the relationship about to be consummated. What makes the story unusual is that the two people involved are a respectable housewife and a twelve-year-old boy.
The story is set in a small town in the American South. It is fall, a few weeks before Halloween. Mrs. Hollingsworth is walking to the grocery store, thinking about the South and talking to herself. Her monologue is interrupted by a boy in one of the yards she is passing. A brief conversation follows, ending with his suggesting that she is crazy. She replies by suggesting to the boy that he grow up.
After Mrs. Hollingsworth moves on, the boy is furious with himself. For weeks he has been watching her and lusting after her, and now he fears he has insulted her. However, he does not give up hope. A few days later, he appears at Mrs. Hollingsworth's home with a lawnmower, asking for a job cutting her grass. Even though the grass does not need mowing, she agrees. After he finishes, she serves him lemonade in the backyard. However, when a police officer turns up, she finds that the boy has disappeared. It seems that the lawnmower had been reported stolen.
An hour later, the boy telephones Mrs. Hollingsworth to tell her that he will have his lemonade some other time. He addresses her as Bonnie and refers to himself as Clyde, thus identifying the two of them with the notorious bank robbers. Then he hangs up, laughing.
When Mrs. Hollingsworth's husband comes home, she gives him the usual kiss on the cheek. This prompts her to dwell on her own sexual frustration and to imagine how differently she would embrace the boy. She is now convinced that a sexual relationship with him is not an option for her, but a necessity. However, when she remembers that it is almost Halloween, a time that has come to symbolize all her discontent, Mrs. Hollingsworth forgets about the boy.
The next time the boy comes to visit, he is wearing a suit and a hat. After Mrs. Hollingsworth invites him into the house, he immediately removes both the suit and the hat and deposits them in the trash compactor. Mrs. Hollingsworth and the boy sit down at the kitchen table, and she begins to ask questions. Finally she asks him his name. When he responds with "Jimmy Teeth," she introduces herself by her maiden name, "Janice Halsey." During the long silence that follows, she reflects on the strangeness of the situation. Then they start talking again, but Jimmy is only too aware that he is just making conversation because, though he knows what he wants, he does not know how to proceed. It is Mrs. Hollingsworth who takes the next step; she places her hand over his. While they are sitting there, she muses as to how she must behave if this relationship is to be successful. What she has to do, she concludes, is to act as if Jimmy were older than he really is.
Mrs. Hollingsworth now extracts a pledge from Jimmy that if she pays him eight dollars instead of five for mowing the lawn, he will not tell her husband. Then she asks him if he goes trick-or-treating. His answer, that he no longer does, is the one for which she has been waiting. She makes herself another drink and prepares to become Janice Halsey. The story ends with her reflecting that from now on, Jimmy can make his own moves, and so can she.