The Case for Candy Corn

The Halloween season means an opportunity for kids to tear up the neighborhood in search of candy.

When I was growing up, we knew which houses had all the good stuff.

One home on the corner would dish out king-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers candy bars.

Another house was a bit treacherous to climb up since it had some awkwardly placed stairs. But the payoff was worth the effort — the family invited us inside to pick toys out of a container.

We had the OPTION of what we received at Halloween?! What a dream. And yes, I realize it sounds kind of strange that we were welcomed inside while trick-or-treating, but this was the 90s and also like four blocks from my house. Times were different.

Still another home would deck out its entire front yard with a ghoulish scene. The candy selection itself was so-so, but it was a sight to behold. You never knew what kind of scary skeleton or monster would be hiding, ready to pounce.

When we finished trick-or-treating and headed back home, we’d review our hauls. At the time, I was always pleased if I ended up with Twix, Three Musketeers, or Milky Way, though I wasn’t disappointed when Skittles or Starburst snuck their way into my plastic pumpkin candy-carrying vessel.

My friends were HIGHLY discouraged when they discovered they had received a bag of candy corn.

“Great, a doorstop,” one would say.

“Even my parents don’t like these,” another chimed in.

Okay, those may not have been direct quotes, though the frustration was real.

But I’m here today to make the case for candy corn.

I truly believe these orange, white, and yellow cone-shaped pieces of honey sugar wax are the finest candy in the land…

…for practicing your basketball shot by throwing them directly into the trash.

Happy Halloween.