Josh watched as Heather stuffed another fruit-flavored candy in her mouth. He looked in his tote bag half filled with candy and grinned.

"Want one?" asked Heather, as she licked the blue, orange and red candy off her teeth with her tongue.

"No, thanks," he answered. He adjusted the insect antennas bobbing from his blonde head and followed his group of friends to the next house.

"More for me!" Heather smiled and started to open a piece of red licorice.

"You better get your mom to check that first," said Josh. "You know that's the rule."

"Yeah, I forgot," she said, and turned to show the piece of licorice to her mom.

"TRICK-OR-TREAT!" Josh stood between an evil witch and the slimy green monster and waited for the door to open. He stuck out his bag and accepted the box of chocolate-covered raisins. The group sang out, "thank you," and headed to the next house.

"Josh doesn't like candy," said Tim, the slimy green monster to Stephanie, the evil witch.

"Why not?" asked Stephanie. "I thought everyone loved candy."

"Not me," Josh answered. "I can't eat it because I'm diabetic."

"What is diabetic?" Heather asked, as she stuffed another piece of candy into her mouth.

"My body doesn't use sugar right," he explained. "I can get sick if I eat candy."

"Then why do you keep smiling and looking inside your bag?" asked Stephanie.

"You'll see." Josh looked down at his candy again and grinned.

"The next house is Mrs. Janicek's!" yelled Tim. "Let's go!"

White, flowing ghosts hung from the tall pine trees. Orange lights circled the driveway and wooden cutouts of black cats, pumpkins and witches decorated the front yard. The shrill cries of unknown monsters and the sound of rattling chains filled the air. Holding hands, the group made their way to the front door.

"TRICK-OR-TREAT!"

Slowly the door opened. A creepy, plastic hand slithered its way out of the door. Suddenly the door flew open! Tim trembled. Stephanie screamed. Josh jumped. Heather hid.

Mrs. Janicek laughed. "It's just me, kids." She reached into her witch's caldron and began passing out candy. When she got to Josh, she handed him an orange and black Halloween pencil and a piece of candy.

"He can't eat the candy, Mrs. Janicek," said Tim.

"I know, Tim, but I'm sure he'll find something to do with it." She winked at Josh.

"What?" asked Heather.

"You'll see," said Josh, as he grinned at Mrs. Janicek.

"Thank you," the group sang out and headed back down the driveway.

"It's time to go home. We're already back on Elm Street," said Josh's mom.

"Already?" Josh looked into his full bag of candy. "I guess I've got enough."

Heather took the pumpkin-shaped lollipop out of her mouth. "For what?"

"You'll see." He grinned. "I'll see you guys in the morning."

"Time for bed!" yelled Josh's mom a little while later.

Josh put the last piece of candy in the plastic bowl. Carefully he carried it into his room and sat it beside his bed. Jumping into bed, he pulled the Scooby Doo comforter up to his chin. He jumped when his door opened a few minutes later.

"You scared me, Mom."

"Did you think I was the Sugar Ghost?" she asked, smiling. "Or maybe a goblin?"

"No, I know the Sugar Ghost won't come until I'm fast asleep." He smiled down at the bowl filled with candy. He kissed his mom and pulled the blanket over his head. "Goodnight," he said as she clicked off the light.

The next morning, Josh slowly looked down at where the bowl of candy sat. He grinned. A black truck with a purple top and big monster wheels sat on the floor. He grabbed the truck and ran into the kitchen.

"Look! The Sugar Ghost took my candy and left me the truck I wanted!" He waved the truck above his head. I can't wait to show Heather, Tim and Stephanie."

Running back to his room, he carefully placed the truck on his bed. He grabbed his favorite baseball shirt and denim shorts, ran his fingers through his hair, and headed out the front door. Tim, Stephanie and Heather were already playing in Tim's front yard.

"Look what the Sugar Ghost left me!"

"Neat!" said Tim.

"Cool!" exclaimed Heather.

"Wow!" yelled Stephanie. "But what is the Sugar Ghost?"

"Every year I leave my candy I get from trick-or-treating beside my bed on Halloween night. The Sugar Ghost comes and leaves me something that I really want and takes the candy."

"That's neat!" said Tim. "Why don't I have a Sugar Ghost?"

"You probably do," answered Josh. "Have you ever tried it?"

"No, I just eat my candy." Tim stared at the black and purple truck. "But maybe next year I won't eat all my candy and see if I have a Sugar Ghost, too."

"Me, too," said Stephanie.

"I think… I… will, too," Heather said, as she tried to get the piece of Tootsie Roll out of her tooth.