Hobos have a code system for communicating warnings and identifying good places to camp. Warchalkers have their own code for marking open access points.
Now kids can have a secret ideogram language for finding the best loot:
Growing up in the Bowling Green neighborhood of Sacramento, I was taught how to read and mark houses with the Halloween Candy Code. For kids with an early curfew these codes were invaluable. Once we tagged a house, our peers could use our marks to reap the best full-size chocolate bars while avoiding Chex mix and dried apricots.
Most marks were left in bright chalk at the bottom of the driveway.
Shown above are the symbols for king size candy bars, fun size bars, open porch bowl, and Reese’s Pieces. Though I’m pretty sure it’s a joke—and I dare drop my first public ROFL in the middle of this blog entry, as that’s what I’ve been doing for a few minutes—it also strikes me that this is a sound idea and should immediately be taught to kids everywhere.
Halloween Candy Code
Cabel Sasser’s inspired tweet on the topic of a kids’ hobo code
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