When It's Trick More Than Treat

(CBS)  Whether you know it or not, your reputation is riding on the decision you made this Halloween.

If you spring for those big-sized candy bars or if you give out measly kernels of candy corn, kids remember this kind of stuff.

This is why the kids in one neighborhood will never forget what happened when they knocked on CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman's door.

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It was a little social experiment. Hartman was wondering how kids would react if he offered them a choice between fabulous treats such as clothespins, curlers, plaque removers, lima-bean-and-pea kabobs, Hall's and Ensure.

Here is how the dialogue went that evening:

Kids: "Trick or treat!"

Hartman: "I know you may be tempted to take a little more, but just take one."

Kids: "What are these?"

Hartman: "Those are curlers."

And as the kids stared at the tray full of goodies, Hartman kept answering their questions.

"Those are Hall's," he said. "You know how candy tastes? These taste nothing like the candy," he added.

With that ringing endorsement, the devils had to pick the best of all possible evils.

"The clothespin," one said.

It was a difficult decision for everybody.

"Can you eat this?" a girl asked, pointing to the lima-bean-and-pea-kabob

Hartman: "Yes, they are vegetables."

Even in costume, a lot of them found it hard to mask their disappointment, especially when he made the choices tougher.

"I'm sorry, I'm out of the good stuff. I'm down to pot scrubbers and pumice," he said.

A lot of the kids either told him flat out or at least insinuated that his choices stank. One kid even put the clothespin on his nose.

And he heard one girl say: "This guy is crazy."

Hartman: "What did you say? You said this guy is what?"

Girl: "Nice."

Hartman: "Did you?"

Girl: "Thanks."

But he was pleased to see that insincerity was the exception and that overall most of the kids were actually grateful for their plaque removers.

Boy: "I'll try that because I have bad teeth."

He even had to ask a little princess not to take all the Hall's.

Yet no one was sweeter than Little Red Riding Hood. She took her vegetables and wasted no time savoring them.

But what really made his night was when the doorbell rang again.

"I need some more. I'm really hungry," Little Red Riding Hood said.

"You want more vegetables?" asked Hartman in disbelief.

"I'm hungry," she said once again.

And just like that, she turned the tables on a wolf out to play a trick.

"You can have another. Do you want another?" Harman asked.

"Oh, yeah. I like these," she answered.

Next year, he'll have to try Brussels sprouts.


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