DADADEL
Kevin had already crafted his Halloween costume with his mom and helped his dad set up decorations around their house. He was thrilled about the upcoming trick-or-treat haul. But one house on his block stood out for the lack of Halloween spirit, which kept gnawing at him. Kevin couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t celebrate Halloween—maybe they needed a little help.
With Halloween just around the corner, the entire neighborhood was alive with spooky anticipation. Nearly every yard was decked out, competing for the scariest look.
Pumpkins with jagged grins lined the sidewalks, plastic skeletons dangled from tree branches, and fake cobwebs draped across porches.
The crisp air carried the scent of dry leaves and sugary treats, making eleven-year-old Kevin’s heart race with excitement.
Halloween was Kevin’s favorite holiday—a night when anyone could be whatever they dreamed. He loved the way the world transformed for this one magical evening.
As he strolled down the street, he admired the glowing jack-o’-lanterns and spooky ghosts on the houses. Some homes even played eerie sounds, like witches’ laughter and creaking doors.
Then, something unusual caught his eye as he walked further. A single house was dark and bare of decorations. It was Mrs. Kimbly’s house.
Mrs. Kimbly was an older woman who lived alone. Kevin had helped her a few times, mowing her lawn in summer and shoveling snow in winter, but she wasn’t very chatty. Her plain, undecorated house felt out of place in the lively neighborhood.
Kevin felt sad that her house lacked Halloween cheer. He thought maybe she needed some help with decorations. Determined, he crossed the street and knocked on her door.
When Mrs. Kimbly opened the door, she looked annoyed. “What do you want, Kevin?” she asked with a gruff voice.
“I noticed you don’t have any Halloween decorations. I can help you put some up if you’d like,” Kevin offered.
Mrs. Kimbly frowned. “I don’t need decorations, and I don’t need help,” she snapped, slamming the door shut.
Kevin was taken aback. How could anyone dislike Halloween so much? He worried that her undecorated house might become a target for pranks, like toilet papering, so he thought of a new plan.
Back at home, Kevin told his mom, Sarah, about Mrs. Kimbly’s undecorated house and how she had slammed the door on him. His mom suggested he respect her wishes, explaining that people have personal reasons for not celebrating.
But Kevin had a feeling Mrs. Kimbly wasn’t against Halloween—she just seemed lonely. So, he decided to help anyway.
He gathered all the Halloween decorations he could find, including his favorite pumpkin, and hurried back to Mrs. Kimbly’s house. Carefully, he hung lights and placed pumpkins on her porch. Just as he finished, the door swung open, and Mrs. Kimbly came out, furious.
“I told you not to decorate my house!” she yelled. She grabbed Kevin’s carved pumpkin and smashed it onto the ground. Stunned and hurt, Kevin quietly said, “I just wanted to help,” before hurrying back home.
That night, Kevin dressed in his vampire costume, but his excitement was gone. He couldn’t stop thinking about Mrs. Kimbly’s house. Worried it might get pranked, he went back to her house, sat on her porch, and handed out candy from his own bag, explaining to trick-or-treaters that Mrs. Kimbly wasn’t home.
As he sat alone, the door creaked open, and Mrs. Kimbly stepped out, her expression softened.
“What are you doing here, Kevin?” she asked gently.
“I didn’t want anyone to mess with your house,” he replied. “I thought I could help.”
Mrs. Kimbly sighed and sat beside him, confessing that Halloween was hard for her because it reminded her of her loneliness. She had no family to share the holiday with.
Kevin understood. “You don’t have to be alone,” he said. “You can celebrate with the rest of us.”
Mrs. Kimbly gave him a soft smile, grateful for his kindness, and even apologized for smashing his pumpkin. Kevin promised to bring another one so they could carve it together.
For the first time in years, Mrs. Kimbly felt the warmth of Halloween thanks to one thoughtful boy who showed her the joy of connection.
