As Halloween approached, eleven-year-old Kevin couldn’t contain his excitement. He had helped his parents decorate their house, and the neighborhood was transformed into a spooky wonderland. But amidst the festive atmosphere, Kevin noticed one house that stood out for all the wrong reasons – Mrs. Kimbly’s home was completely devoid of Halloween decorations.
Kevin knew Mrs. Kimbly as a kind but reserved elderly lady who kept to herself. He had helped her with yard work and snow shoveling, but she never seemed to want to engage in conversation. Now, her undecorated house seemed like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit. Kevin wondered if she was simply not interested in celebrating Halloween or if she needed some help.
With a heart full of kindness, Kevin decided to take matters into his own hands. He knocked on Mrs. Kimbly’s door, offering to decorate her house for free. But to his surprise, she flatly refused, slamming the door shut. Kevin was taken aback, but he refused to give up.
The next day, Kevin returned to Mrs. Kimbly’s house, armed with a collection of Halloween decorations. He carefully hung lights, arranged pumpkins, and even placed a few plastic spiders on her porch. But just as he finished, Mrs. Kimbly stormed out of her house, furious. She smashed Kevin’s carved pumpkin on the ground, leaving him heartbroken.
Despite the setback, Kevin’s kindness didn’t waver. On Halloween night, he returned to Mrs. Kimbly’s house, determined to protect it from pranksters. As he sat on her porch, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, Mrs. Kimbly emerged from her house, her expression softer than before.
She apologized for her earlier behavior, revealing that Halloween was a difficult time for her. With no family to celebrate with, the holiday only served as a painful reminder of her loneliness. Kevin’s heart went out to her, and he offered her a simple but profound gift – companionship.
Together, Kevin and Mrs. Kimbly carved a new pumpkin, and for the first time in years, she felt the warmth of Halloween. As the night drew to a close, Kevin realized that sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness to bring joy to those around us. And as he walked back home, he knew that he had made a difference in Mrs. Kimbly’s life, one that would last far beyond Halloween.
