The young girl knocked on the door of the old house on the corner, then stood back and adjusted her pointy black hat. It took a moment for the solid slab of wood to creak back on its hinges.
A woman, tall and thin, with long black hair, and a long black dress, peered down with a raised eyebrow. “Aren’t you supposed to say trick or treat?”
The girl held out a plastic bucket with the sliver of a moon painted on one side. “I’m just here for the treat, please.”
The woman smiled from one side of her mouth, reached over to a bowl heaped with miniature chocolate bars, then dropped a handful of them in the girl’s bucket. “There you go, then.”
“Thank you.” The girl did not turn to go, she stayed in place and stared.
The woman rested her hand on the door frame and stared back. “Is there something else I can help you with, young one?”
The girl tilted her head. “I like your costume.”
“Oh.” The woman smoothed one hand down ornate lace. “Thank you. I like yours too.”
The girl smiled, held her bucket in front of her with both hands, and twisted gently back and forth. “Thank you.” She looked the woman up and down. “Are you a witch too?”
The woman’s smile matched the girl’s. “Could be.”
“Where’s your hat?”
The woman glanced over her shoulder. “Hanging up. It’s bad luck to wear your hat inside the house.”
The girl nodded. “I’ll remember that.”
Commotion along the street drew her attention. Groups of ghouls and ghosts passed by the scary old house on the corner as if it wasn’t there.
“Well, I should probably keep going.”
“Probably.” The woman stepped aside to close the door but paused. “Before you go, I should tell you,” she watched the girl carefully, “this isn’t a costume.”
The girl smiled again. “Neither is mine.”
“Happy Halloween, young one.”
“Happy Halloween.”
The door creaked closed.
The girl skipped down the walk and continued to the next house, her bucket swinging by her side.
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Photo by Kayla Maurais on Unsplash
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