Kevin eagerly prepared for Halloween, helping his mom with her costume and putting up decorations around their house with his dad. As Halloween night approached, he was excited about all the candy he would collect. Yet, something bothered him: one house on his street had no Halloween spirit at all. Kevin couldn’t understand why someone would skip out on the fun, so he figured maybe they just needed a little help.

The whole neighborhood was buzzing with Halloween energy. Every yard seemed to be in a competition for the scariest decorations, with jack-o’-lanterns lining the sidewalks, cobwebs covering porches, and spooky sounds echoing from speakers. For Kevin, who was 11, Halloween was the best day of the year—a chance to transform the world into something magical, even if just for one night.

As Kevin walked down the street, admiring the decorations, he noticed a dark, undecorated house. It was Mrs. Kimbly’s. She was an older lady who lived alone, and Kevin had mowed her lawn in the summer and shoveled her driveway in the winter. Despite their interactions, she was always distant. Now, her undecorated house stood out in the festive neighborhood, making Kevin feel that something wasn’t right.

Kevin couldn’t shake the feeling that Mrs. Kimbly was missing out on the fun. Determined to help, he went up to her front door and knocked. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Mrs. Kimbly’s stern face behind thick glasses. “What do you want, Kevin?” she asked gruffly.

Kevin swallowed nervously. “Hi, Mrs. Kimbly. I noticed your house isn’t decorated for Halloween, and I thought maybe you forgot. I could help you put up some decorations.”

Her expression turned even colder. “I didn’t forget. I don’t want decorations, and I don’t need your help,” she said sharply, slamming the door shut.

Kevin was surprised by her reaction. How could someone dislike Halloween so much? He worried that if her house remained undecorated, it would become a target for pranks, like kids throwing toilet paper. As he walked back home, Kevin came up with a plan. He wasn’t ready to give up.

That evening, Kevin shared his experience with his mom. She suggested that maybe Mrs. Kimbly had her reasons for not celebrating. But Kevin felt differently. “Mom, I think she’s just lonely,” he said. “No one should feel left out on Halloween.”

The next day, Kevin gathered all the decorations he could find—lights, plastic spiders, and even his favorite carved pumpkin. He loaded everything into a wagon and returned to Mrs. Kimbly’s house. He worked quickly, hanging lights and placing pumpkins. The house was starting to look festive. But just as he finished, the door burst open.

“What are you doing?” Mrs. Kimbly shouted, her face red with anger. “I told you not to decorate my house!”

“I just wanted to help,” Kevin said softly. “It’s Halloween…”

Before he could finish, she grabbed his carved pumpkin and smashed it on the ground. The pieces scattered across the porch.

Kevin felt tears well up in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Heartbroken, he turned and ran home.

That night, Kevin dressed up as a vampire, but his heart wasn’t in it. He kept thinking about Mrs. Kimbly’s house. Worried that pranksters might target it, he returned and sat on her porch, handing out candy from his own stash to passing trick-or-treaters.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Mrs. Kimbly stepped out. Her face wasn’t angry this time.

“What are you doing here, Kevin?” she asked softly.

“I didn’t want anyone to mess with your house,” he said. “I thought I could help.”

Mrs. Kimbly sighed and sat down beside him. “Halloween is hard for me,” she admitted. “I have no family, and it makes me feel even more alone.”

Kevin’s heart ached for her. “You don’t have to be alone,” he said. “You can celebrate with us.”

For the first time in years, Mrs. Kimbly smiled, thanks to Kevin’s kind and persistent efforts. And for one magical Halloween night, she didn’t feel quite so alone.