As the days ticked down to Halloween, eleven-year-old Kevin was bursting with excitement. His neighborhood was alive with the holiday spirit—yards filled with glowing pumpkins, spooky skeletons, and cobweb-covered bushes. The smell of dry autumn leaves and candy filled the air, and Kevin couldn’t wait for the big night when he’d collect a mountain of treats in his vampire costume. But as he wandered down his street, something bothered him. One house stood out, not because of its decorations, but because it had none. Mrs. Kimbly’s house was completely dark, devoid of the festive spirit that had taken over the rest of the neighborhood. Kevin had mowed her lawn in the summer and shoveled her driveway in the winter, but she always remained distant. He couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t join in the Halloween fun like everyone else. Determined to change her mind, Kevin knocked on her door and offered to help her decorate. But Mrs. Kimbly refused, slamming the door in his face. Her reaction left Kevin stunned, but it didn’t stop him from wanting to make a difference.

That night, Kevin couldn’t shake the feeling that Mrs. Kimbly wasn’t just uninterested—she was lonely. He decided that even if she didn’t ask for it, she needed a little Halloween spirit in her life. So, Kevin loaded up his wagon with lights, pumpkins, and decorations and headed back to her house. As he carefully hung lights and arranged pumpkins on her porch, Mrs. Kimbly suddenly appeared. Angry, she demanded that he stop, but Kevin explained that he just wanted her to feel included. Her anger melted into sadness as she revealed how difficult holidays were for her, especially since she didn’t have any family to celebrate with. Kevin’s heart went out to her, and in that moment, he realized that what she really needed wasn’t just decorations, but connection. He invited her to carve pumpkins with him, and by the end of the night, they were sitting together, sharing stories and laughter. Kevin’s simple act of kindness turned Mrs. Kimbly’s lonely Halloween into something special.