This is an imagining of a Halloween night that Garnett should have been able to experience at the age of five - one of many. Just a couple of months before he would have turned six on 3 December 2014, this evening captures the joy & excitement he should have been able to share with friends, going door-to-door, collecting treats & laughing under a darkening autumn sky.
Halloween had quickly become one of Garnett’s favourite nights since he’d moved to Chestnut Ridge two years earlier. He loved the thrill of costumes, the fun of knocking on neighbours doors & the excitement of filling his lolly bag to the brim. Tonight, dressed as a pirate with a playful, swashbuckling spirit, he was ready to collect enough lollies to last until Christmas - if he could manage to make it last that long.
By now, Garnett knew just about everyone in the neighbourhood. Over the months, he had gone door-to-door with a friendly curiosity, asking people their names & remembering each one. He knew who gave out the best treats, which houses would be decked out in spooky decorations & whose porch would have a bowl of lollies waiting just for him.
Running ahead with his friend, Garnett barely paused between houses, shouting “Trick or treat!” with all the enthusiasm his small frame could muster. Each house felt like a little adventure & Garnett loved every moment, laughing with his friend & swapping treats on the footpath. They took turns exclaiming their favourite lollies - which seemed to change with each handful.
One house was particularly thrilling, with eerie decorations, strobe lights & a fake “graveyard” in the front yard. Garnett grinned & took his friend’s hand, their pirate & superhero costumes making them feel invincible together. They laughed as a mechanical skeleton popped up & Garnett’s “Argh, matey!” rang out, earning him some extra chocolate from the amused homeowner.
An adult followed behind, keeping an eye on them as they bounded from porch to porch, but Garnett was too caught up in the fun to notice. He loved Halloween in this neighbourhood - it was a chance to be with friends, to explore & to bask in the warmth of everyone he had come to know so well.
As they walked home, bags full & hearts lighter, Garnett turned to his friend, sharing a few last giggles before the night ended. It was a Halloween filled with laughter, memories & a hint of mischief - the way it should have been, one of so many more Halloweens he deserved to enjoy.
After a night filled with laughter & adventure, Garnett felt completely worn out from all the excitement. Once home, he changed into his cosy pyjamas, the soft fabric a comforting embrace against his tired body. He sat at the kitchen bench & enjoyed a few lollies, relishing the sweet flavours as he savoured them one last time. Not long after, as he lay on his bed, the delicious sugary treats couldn’t keep his eyes open for long. Almost immediately, as his head hit the pillow, he drifted off into a deep sleep, dreaming of the night’s escapades & the joy of being surrounded by friends.
-<3
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