Candy and Kindness

A Halloween story

Last year on Halloween, my daughter and I set out bowls full of candy on a table in our driveway. One contained chocolate goodies, one bowl was peanut-free candy, and the third contained glow sticks and other non-food items. We set out a sign that said, “Please take one.” Happy with our setup, we prepared to venture out trick-or-treating.

A neighbor girl walked across the street to inspect our buckets full of candy. I’ll refer to the girl as Kayla. Come to find out, her dad was out of town, and her mom was working that night. Therefore, Kayla had nobody to go trick-or-treating with and planned to stay home playing video games. The thought of this made me so sad. I asked Kayla to text her mom and ask if she could tag along with Sky and me. A second later, she jumped up and down joyfully after her mom said yes.

I asked Kayla to rush inside and put on her costume. She came out moments later dressed as the Phantom of the Opera - an interesting choice for a ten-year-old, and one that made me think Kayla might be an old soul. Granted, she wore no socks. Just bare feet inside her Crocs, which was a risky gamble considering the temperature was hovering near freezing and dropping quickly. Since frostbite was not on our Bingo card that evening, I insisted she grab some socks, shoes, and a coat to go under her costume.

Moments later, we hit the pavement, zig-zagging through the neighborhood. The girls scored some king-sized candy bars, and we marveled at how elaborate the decorations have gotten in recent years. Fifteen-foot skeletons and Grim Reapers loomed over driveways as the smell of bonfires wafted through our frozen noses. I continuously asked if Kayla was warm enough. Her cheeks were so rosy she resembled Saint Nick. I’m sure her response was rooted in sugar and adrenaline, but she assured me she was fine. Meanwhile, my daughter Sky was beginning to sweat. I had her put so many layers of clothing under her costume that she closely resembled the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters.

After an hour or two, the streets were less busy. Concerned parents were shepherding their children back home while trying to regain the feeling in their toes. And it was around this time that I witnessed a small act of kindness that I’ll never forget. The girls walked up to a porch containing a large bucket for trick-or-treaters to help themselves. Sky looked inside and commented that it was completely empty and all the candy was gone. Without hesitation, Kayla dumped half her sack full of hard-earned candy into the empty bucket. I was astonished. She said, “There, now other kids can have some when they come to this house.”

I couldn’t help but smile. And I involuntarily teared up a little, which was a big mistake because my eyes nearly froze shut walking home in the bitter cold. I commented to Kayla that she has a big heart and the world needs more people like her. People who do the right thing when nobody is looking. People who put the well-being of others before their own. People who give as much as they take.

Happy Halloween season, everyone.

Andy

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