As a former schoolteacher of 73 years, I’ve seen my fair share of tragedies. But nothing could have prepared me for last year’s Halloween chaos in our quiet neighbourhood. First, my neighbour Irene called my Halloween displays “garish.” She told the HOA about me, which set off a chain of events that would change our neighbourhood for good.
Because Irene complained, the HOA sent me a letter telling me to take down my decorations. But I wouldn’t give up. I didn’t know it, but Willie, Irene’s grandson, loved my decorations. They made him happy even though his parents were getting a divorce.
Irene came up to me one morning, sorry and crying. She realised that worrying about how she looked had made her forget how important it was to have fun. I agreed to help her make her garden look nice for Willie when she asked me to.
We turned her garden into a Halloween wonderland together. Irene told me things about her fears and being alone while we worked. Our friendship grew as I told them about my own life.
Irene thanked me on Halloween morning, and Willie asked if we could do this every year. I agreed, and Irene gave me a smile. “Let’s show this neighbourhood what real holiday spirit looks like!”
As we planned our Christmas decorations, I realised that the best treats sometimes come from meeting new people and getting a second chance. I’m so happy that our little part of Whisperwood Lane will never be the same.
I learnt from the experience that life is too short to think about how you look. Embracing chaos and having fun can help you make beautiful traditions and ties that matter. Also, that’s the best treat ever.
