Kevin, 11, got more and more excited as Halloween got closer. He loved the scary themes, the scary sounds, and of course the candy. But even though it was a party, Mrs. Kimbly’s house stood out on his block. Nothing was on it, and it looked like it didn’t belong there.
Kevin thought about why the old woman hadn’t decorated when he thought about the times they had talked before. He thought she might need help, so he offered to help. But Mrs. Kimbly turned him down and slammed the door shut.
Not giving up, Kevin came up with a plan. He got some decorations and quietly turned Mrs. Kimbly’s porch into a fun place to be. But when she found out what he was doing, she got angry and smashed his favorite pumpkin.
Kevin ran away when he was hit. But he couldn’t get rid of the thought that Mrs. Kimbly was lonely, not mad. As Halloween night went on, Kevin kept her house safe from possible pranksters by giving away his own candy.
Later, Mrs. Kimbly came out, and her mood had changed. She said that Halloween made her feel alone because she didn’t have any children or grandkids. Kevin’s kindness moved her, and she said she was sorry for how she had been acting before.
They sat on the porch together and watched the party. Mrs. Kimbly smiled, which wasn’t often seen, and thanked Kevin for being kind. He asked her to help him carve a new pumpkin, which was a sign of their renewed friendship.
Kevin showed at that moment that Halloween’s real spirit is not in the food or the decorations, but in being kind, understanding, and connecting with other people. His kind actions made Mrs. Kimbly’s Halloween better and showed everyone that kindness can help people who are lonely.
