Just a cute little Late Halloween story with my oc Naira going trick or treating!
The nights were starting to get colder, crisp leaves falling in colorful array from the trees. Naira had spent the day looking for more blankets to add to her slowly growing pile, preparing for the cold winter snow. She finished folding them all and crawled out of her house, a makeshift lean-to of old boxes and scraps constructed in a back alley away from the road. Humming a tune she had heard while looking around the shops earlier, Naira straightened up her house. “The leg bone connect to….. hips bone….. hips bone connect to back bones…. back is connected to….. um…. to all bones! Shaky the skelety boooones!” She sang out happily, if off tune, then glanced up as a group walked past the alley entry, chatting and laughing. Naira fell silent and pulled back out of sight, poking her head out to watch. The people all had colorful clothes on and the many children held bags. What are they doing? Where are they all going? Maybe its a parade! I like parades. Naira’s curiosity won out, and she dropped what was in her hands, scurrying after the group that had disappeared around the corner.
Naira followed behind the gaggle of children for a while, stopping and waiting by the street as the group approached a house. The yard was all covered in graves, spiders, skeletons, and other spooky things that made Naira nervous and she didn’t want to get to close. She had seen scary things showing up all over the place over the past few weeks, and it made her nervous to go out. But these people didn’t seem worried or scared at all as they walked up and knocked on the door. “Trick or treat!!!” Naira jumped as the kids yelled out when the door swung open, but the big person that opened it just laughed and started handing things outs, dropping small items into eagerly raised bags and hands. What are those? Trick or treat? I like treats… But not tricks. Are they… Giving treats? Naira perked up at the thought, but hesitated. Treats cost money, and she didn’t have that. Did the big people in the group give money? She couldn’t remember seeing that, but she might have missed it.
Ducking behind a bush quickly, Naira hid from the group as they came down the walk to the side walk again. She watched from her hiding spot as the Children ran down to the next house. Just as she was about to step out to follow them she heard more talking from behind her, so Naira stayed hidden in her bush as they passed. There are more kids! Are… They going to do it too? Oooh! I can watch and see if they’re money treats! Very pleased with her idea, Naira stayed hidden and watched the smaller group as they approached and completed the same steps. Knock. "Trick or treat!” Little things put in bags. Leave to next house. No money? She hadn’t seen any. Which meant… “I can get some!” Naira squealed excitedly, then looked around to make sure no one had heard her. She waited a minute to make sure no one else walked by then scampered out of the bush and slowly made her way past the scary things in the yard, expecting them to jump out at her any moment, hugging herself protectively and ready to run any second. Only relaxing when she reached the porch, Naira tucked a lose strand of her thick wavy black hair behind her ear, raising a small hand to knock softly on the door. She nervously bit her lip as she tensly waited the few quiet moments before the door opened. In the door way was a middle aged couple, and Naira stared up at them with her mouth opening and closing like a little fish as she tried to remember what to say. “……….treat?” She finally squeaked out. The woman smiled and held out a bowl as the man chuckled, “Of course dear! Which would you like?” Naira’s eyes widened at the amount of little packages in the bowl, pointing to a larger red one. The man pulled it out and looked for a bag before just setting it in Nairas waiting hands. “There you go! Happy Halloween!“ Naira stared with huge silver eyes at the candy she held protectively in both her hands, then looked up with an excited grin. "Thank you!” She waved at the two and scurried off the porch, practically running to the next house she had seen the groups go to. Again she snuck past the spooky things in the grass, then knocked a little more confidently on this door. When the young man opened it and looked out, Naira happily shouted out the password to get a treat. "Trick or treat!” He didn’t say much, looking down at his phone as he grabbed a handful of candy from a basket and dropped them into her waiting hands. “There go. Have fun.” With that he closed the door, missing Naira’s elated expression. She happily giggled with her handful of candy, skipping down to the next house and doing it again. The small girl in a slightly raggedy sweater and all alone did get a few questioning looks, but all wished Naira a happy Halloween and got a smile out of her childish enthusiasm and excitement at each treat she received.
Her hands were starting to get full as she skipped up to the next house on the block, knocking and waiting patently for the door to open. A little girl stood there, witch hat balanced precariously on her head. Before Naira could say the words to get a treat, the girl spoke up. “What are you?” Naira looked at the girl, confused. “Uh… I’m Naira…?” They stared blankly at each other for a moment before the girl clarified. “What are you dressed up as? I’m a witch!” she claimed, pointing to her hat. Dressed up as? Am… I supposed to be? Thinking about it, maybe that’s what all the others had been wearing! Costumes! Before Naira could answer, a woman came to the door and handed Naira a candy, quietly scolding her daughter about answering the door alone. Naira thanked them, and went back to the sidewalk. She walked slowly as she pondered what she had just learned. A costume? Should I find one? But what would I be? Maybe I can find one. Oh! I know! Naira turned and sped back to her alley, careful not to drop any of her precious treats. Crawling into her box fort, Naira tucked the candy under her pillow then dug around for a specific blanket she had found a few days ago. She tied two of the ends around her shoulders, grinning happily. She grabbed a smaller handkerchief to use as a Bag then hurried out to continue her trick or treating.
Naira skipped down the street, waving at those she saw and flapping the black blanket tied around her. Running up to a house she hadn’t been to before, she knocked and waited, hopping excitedly and waving her “wings” when the door opened. “Trick or treat! I’m a bat!” Naira exclaimed to the slightly surprised old man standing there, happily flapping at him. He chuckled and nodded. “I can see. You make a very nice bat.” Naira squeaked joyfully, holding her bag up as the gentleman waved her closer to get some treats, grinning excitedly at the chocolate he dropped in. “There you go little bat. Happy Halloween!” He waved to Naira as she pretended to fly down the path to the next house.
Naira spent the next while cheerfully getting free treats, suprised and over joyed at all the food she was getting in one day. She was starting to get tired as the sun began to set, night chill starting to settle in. Deciding she had plenty of treats from the surprising trick or treat game, Naira started back to her home, singing a made up song to herself again. “Happy Halloweens! Happy candies! Trick and treat gets me sweets! Yummy yummy treats! Bat bat go flap flap, wheeeeee!” Holding her blanket wings out to the side she zoomed down the sidewalk, but slowed when she saw a small figure sitting on the curb. It was a little boy, dressed like a turtle and hugging a purple pumpkin bucket. Naira slowly approached him, realizing that he was crying softly. She hesitantly sat next to him and spoke quietly. "Hi. Are you okay?” The boy looked up, sniffling and wiping at his runny nose. “I-I lost m-my m… M-mommy.” He whimpered. “Oh. I’ m sorry. But its okay! I’m sure she’ll find you! I can wait with you if you want?“ Naira offered. When the boy nodded quietly she scooted a little closer and put her blanket wings around him to keep him warm. “I’m Naira! Nice to meet you. Did you go trick or treating for candy to?” The boy nodded and showed her his bucket that had a few pieces of candy in it. “I’m Liam. I only got a-a little c-candy.”
“Do you want some of mine?” Naira reached into her bag and pulled out a handful of her precious treats, dumping it in his bucket. Liam looked up in surprise and a smile crept over his face. “Thanks! I like your blanket. Its warm.” Naira giggled, waving the half not wrapped around Liam. “Thanks! I’m a bat. What are you?” Liam held up his toy sword and swished it in the air. “I’m a ninja turtle!“ “ Oh! That’s cool! I like your sword, it looks fun.” Liam was about to answer when they heard a call from a bit away. “Oh! That’s mom!” Liam jumped up, grabbing Naira’s hand and tugging her along as he ran towards the voice. “Mommy! I’m here! I made a friend, she shared her candy with me!” Naira scurried after him, waving at the woman he ran to. “Liam! Where where you? I was worried, are you okay? Who’s this?” She picked Liam up and looked at Naira with a smile. “Where are your parents dear? It’s getting dark.” Naira smiled at the nice lady and pointed down the street towards the alley she lived in. “I’m Naira! And its okay, I live over there, I’m going home now.” Naira waved at her new friend Liam and turned to go now that he had found his mom. “Happy Halloween! bye bye Liam!”
Naira skipped home, happy she had been able to help her friend feel better and happy about the treats she had gotten. All the spooky stuff seemed less scary now, and she went past them with out any fear. She hugged her blanket close as the night chill crept in, crawling into her box fort and dumping the new treats with the others in her little stash. Crawling into her little pile of blankets Naira let out a yawn and curled up. She smiled to herself as she drifted off to sleep “Happy Halloweens.“ she mumbled before contentedly letting the warm blankets claim her.
