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Dustin loved Halloween. Nobody looked at him funny, or looked at him at all. Tucked behind his dark mask, he didn’t have to make eye contact with anybody. Death didn’t speak, so the ladies in the doorways just chuckled when he held out his faded pillowcase, not saying trick or treat.

Laney didn’t bring a pillowcase, this time, but she had an extra bounce in her step. He thought it probably had something to do with the way Shane couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from her, but she was ignoring him so maybe not.

The other kids didn’t pay them any attention, but some of the dads seemed to notice Laney. They stood on the sidewalk as small kids ran up and down each driveway, breathing clouds of air on their hands as they tried to keep warm. Everywhere they went, their eyes followed Laney. And Shane didn’t like it.

Shane didn’t say anything, but he’d stand between Laney and the dads with a scowl, his arms folded across his chest, as Dustin walked up to each front porch and held out his bag.

One of the dads leaned around Shane to get a closer look at Laney, and Shane dropped his arms, fists balled at his sides, and stepped right into the man’s chest. The dad chuckled, at first, but the look on Shane’s face had him raising his palms and shaking his head. When his son in the skeleton suit toddled down the driveway, the dad picked him up and put him on his shoulders, and they skipped a few houses ahead, so they weren’t standing beside Shane, anymore.

Laney wasn’t visibly reacting, but Dustin could tell she was pleased.

When his pillowcase was too heavy to hold anymore, Shane took it from him and produced an empty one from his back pocket so they could keep going.

By the time they headed home, Dustin’s feet hurt, and his nose was running from the cold, but he was grinning ear to ear. He wished he could wear his costume every day. He wished every day were Halloween. He knew Laney was just as happy as he was, even though she didn’t get any candy.

As they made their way up the driveway, he was so happy thinking about sorting all his candy that he didn’t even notice the lights on in the garage, or the music pouring out of the house.