Tonya was excited as she stood next to the front door. Today was Halloween, and she was going trick-or-treating with Charlene and some of the kids from school. They were going to go by Henry’s house later for a Halloween party.

Charlene spots Tonya, ready to go outside and join her friends. A smile appears on her face as a memory of her and her father surface. They used to go out together. He would dress up in a costume and follow her around. He always made sure she was safe.

Charlene was dressed up in a costume of her own and would follow Tonya and her friends. She told the other parents she would make they were safe.

“Are you ready, kiddo?” Charlene looks at Tonya and smiles.

“Yes, ma’am, I’m ready.” Tonya was excited because this was the first year in a long time that she had gone out on Halloween.

“Okay, let’s go and have some fun.” Charlene grabs her pumpkin as well. Sometimes the parents give the adults candy as well.

Charlene and Tonya leave the house and join Tonya’s friends from school. Charlene follows as the kids in front of her talk and joke among themselves. She was happy to see Tonya enjoying herself. When they approach some of the houses, she remembers the people inside as being the same ones she and her friends would get candy from.

Charlene waves to the people as she watches Tonya and her friends get candy. She was enjoying watching Tonya having fun. She knew as soon as they got to Henry’s place. She was going to get a lot more candy.

Charlene and the kids go to every house giving candy out. By the time they finished trick-r-treating, Tonya’s pumpkin was overflowing with candy.

She looks at Tonya “okay, sweetie. You can take a handful of candy with you over to Henry’s house.”

“Okay.” Tonya shows Charlene which pieces she takes so that they can be checked.

They drop the candy pumpkins off at the house. The two big bowls of candy Charlene left out while she took Tonya around the neighborhood were almost empty. She combines what is left into one bowl and puts them in the house.

They get into the pickup truck and drive over to Henry’s place. The party was already in full swing. Charlene had to park down the street and walk back to Henry’s place.

“Wow! Henry went all out this year.” Charlene couldn’t believe the decorations or the appetizers laid out.

Tonya spots Bambi and some of the other kids from the garage. They were bobbing for apples. She looks at Charlene “can I join them, mom?”

“Go and have some fun, sweetie.” Charlene watches as Tonya runs off to join the other kids.

“How did she do tonight?” Henry had spotted Charlene dressed in her costume.

“She made out like a bandit. She’s going to have enough candy to eat until Christmas.” Charlene looks at Henry dressed in a pirate costume.

“That’s the way it should be. Don’t forget to check the candy.” Henry knew Charlene’s father always checked her candy.

“I won’t. The last thing I need is something bad happening.” Charlene knew their neighborhood was safe, but in the past, one of two kids found things in their candy. It was mostly in neighborhoods where the kids had gone instead of their own.

“Come on, Charlene. Tonya will be okay.” Henry drags Charlene off to mingle with the rest of the guests.

Charlene checks on Tonya throughout the night. She smiles when a bucket of slime is dropped on her. She had that happen to her one year. She takes a picture of it to tease Tonya later. As for herself, she enjoys being around adults. She makes sure she doesn’t take any alcoholic drinks.
Henry’s friend Greg was famous for making spiked apple cider drinks and homemade ale.

By the end of the night, Charlene was beyond tired. As she drove them home, she noticed Tonya was curled up on the bench seat and was
sound asleep. All the candy she got at Henry’s house was sitting in the plastic pumpkin on the truck’s floor.

Charlene carries Tonya inside the house and undresses her. She puts on her pajamas and tucks her into bed.

“Sweet dreams, Tonya.” Charlene backs out of the bedroom and leaves the slightly open for Tonya.

Charlene goes to her bedroom and undresses. She removes all the makeup and takes a nice relaxing shower. She covers up a yawn as she finishes washing her body and drying off. She slips on her nightgown and lies down in bed. She looks at the picture of her father sitting on her nightstand. “Happy Halloween, daddy.” As she closes her eyes.

The next day, Charlene checked all the candy Tonya got and found nothing wrong with them. They have pizza for lunch that day and later in the evening. The two go to KFC and get a big bucket chicken dinner while still wearing their PJs.

When they get back home, Charlene and Tonya curl up on the sofa and watch movies all day and night long. On Sunday, the temperature outside had dropped. So, they build a fire in the fireplace and fix a hearty soup for dinner.

Monday morning, Charlene stops and buys donuts for everyone on the way to breakfast. She buys enough for both garages. She also brings in the leftover candy for everyone to dig into. She noticed most of the guys were either still hungover from the weekend or too tired to work. She sends everyone home early except Henry. She looks at Henry “have you ever run into this before?”

“Only after the Superbowl. They will be in a better mood tomorrow.” Henry knew the men were just worn out from the weekend.

“I hope so. It’s not like we have many jobs right now.” Charlene looks at the work orders. They only had three of them, and they were simple jobs. Luckily, it was something she and Henry could knock out.

“The guys will be better tomorrow.” Henry gets up out of his chair.

“I hope so.” Charlene follows suit.

She heads towards the locker room and changes into her coveralls, and starts working on the cars. She doesn’t stop for lunch as she works through. Henry’s wife was picking Tonya up from school for her today.

By early afternoon, they had everything done and enjoyed some subs they had delivered to the shop. Henry finishes the sub he got and takes a sip from his drink.

“I have to admit. These are some nice subs.” Charlene liked the sub she ordered from the new sub shop they ordered from.

“I thought you might like them. Are you still planning on closing the shop on Thanksgiving?” Henry knew he and Charlene’s father used to do it.

“Yep, I’m still planning on closing down that day. I don’t think anyone should have to work that day.” Charlene liked it when her father used to close the garage and spend time with her.

“Good. You and Tonya are still coming over for dinner, aren’t you?”

“Yep, if I don’t. I think your wife would send you to find us and ask why we weren’t there.” Charlene knew Henry’s wife well.

“True, she would do that.” Henry smile as he finishes his drink.