The front door closes, the candy bags land on the floor and suddenly everyone remembers how tired their feet are. Halloween is winding down.
There’s a hat on the couch, a cape trailing down the hallway and one small person who insists they’re not tired while lying flat on the rug.
After all the excitement outside, this might be the sweetest part of the evening.
Boots come off. Cold hands warm up. Costumes give way to pyjamas, although someone may still be wearing their superhero mask. The kids settle in with their candy, ready to inspect the night’s collection.
Out it comes, one handful at a time. Favourite chocolates get their own pile. Someone counts their lollipops twice. A little trading begins, with surprisingly serious negotiations over a tiny bag of chips.
Grown-ups check the treats and help set aside anything unsuitable, then everyone chooses something to enjoy.
The stories tumble out between bites. The house with the enormous skeleton. The pumpkin that looked like it was being sick. The neighbour who answered the door dressed as a chicken.
“That was the best part!”
“No, remember the dog in the costume?”
Outside, a few last trick-or-treaters make their way along the street. Inside, the room grows quieter. A child leans against your shoulder, still holding a chocolate they’ve forgotten to open.
You take a picture of the sleepy smiles and the costume pieces scattered around their feet. It’s a little blurry, but it catches the evening perfectly.
Tomorrow there’ll be wrappers to find and decorations to put away.
Tonight, everyone’s home. The kids are happy, their legs are tired and Halloween has given them plenty to dream about.
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