IT TOOK ONE MONTH SHY OF SIX YEARS TO WRITE IT
Sometimes real-life horror can be scarier than movies that are meant to scare us.
Halloween was always a big deal in our family home. Mom dressed up every year as a clown and tailor made my siblings and my costumes each year. One year, my brother dressed as Michael Myers, when I saw him wearing it that Halloween afternoon, he was standing in the kitchen, with no words. “ I’m not afraid of you, it’s just a mask”, I said as a teenager myself. Still no words so I brushed it off then turned around.
There he was, my brother maskless, opposite end, walking through the hallway behind me. Startled, I panicked and ran straight into my bedroom. A knock on the door, it was my brother’s best friend with his mask on and since he had the same build and mannerisms I’d mistaken him for my brother naturally. They stood together at my door laughing but this was typical Halloween behavior in my home. The tricks were as important as the treats. The fun extended to haunted houses, corn maize’s, and Halloween parties as I grew older. Dear memories I hold to this day.
This year 2020 was very different. My son wanted to go trick or treating and I said no because of the Covid-19 virus that was very new. I felt terrible since he was already a teenager and this could be his last year asking his mom to take him out. I struggled with the decision I would have to make for weeks.
As Halloween drew closer, I couldn’t help but feel pulled in different directions of the unknown. During this time, like many, we were stuck in our home all the time, including online school, and every little amount of fun he could have would be worth it , wouldn’t it? The following is a mix of notes I captured that night and what I remember feeling in those hours.
“10/31/2020 Sorry kids, no Halloween this year. I dressed up like Rick from the TV show The Walking Dead and another year dressed up like a Walking Dead Doctor in the post apocalypse; little did I know it would resemble this reality.
Halloween’s upon us as I’m struggling with my decision. Should I take him? I don't know what it will be like or how this one holiday can have serious consequences.
What if he or we contract the virus. Worry remains. I don’t want to be ignorant of the virus, and I don’t want to let him down. This may be one of his last memories of us taking him trick or treating on Halloween.
One day in the very distant future when I’m gone, this is what he’ll remember what I did, the choices I made and what he did during this time.
I feel torn and I only have a few hours before he is expecting to go.
Don’t make the wrong decision here”.
My choice was made and we went trick or treating taking every precaution we could take, and we went to one decorated haunted house in our own neighborhood though briefly he had a blast. The laughter and smiles I hold onto are irreplaceable and this was one of the last times he went trick or treating with me.
Today, I’m aware of how deeply this virus affected so many lives. A year later, I contracted the virus along with the rest of my immediate family. Some in my family were hyper cognizant of protective behaviors when going outdoors, like many were. Some family members refused to wear any protection.
Later that year, I lost extended family members to the virus, some are still affected because of that loss and not able to say goodbye. I know the importance and how serious it continues to be.
The traditions and memories of time spent together are vitally important and worth holding onto. After all these years, I wouldn’t change my decision. The covid virus is still circling and has mutated many versions from the original. Halloween remains one of my favorite holidays, but these days it may be spent watching scary movies closer to home.
Thank you for reading Halloween 2020 A True Scare.
🎃👻🍬
