Kevin had already made his Halloween costume with his mom, helped his dad put up decorations around their house, and dreamed about all the candy he would collect. But there was one house on his street that didn’t have any decorations, and it kept bothering him. He couldn’t understand why someone would skip celebrating, so he figured maybe they needed a little help.
Halloween was just around the corner, and the whole neighborhood was filled with excitement. Every yard seemed to be competing to be the scariest one on the block.
Pumpkins with sharp, grinning faces lined the sidewalks, plastic skeletons swung from trees, and fake spider webs covered front porches.
The air smelled like dry leaves and candy, and eleven-year-old Kevin soaked it all in, his heart racing with excitement.
Halloween was Kevin’s favorite day of the year—a day when you could be whoever you wanted. He loved how everything seemed to change for one magical night.
As he walked down the sidewalk, his eyes moved from one house to another, each one decorated with glowing jack-o’-lanterns or spooky ghosts. Kevin couldn’t help but smile.
Some houses even played creepy sound effects like witches cackling or doors creaking.
But as he went farther down the street, something didn’t look right.
One house stood dark and empty, totally different from the others. No pumpkins, cobwebs, or skeletons. Not even a tiny decoration. Kevin frowned when he realized whose house it was—Mrs. Kimbly’s.
He stopped, staring at her bare front porch. Mrs. Kimbly was an older lady who lived alone and kept to herself. Kevin had helped her before, mowing her lawn in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter. She never said much, just paid him and went back inside.
But today, her undecorated house didn’t fit in with the rest of the cheerful neighborhood.
Why hadn’t Mrs. Kimbly decorated for Halloween? Kevin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Halloween was about having fun, and it didn’t seem fair for anyone to miss out, especially someone who lived alone like Mrs. Kimbly.
Kevin’s heart felt heavy. Maybe she just needed help. Maybe she couldn’t decorate by herself.
Determined, Kevin ran across the street to her house. The leaves crunched under his feet as he climbed her porch steps.
He paused for a moment, then knocked. The sound echoed, and Kevin felt nervous. Finally, the door creaked open.
Mrs. Kimbly stood there, frowning, her eyes squinting behind her glasses.
“What do you want, Kevin?” she asked in a low, sharp voice.
Kevin swallowed. “Hi, Mrs. Kimbly. I noticed your house isn’t decorated for Halloween, and I thought maybe you forgot. I could help you put some decorations up if you’d like.”
Mrs. Kimbly squinted even more. “I didn’t forget,” she snapped. “I don’t need decorations, and I don’t need help. Now, go away.” She started to close the door.
“I could do it for free!” Kevin quickly added. “You wouldn’t even have to do anything.”
Mrs. Kimbly scowled. “No!” she shouted and slammed the door.
Kevin couldn’t believe it. How could someone hate Halloween so much?
If her house stayed undecorated, other kids might prank her with toilet paper or worse. Kevin sighed and started walking away, but a plan formed in his mind.
At home, Kevin found his mom in the kitchen, cooking. The smell of soup filled the air, but Kevin could only think about Mrs. Kimbly’s undecorated house.
“Mom, something weird happened,” Kevin said, sitting at the table. His mom turned, wiping her hands on a towel.
“What is it?” she asked.
Kevin told her about Mrs. Kimbly’s house and how she had slammed the door when he offered to help.
But when he said Mrs. Kimbly’s name, his mom’s face softened.
“Maybe it’s best to leave her alone,” his mom said gently. “She might be going through something we don’t understand.”
Kevin frowned. “But, Mom, she’s not mad, she’s just sad. Halloween should be fun. She shouldn’t feel left out.”
His mom smiled but looked concerned. “You have a kind heart, Kevin. Just be careful. Sometimes people aren’t ready for help.”
Those words stuck with Kevin, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Mrs. Kimbly.
With determination, he gathered all the Halloween decorations he could find—lights, spiders, toys, and even his favorite pumpkin—and loaded them into a wagon.
He hurried back to Mrs. Kimbly’s house and began decorating. As he worked, the house slowly transformed, but just as he finished, the door creaked open.
Mrs. Kimbly stormed out, looking furious.
“I told you not to decorate my house!” she shouted.
Kevin froze, his heart racing. “I just wanted to help,” he whispered. “It’s Halloween…”
Before he could finish, Mrs. Kimbly grabbed the pumpkin he had carved and smashed it on the ground.
Kevin watched in shock as his pumpkin shattered into pieces. His heart sank.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, then turned and ran home.
That evening, Kevin put on his vampire costume, but he couldn’t enjoy Halloween.
As he trick-or-treated with friends, his mind kept drifting back to Mrs. Kimbly’s dark house.
He worried the other kids might prank her, so Kevin decided to go back.
When he got to her house, he sat on her porch, handing out his own candy to the kids who came by.
“Mrs. Kimbly’s not home,” he told them, trying to keep her house safe.
After a while, as Kevin sat alone, the door behind him opened. Mrs. Kimbly stepped out, her face no longer angry.
“What are you doing here, Kevin?” she asked quietly.
“I didn’t want anyone to mess with your house,” Kevin said. “I just wanted to help.”
Mrs. Kimbly sighed and sat beside him. She was quiet for a moment, watching the kids on the street.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” she finally said. “I wasn’t mad at you. Halloween just reminds me of how alone I am.”
Kevin felt sad. “You don’t have to be alone,” he said. “You can still join in.”
Mrs. Kimbly smiled softly, her eyes teary. “Thank you for what you did today. And I’m sorry about your pumpkin.”
Kevin smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll bring another one, and we can carve it together.”
For the first time in years, Mrs. Kimbly felt the warmth of Halloween again, thanks to one kind boy.
4 real-life stories about parents who left their kids homeless & begged them for a favor years later
Most parents would give their entire world for the well-being of their children, but sadly, not every child gets to live in a loving home and experience affection, care, and love. Some are neglected and even abused by those who are supposed to provide for them and treat them as jewels.
Four people took to Reddit to tell their life stories and share how beside the injustice and the horrible treatment by their parents they still managed to stand on their feet and turn their lives around. As of their moms and dads, they got what they deserved at the end.
Read their stories below.
Father Needs Son’s Help after Bringing Him up in an Abusive Childhood
In 2019, an individual who identified as Asian turned to Reddit’s “AITA” forum to share a narrative. Recounting his upbringing, the man revealed that his father’s treatment during his childhood was marked by being frequently kicked out of his home.
The family’s financial struggles led them to reside in a subpar townhouse in an unfavorable part of town. Following the common stereotype associated with Asian fathers, the narrator’s dad exhibited extreme strictness regarding academic performance.
If the original poster (OP) received a grade below 70, was tardy to class, or failed to adhere to a curfew, his father’s response was consistent: eviction from the house. Despite his pleas and appeals, he would find himself relegated outdoors with only a sleeping bag, regardless of the weather conditions — rain or snow.
This pattern continued until the age of 16 when a friend extended the courtesy of allowing OP to stay overnight. Each time he was expelled, he would eventually return, apologize, and be permitted to re-enter the home, with him revealing: “[My father] kicked me out at 18 and I didn’t come back home.”
Instead, he opted to stay with a friend and engaged in consistent employment to finance his education. From that day onward, he stopped communicating with his father. Finally, at the age of 29, he found marital bliss with a child on the way.
OP’s mother passed away at the time—a poignant event that brought about a series of unexpected encounters. Amid the atmosphere of mourning and reflection, his father made an appearance at his son’s home, bearing the weight of past grievances. It appeared to be an attempt at reconciliation for the turbulent upbringing that had marked OP’s formative years.
Despite initial perceptions of genuineness, a lingering skepticism arose because OP’s dad had faced his own share of hardships. The closure of his convenience store seven years prior and the deterioration of his pension painted a complex backdrop to the situation.
In a moment that demanded honesty and clarity, the Redditor took the initiative to question his father’s motives for his visit. With a tone of desperation, his dad admitted his intentions—he sought a place to stay. OP, perhaps burdened by a mix of emotions from the past and the present, retreated momentarily into the house.
Upon returning, a sleeping bag was flung unceremoniously onto the lawn—an act loaded with the history of past rejections and a symbol of his dad’s actions. An essential facet of the narrative was inadvertently omitted in the initial retelling. Over time, the father had sought to make amends through sporadic financial offerings sent via mail.
These modest sums, accumulating to around $1500, remained tucked away in the recesses of OP’s closet, which he intended to return at his mother’s funeral reception. Upon the passing of his mother, his wife and friends reacted to his decision.
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