The Halloween Pumpkin

After almost two months in first grade, Laura’s big day finally arrived. For the first time, her mother wouldn't be picking her up from after-school care, but her older sister Emma would be coming instead. To Laura, Emma was already grown up because she was in third grade, had her keys clipped to her schoolbag, and could even cross the wide road between the school and their house. And today, Laura would be going home with her for the first time. Yay!

Laura all at once felt like a big girl and just couldn't wait for the afternoon to come. They would be going home alone, all alone! And then they would be waiting there, also by themselves, for Daddy to come. That would be something!

When Emma finally came to pick her up, Laura was completely beside herself with happiness. Throwing on her jacket, she quickly grabbed her schoolbag. Soon after, they were outside. As they walked through the neighbourhood together, Laura immediately showed Emma what her group had made. It was a paper ghost with six eyes, a protruding tongue, and sharp teeth.

“Well, yes, tomorrow’s Halloween,” pointed out Emma. “Aren’t you excited?”

“Sure, I'm really looking forward to it!” Laura replied enthusiastically. “Especially the evening masquerade parade.”

“So you're not afraid?”

“No, I’m not. Real ghosts don't exist!”

“I don't know if they truly do,” Emma rolled her eyes.

“They don’t,” Laura replied confidently. “That's what Dad told me.”

“But Barbara in my class claimed she’d seen a ghost,” Emma whispered to her younger sister.

“What, a real ghost?” Laura couldn’t believe what Emma was saying. “Oh, she’s just babbling!”

“Barbara’s my friend and no chatterbox!” Emma shot back indignantly. “She’d supposedly seen it a year ago in her grandmother's attic.…