Every year since 1989, JJ had done her best to ignore Halloween and all it implied. The shifting in the weather. The bite in the air. Actually, it was more than simply ignoring Halloween. Over the years, her desire had evolved to include an entire three-month stretch, from September to December.

Some years, JJ's plan worked better than others. That first year, she'd simply slept a lot and tried to forget it was happening. The next, she'd screamed at any Trick-or-Treaters that happened to come by the house. Soon, it was common knowledge in the neighborhood. No kids came by at all.

Then there was college, where JJ didn't have to acknowledge anything she didn't want to. She lost herself on the soccer field until an injury sidelined her permanently. Then, she lost herself in work. For several years, she didn't have to think of the fall, or anything associated with it. But that was before she had Henry.

Now, he was almost four, and every day he was bringing home a new fall art project from preschool. An orange paper pumpkin, or a tree with falling tissue paper leaves. The color of death and decay set her on edge. Henry's desire to pick out a costume in early September did nothing but bring a flood of memories. Henry wanted to be something different every day, and he encouraged her to dress up, too.

"Come on, Mommy! It's fun! See?" he said, dragging out the costumes he had accumulated over the past few years. He struggled into a dragon costume. "I a pretend dragon and you be a princess," he encouraged.

"It's all right, buddy. Mommy doesn't want to dress up right now. But thanks for offering."

"Why?" Henry asked, his face falling.

"Because I don't really like Halloween…" she admitted, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"It scare you?" Henry asked, looking concerned.

"A little," JJ nodded, thinking of the last time she'd been Trick-or-Treating. The last time she'd dressed up. She'd been ten years old and dressed in the previous year's costumes. She had been an angel. When, really, that should have been her sister. Because less than a year later, Janet was gone.

JJ blinked, realizing that Henry was working his way out of his costume, until he stood before her in jeans and a green tee shirt. "It's okay, Mommy. The dragon's just pretend, see? I'm a boy, not a dragon," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her neck.

"Thanks, buddy," she managed, kissing his cheek.

The End.