Kevin had already made his Halloween costume with his mom and helped his dad decorate their house. He was excited about how much candy he would collect. But one house on his street didn’t have any decorations, and that kept bothering him. He didn’t understand why someone wouldn’t celebrate Halloween, so he thought maybe they needed help.
Halloween was almost here, and the entire neighborhood was buzzing with excitement. Every yard seemed to be trying to be the scariest one around.
There were pumpkins with big, jagged smiles all along the sidewalks. Plastic skeletons hung from tree branches, and fake cobwebs covered porches.
The air smelled like dry leaves and candy, and eleven-year-old Kevin could feel his heart racing with excitement.
Halloween was Kevin’s favorite day of the year, a time when anyone could be whatever they wanted. He loved how everything changed for that one magical night.
As he walked down the street, he smiled, looking at the glowing jack-o’-lanterns and spooky ghosts decorating the houses. Some homes even played creepy sounds like witches’ laughter and creaking doors.
But something different caught his eye as he went farther down the street. One house was dark and plain, with no decorations at all. It was Mrs. Kimbly’s house.
Mrs. Kimbly was an older woman who lived alone. Kevin had helped her before, mowing her lawn in summer and shoveling snow in winter, but she rarely said much. Her undecorated house seemed out of place in the festive neighborhood.
Kevin felt bad that her house had no Halloween spirit. He thought maybe she needed help with the decorations. Determined, he crossed the street and knocked on her door.
When Mrs. Kimbly answered, her face showed annoyance. “What do you want, Kevin?” she asked in a gruff voice.
“I noticed you don’t have any Halloween decorations. I could help you put some up, if you’d like,” Kevin offered.
Mrs. Kimbly frowned. “I don’t need decorations, and I don’t need help,” she said sharply before slamming the door.
Kevin was surprised. How could anyone hate Halloween so much? He didn’t want her house to be a target for pranks, like kids throwing toilet paper, so he came up with a plan.
At home, Kevin told his mom, Sarah, about Mrs. Kimbly’s undecorated house and how she had slammed the door in his face. His mom suggested leaving her alone, explaining that people might have reasons for not celebrating.
But Kevin didn’t think Mrs. Kimbly hated Halloween—she seemed lonely. So, he decided to help anyway.
He gathered all the Halloween decorations he could find, including his favorite pumpkin, and hurried back to Mrs. Kimbly’s house. He carefully hung lights and placed pumpkins on her porch. As he finished, the front door opened, and Mrs. Kimbly stormed out, furious.
“I told you not to decorate my house!” she yelled. She grabbed Kevin’s carved pumpkin and smashed it on the ground. Kevin was shocked and hurt, but he whispered, “I just wanted to help,” before running home.
That night, Kevin put on his vampire costume, but he couldn’t enjoy Halloween. He was worried about Mrs. Kimbly’s house being pranked. So, he returned to her house and sat on her porch, handing out candy from his own bag to trick-or-treaters, explaining that Mrs. Kimbly wasn’t home.
As he sat alone, the door creaked open. Mrs. Kimbly stepped out, her expression softer this time.
“What are you doing here, Kevin?” she asked quietly.
“I didn’t want anyone to mess with your house,” Kevin explained. “I thought I could help.”
Mrs. Kimbly sighed and sat beside him. She admitted that Halloween was hard for her because it reminded her of how alone she was. She had no family to share it with.
Kevin understood now. “You don’t have to be alone,” he said. “You can celebrate with the rest of us.”
Mrs. Kimbly smiled sadly and thanked Kevin for his kindness. She even apologized for smashing his pumpkin. Kevin promised to bring another one so they could carve it together.
For the first time in years, Mrs. Kimbly felt the warmth of Halloween again, thanks to the caring heart of one determined boy.
A wayward mouse undergoes “rehabilitation” after consuming a cannabis plant
Farmers often face challenges from pests like rodents and insects that threaten their crops and spread diseases. In an amusing incident in New Brunswick, Canada, a mouse was found in a cannabis field, appearing “stoned” and passed out on a pile of leaves.
Colin Sullivan spotted the mouse raiding his garden for two consecutive days and shared pictures of the little critter enjoying the leaves before it succumbed. Eventually, the mouse was discovered lying on its back, seemingly unwell.
Sullivan decided to care for the mouse, placing it in a cage to help it recover. After six days, the mouse was healthy enough to return to the wild. Sullivan humorously recounted the experience on Facebook, saying: “I watched this little rascal munch on my plants until he dozed off”. He also noted that the mouse, missing one ear, might have been trying to cope with some stress, prompting him to intervene and provide a safe space for recovery.
Sullivan updated his followers about the mouse’s condition, stating it had a rough time but was gradually getting better, now eating just one leaf a day. “One day at a time”, he advised. When the mouse was finally released from “rehab”, Sullivan celebrated its recovery with a playful post titled “On The Rodent To Redemption”, highlighting the mouse’s journey and the importance of supporting those in recovery.
His posts garnered massive attention, with the first receiving over 461,000 shares and the follow-up accumulating more than 6,400 shares and 1,500 comments filled with jokes and encouragement. Commenters expressed their delight in the mouse’s recovery, with one suggesting that it might have experienced a wild adventure, while another thanked Sullivan for caring for the little creature.
Sullivan, who has personal experience with substance detox, dedicated a heartfelt message to his wife, Robyn, crediting her support for his long-term sobriety. Many people who initially came for the story of the mouse found themselves inspired by Sullivan’s message of hope and recovery. Cannabis became legal in Canada in 2018, with each province, including New Brunswick, establishing its own regulations.
The New Brunswick government emphasizes creating a responsible culture around cannabis use, educating the public on health implications, and reaping the economic benefits of the industry. In this province, individuals must be 19 or older to consume cannabis, and possession is limited to 30 grams. Public consumption is prohibited, and landlords can restrict tenants from smoking or growing cannabis, although they cannot prohibit cannabis use if tobacco smoking is allowed. It’s essential for New Brunswick residents to understand the risks of cannabis use to make informed decisions.
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