The Halloween Night Mix Up
The Halloween Night Mix Up
When Emma puts on what she thinks is a simple witch costume for Halloween, she has no idea that this particular outfit will lead to the most magical and confusing night of her life. Sometimes the best adventures happen when everything goes completely wrong.
Sarah loved Halloween.
Sarah loved Halloween.
She loved the orange pumpkins and scary movies.
She loved the orange pumpkins and scary movies.
But this Halloween night was different.
But this Halloween night was different.
This Halloween night was very scary.
This Halloween night was very scary.
Sarah lived alone in a small house on Maple Street.
Sarah lived alone in a small house on Maple Street.
The house was old but cozy.
The house was old but cozy.
She had three cats: Midnight, Shadow, and Whiskers.
She had three cats: Midnight, Shadow, and Whiskers.
The cats were black, gray, and orange.
The cats were black, gray, and orange.
On Halloween night, Sarah was watching a horror movie.
On Halloween night, Sarah was watching a horror movie.
She ate popcorn and candy.
She ate popcorn and candy.
Outside, children walked from house to house.
Outside, children walked from house to house.
They wore costumes and carried bags for candy.
They wore costumes and carried bags for candy.
"Trick or treat!"
"Trick or treat!"
they shouted.
they shouted.
At ten o'clock, the doorbell stopped ringing.
At ten o'clock, the doorbell stopped ringing.
No more children came.
No more children came.
Sarah turned off the lights.
Sarah turned off the lights.
She wanted to go to bed.
She wanted to go to bed.
But then she heard a sound.
But then she heard a sound.
CREAK.
CREAK.
CREAK.
CREAK.
Someone was walking on her front porch.
Someone was walking on her front porch.
"Maybe it's a late trick-or-treater," Sarah thought.
"Maybe it's a late trick-or-treater," Sarah thought.
She looked out the window.
She looked out the window.
Nobody was there.
Nobody was there.
CREAK.
CREAK.
CREAK.
CREAK.
The sound came again.
The sound came again.
Sarah's heart beat fast.
Sarah's heart beat fast.
Her cats looked scared too.
Her cats looked scared too.
Midnight hid under the sofa.
Midnight hid under the sofa.
Shadow ran upstairs.
Shadow ran upstairs.
Only Whiskers stayed with Sarah.
Only Whiskers stayed with Sarah.
Then Sarah heard a new sound.
Then Sarah heard a new sound.
Someone was trying to open her back door.
Someone was trying to open her back door.
The door handle moved up and down, up and down.
The door handle moved up and down, up and down.
Sarah was very afraid.
Sarah was very afraid.
She grabbed her phone and called 911.
She grabbed her phone and called 911.
"Help me," she whispered.
"Help me," she whispered.
"Someone is trying to get into my house."
"Someone is trying to get into my house."
"Stay calm," said the police officer.
"Stay calm," said the police officer.
"We are coming.
"We are coming.
Hide somewhere safe."
Hide somewhere safe."
Sarah picked up Whiskers and ran upstairs.
Sarah picked up Whiskers and ran upstairs.
She hid in her bedroom closet.
She hid in her bedroom closet.
She could hear footsteps downstairs.
She could hear footsteps downstairs.
Someone was inside her house!
Someone was inside her house!
The person walked slowly through her kitchen.
The person walked slowly through her kitchen.
Then through her living room.
Then through her living room.
Sarah heard her TV turn on.
Sarah heard her TV turn on.
She heard her refrigerator open and close.
She heard her refrigerator open and close.
"Who is in my house?"
"Who is in my house?"
Sarah thought.
Sarah thought.
"What do they want?"
"What do they want?"
The footsteps came up the stairs.
The footsteps came up the stairs.
Step by step, closer and closer.
Step by step, closer and closer.
Sarah held Whiskers tight.
Sarah held Whiskers tight.
The cat was shaking.
The cat was shaking.
The bedroom door opened.
The bedroom door opened.
Sarah could see light under the closet door.
Sarah could see light under the closet door.
Someone was in her bedroom!
Someone was in her bedroom!
Then she heard a voice.
Then she heard a voice.
But it was not a scary voice.
But it was not a scary voice.
It was a sad voice.
It was a sad voice.
"Mom?
"Mom?
Are you here, Mom?"
Are you here, Mom?"
Sarah was confused.
Sarah was confused.
This person was looking for their mother?
This person was looking for their mother?
"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late," the voice said.
"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late," the voice said.
"I brought your medicine."
"I brought your medicine."
Sarah understood now.
Sarah understood now.
This person was lost.
This person was lost.
They thought this was their mother's house.
They thought this was their mother's house.
The police arrived with loud sirens.
The police arrived with loud sirens.
They came into the house.
They came into the house.
"Don't move!"
"Don't move!"
they shouted.
they shouted.
Sarah came out of the closet.
Sarah came out of the closet.
She saw a young man with the police.
She saw a young man with the police.
He looked confused and scared.
He looked confused and scared.
He was holding a bag of medicine.
He was holding a bag of medicine.
"This is not my mother's house," he said sadly.
"This is not my mother's house," he said sadly.
"I made a mistake.
"I made a mistake.
My mother lives on Maple Avenue, not Maple Street.
My mother lives on Maple Avenue, not Maple Street.
I was worried about her.
I was worried about her.
She is sick and needs her medicine."
She is sick and needs her medicine."
The police officer looked at Sarah.
The police officer looked at Sarah.
"Are you okay?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," said Sarah.
"Yes," said Sarah.
"I think he just made a mistake."
"I think he just made a mistake."
The young man's name was David.
The young man's name was David.
His mother was waiting for him on Maple Avenue.
His mother was waiting for him on Maple Avenue.
Sarah felt sorry for him.
Sarah felt sorry for him.
"It's okay," Sarah told David.
"It's okay," Sarah told David.
"You were trying to help your mother.
"You were trying to help your mother.
That's good."
That's good."
David said sorry many times.
David said sorry many times.
The police took him to his mother's house on Maple Avenue.
The police took him to his mother's house on Maple Avenue.
Sarah locked her doors and windows.
Sarah locked her doors and windows.
She hugged her three cats.
She hugged her three cats.
"What a crazy Halloween night," she said.
"What a crazy Halloween night," she said.
But Sarah learned something important that night.
But Sarah learned something important that night.
Sometimes scary things happen because people make mistakes.
Sometimes scary things happen because people make mistakes.
Sometimes the "monster" is just someone who needs help.
Sometimes the "monster" is just someone who needs help.
From that Halloween on, Sarah always checked twice before calling the police.
From that Halloween on, Sarah always checked twice before calling the police.
And she always remembered to be kind, even when she was scared.
And she always remembered to be kind, even when she was scared.
The next day, David came back with his mother.
The next day, David came back with his mother.
They brought Sarah flowers and cookies to say thank you for being understanding.
They brought Sarah flowers and cookies to say thank you for being understanding.
"You have a good heart," David's mother said.
"You have a good heart," David's mother said.
Sarah smiled.
Sarah smiled.
This Halloween story had a happy ending after all.
This Halloween story had a happy ending after all.