A Month of Thanksgiving: Day 1 {For the Evening Before}

October ended with Pigeon's first tricks-or-treats. Until now, he'd been too little to gather his own bucket of sweets, to walk door to door and knock or ring bells. This year, Father was working; Mother helped Pigeon carve his pumpkin. Its glowing grin filled their little just-for-now home with light and the scent of singed pumpkin. The smell of eight-years-old-in-October, thought Mother, who liked feeling so suddenly young again, instead of so suddenly old. Surprises sent from the Grands and Greats set up a happy mood. A quick, comfy costume came together just in time for them to meet up with cousins wearing cute, cuddly costumes of their own. Together they walked street upon street, accepting a treat or two in exchange for the smiles they put on the faces that answered the doors.

Children are a blessing, Mother thought the next morning.  It was the first day of Thanksgiving Month, and there was much for which to give thanks: her youth recaptured for a few hours in the scent of a jack-o-lantern and candy wrappers; the laughter on street corners following the flashes of fairy wings and capes; and family in all corners of the country, some close enough to spend an evening with.