A Halloween Visit of Hope

I had an old neighbor who was rumored to be dangerous. Kids whispered he’d unalived his family,

and parents said never knock. One Halloween we went anyway. He opened the door

smiling with a bowl of candy. “You made my year,” he said. “I always buy candy,

but no kids come.” Later we learned his wife died in childbirth and he’d lived alone for

30 years. After he passed, he left us a note: “Your visit gave me hope.

You’re the first I’ll tell my wife about.”