A Halloween Conversation

Well, I’m late in posting this little nugget from our Halloween repertoire, but I believe it is well worth it. Our scene: the kitchen table at my parents' house during their Halloween party. Everyone (mainly adults) is dressed in costume, stuffing their faces from Halloween-themed plates, surrounded by Halloween decorations. Understandably, we’re on the topic of fright, sharing stories about alarming things that have happened to us recently.

Karen: You wouldn’t believe what happened to me in the store today….

She proceeds to tell a story about a strange man who followed her through the aisles, making rather unusual remarks and causing her to worry about her subsequent trip to the parking lot.

Lori: Speaking of scary people, you won’t believe who was on my porch this evening….

She relates an incident about a neighbor on her front porch, making eerie sounds in the dark and causing some amount of alarm.

Briefly, the conversation lulls at this point as everyone chews their food and considers the stories at hand. Then—out of nowhere—comes a dramatic little voice to fill the void, serious and thoughtful and ready to share its own story. Mind you, this is the only child at the table.

Ava: This one time, I was at my sister’s house, and there was a HUGE SNAKE there. It was a REALLY HUGE SNAKE. We were chasing it, trying to catch it, but it was SO HUGE. We just kept trying and trying and trying. And then we finally got it.

Jenny: Wow! A HUGE SNAKE! Then what did you do?

Ava: We ate it.

I’m not sure what impressed me more: the fact that she was trying to participate in a very adult-like conversation, the fact that she came up with this story out of the blue, or the fact that she told it in such a theatrical manner. I suppose it’s one of those situations where you just had to be there. But take it from those of us who were there: PRICELESS!

P.S. On a side note, I feel compelled to inform everyone that many of Ava's fictional stories begin with the phrase This one time at my sister's house.... I'm quite certain you'll be hearing that little opener again sometime. Poor child, her mother only provided her with an adorable baby brother, so out of necessity she had to create a pretend sister with whom to have adventures. There's nothing else to say, except PRICELESS!