Part 1: Lucas and the Halloween Discovery
It was a quiet afternoon in Green Arbor when a dusty old trunk, recently unearthed from the far side of the valley, was dropped off at the school. Lucas, always eager to uncover pieces of the past, volunteered to sort through its contents in the back room of the school library.
Sifting through survival manuals and historical accounts, Lucas’s hand landed on a thin, orange book, its cover decorated with the faded image of a grinning, toothy pumpkin. The title read simply *Halloween*. Intrigued, Lucas opened it, flipping through pages filled with descriptions of traditions from a time before the Cataclysm. His eyebrows lifted as he read about a night when people would dress up as monsters, carve pumpkins, host parties, and tell ghost stories by candlelight. The more he read, the more the idea of Halloween intrigued him.
He looked around, a mischievous thought bubbling up as he pictured the kids—and maybe even some adults—dressing up and having fun. With the book in hand, he headed over to Echo’s station. If anyone could fill in the blanks, it was Echo.
“Echo, check this out,” Lucas said, holding up the book. “It’s about something called Halloween. Ever heard of it?”
Echo’s digital face flickered to life on the screen, immediately scanning the book’s cover. "Ah, Halloween," he said, bringing up images and snippets of information. “Before the Cataclysm, Halloween was celebrated as a night of fun and frights. People of all ages would dress in costumes—some spooky, some funny—and gather for parties. Children would even go door to door, asking for sweets in a tradition known as 'trick-or-treating.' And, of course, they would carve pumpkins to make them glow in the night.”
Echo projected an image of a carved pumpkin with a grinning face and candles inside it. "These are called 'jack-o'-lanterns.' They were supposed to keep away bad spirits, or maybe just add a little fun to the night.”
Lucas chuckled, already imagining Green Arbor getting in on the Halloween spirit. "So, it was a party night? With games, treats, and maybe a few scares?”
Echo nodded. "Yes. There would be games, dancing, stories, and spooky decorations. Many towns even held costume contests, and some people transformed their homes into haunted houses to frighten guests."
Lucas’s mind raced, an idea forming as he thought about the kids at Green Arbor. “Echo, we should plan this for the kids. Maybe even make it a lesson. You can give them a bit of history on Halloween before the Cataclysm and how people used it to let loose and have fun.”
Echo’s digital face lit up with excitement. “An excellent idea. I’ll create a presentation with images, historical facts, and even a few spooky stories to set the mood.”
Grinning, Lucas leaned back, already planning out the details. “I think we could also set up some decorations—lanterns, cobwebs, the whole lot. And maybe get them to carve pumpkins. I bet Callie, Talon, and some of the others would get a kick out of it too.”
Then, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes as he thought about Ava. “Echo, do you think we could… spook things up a bit? You know Ava’s got a thing about ghosts and spooky stuff.”
Echo’s expression shifted, his digital eyes narrowing playfully. “Indeed, Lucas. But we should exercise caution. Perhaps… make sure she doesn’t have her sword at hand. Just in case.”
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Lucas laughed, imagining Ava’s reaction. “Right, good call. I’d rather not be skewered because she thought I was some kind of ghost.”
Together, they started sketching out a lesson plan for the kids, blending history with fun activities. They would teach the children about Halloween traditions, guide them in pumpkin carving, and even organize a “haunted” scavenger hunt. And Lucas couldn’t help but save the best part for last—his plan to give Ava a good Halloween scare.
As Lucas jotted down notes and Echo projected images of pumpkins and costumes, they shared a grin. Green Arbor’s first Halloween was shaping up to be a night to remember.
Part 2: Halloween Preparations.
The excitement was building around Green Arbor as Lucas began to share his plans for Halloween with a few trusted friends. When he gathered Eli, Jess, Callie, and Talon at the School, they all listened with wide smiles as he explained the idea.
“So, you want to bring back a holiday all about costumes, pumpkins, and… scares?” Jess asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
“Exactly!” Lucas replied enthusiastically. “And I’ve even got a little something extra planned for a certain someone,” he added, casting a mischievous glance toward Talon.
Talon grinned knowingly. “Oh, I’m all in if it means we get to spook Blondie. She never admits it, but ghosts and all that spooky stuff really get to her.”
The group shared a laugh, already picturing Ava’s reaction. But before they could dive into planning her scare, there was more to set up. The South Farm lands had generously donated a bounty of pumpkins for the occasion, enough for each child in the classroom to carve their own jack-o’-lantern. Eli coordinated with a few of the farmers, arranging for the pumpkins to be brought up to the school in carts, where Callie and Jess helped unload them.
In the schoolroom, Lucas and Jess covered tables with cloths, setting out carving tools, spoons for scooping, and small candles for the finished pumpkins. Callie strung up makeshift decorations, hanging paper bats and tattered cloth to create a spooky atmosphere. The excitement was contagious, and even Callie, who usually shied away from big gatherings, was caught up in the preparations, her face glowing with anticipation.
Eli walked in, carrying the last pumpkins. He set it down with a satisfied sigh, looking around at the room now transformed. “This place looks incredible, Lucas. The kids are going to love it.”
Lucas beamed, admiring the setup. “It’s going to be great. And I’m hoping Echo will do a little Halloween presentation. He’s even found old images and spooky sounds to play for the kids.”
Just then, Talon leaned over, nudging Lucas with a grin. “So, about that scare plan. What are we thinking?”
Lucas chuckled, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Okay, so Echo is going to play along with a ghost story I’ve prepared, to set the mood and get into her head. Echo will load faint ghostly sounds onto this device, so we can leave it in the building.”
Talon’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, that’ll get her for sure. Just imagining Ava’s face is priceless.”
Eli, overhearing, looked over with a chuckle. “Careful you two, Ava’s not exactly the forgiving type. And she’s got a mean right hook.”
Lucas laughed but waved him off. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s unarmed… probably.”
As they finished setting up the room, Jess came over, shaking her head in amused disbelief. “You boys are going to get yourselves hurt. Just don’t go too far with it.”
“Don’t worry, Jess,” Talon replied, grinning. “It’s all in good fun.”
She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Just remember who you’re dealing with. I’m not bailing you out if she turns the tables on you.”
As the final touches were added, the classroom transformed into a haunted wonderland. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes were lined up, tools and candles ready for the kids to dive into their first-ever pumpkin carving experience. The walls were draped with eerie cloth, and Echo had prepped a series of spooky sounds to play at just the right moments.
Callie, excited to see how the kids would react, gave Lucas a thumbs-up. “This is amazing, Lucas. I wish we had stuff like this when we were younger.”
Lucas smiled, feeling a surge of pride. “It’ll be something they won’t forget, that’s for sure.”
With everything in place, they stood back to admire their handiwork. The quiet anticipation hung in the air, each of them feeling the thrill of the upcoming event. And as Lucas glanced at Talon, he couldn’t help but smile, already imagining the Halloween night when Ava would be in for a fright she’d never see coming.