Fixing Things

Flash Fiction

Fixing Things

“Why do people have scary things in their yards?” Five-year-old Gina asked Grammie as they drove down the street to the grocery store. "I'm not scared..."

“It’s for Halloween. Some people just like to decorate their yards.”

“Is today Halloween?!” Gina asked, obviously upset.

“No Honey! Halloween is weeks away. You and Mom will be back in your apartment by then.

“I was afraid I’d miss Trick or Treat!” Gina said, calming down.

“Don’t the people in your town put up Halloween things?”

“Not any I’ve seen before Halloween comes. Lots of the stores do though, but we don’t go there very often. Mom always brings me to see them when it’s almost Halloween though.”

“But what about your neighbors?”

“We don’t know many of them, we live on the fifth floor. None of the ones we see everyday are people who put up stuff on their doors… They do put some things out front, but not until Halloween comes.

“Well in this town, lots of people put things out, sometimes a whole month before Halloween! I’ll drive around and show you.”

They perused the town for over an hour seeing dozens of Halloween things all over. Gina loved it!

Finally, Gram asked Gina if she went Trick or Treating with her friends.

“I only have friends at school,” Gina said.

“So, who do you play with when you’re not at school?” Gram asked.

“Mostly Mom…” Gina said, sounding a little sad.

Gram had been thinking about selling her house, and getting an apartment. Though Gina and her mother only lived ten minutes away, it was a different and bigger town. Suddenly Grammie thought maybe she could get their apartment, and let them have the house for a while…

It actually changed all their lives, and definitely, for the better!