"Ty?"

"Yes, Danny?"

"What's this 'Halloween' everyone here at camp is so excited about?"

It's been two months after my little... ah... "I- Feel- Completely- Useless- Weak- And- Unimportant" episode, and it was nearing the end of October, stirring up giggles, scares, and pranks from all who stayed at camp. A lot of the people who lived in the Western states or near Washington, Oregon, and California, had driven over to spend time with the still small number of people who stayed at camp over the school year. We still had yet to leave camp to go see Adam, Danny's father. We kept trying to, but my inherited bank card kept coming up with some sort of error saying that I was not yet eligible to be using it. We had talked to Zavid about that last month, in September, and he said it was because he had to sign some papers saying I was old enough and was able to take care of myself, blah blah blah, because technically, even after living at camp for twelve years, I was still an orphan in the eyes of the government, even though I was legally an adult in their eyes because I was nineteen, too.

It was just a big mess. And add that on top of the papers Zavid kept forgetting to sign, and couldn't sign because he couldn't read English very well, it was just a bigger mess, and it was clear we weren't going to be meeting Adam in person anytime soon. We did, however, talk to him on the Big House phone practically all day every Saturday. We kind of made a ritual out of it, and we learned a lot about Adam's life, like the fact that he had been living alone ever since Danny had gone missing from his life, or the fact that he was 6'11 (I almost choked on the food I was eating when he had answered that question (HOW?!)). We learned a lot about him over the phone, and even I had started to become comfortable speaking to someone who was not only older than I was, but was also Danny's father (I had harder times talking to the parents of people I know (not that I've talked to many parents...)).

I gave my fiance a weird look, wondering how he couldn't know about Halloween. Yeah, sure, he had been traveling with Cyril and his gang for most of his life, but they were traveling inside the United States! It's, like, the biggest holiday out there next to Christmas! How could he not have heard of Halloween or seen Halloween in action when traveling in a country practically ran by its children?! It was ridiculous!

Danny must have sensed the thoughts going through my head, because he hung his own in shame. "S-sorry. I-it's a stupid question. Y-you don't have to answer it..."

I eyed him for a little longer before shaking my head, chuckling. "It's quite alright, Danny," I told him, taking a bite of my pancakes. We were eating at the Food Court that morning, a change from the usual of Danny bringing me my food. It was another change, too, because I was actually eating breakfast. Most often I skipped out on that meal, as well as lunch, only eating dinner most days, if I was even up for that. I really didn't eat much, a thing that Danny was trying to get me to make a better habit of, and a thing that was also a contradiction to my athletic legs and thighs, which were strong with muscles only good eating habits could bring. Another contradiction for the laugh was that I never did any form of exercise to keep my legs toned besides hiking up the mountains in the mountain province of camp, something I had to do again with Danny soon, because I was itching to sketch out the view from up there.

Setting down my fork, I proceeded to explain. "Halloween is a tradition we have chosen to keep up since the Celtic times, though the essence of it has been lost. Halloween was originally a day where the Celts would get together, create a bonfire, and dance in costume to ward off evil spirits. It took place on a day very similar to one it takes place on now, at the end of October, which is a time when the world is transitioning from life to death- the dying of the leaves on the trees."

Oh boy. He really shouldn't have asked me to explain Halloween, and Danny saw that clear as day. Once I started on something that I knew about, there was no stopping me until I was ready to stop on my own.

"However," I continued, on a roll now and bouncing excitedly in my seat as I spoke, "it was originally celebrated on November first, which was when the Samhain, who were the Celts, celebrated their new year's. If you were successful at warding off the evil spirits on the day after All Hallow's Eve, a-k-a Halloween, which was on the very day it is today, October thirty-first, it would bring you good fortune. Most often, after the warding off of spirits, the Celts would celebrate by having a banquet filled with treats and a hearty meal for all."

"That's very interesting, love, but wha-"

"I'm getting to that. As a matter of fact, I was just about to start on its relevance to the modern day." I cleared my throat before continuing. "Anyways. Over time, it changed from warding off spirits to kid-friendly tradition where everybody would dress in costumes on All Hollow's Eve, known as Halloween to most, and go door to door, being rewarded with either candy or a trick set up by the person who lives at the house they just knocked upon. Some still believe that by walking around in costume on that day, we frighten the evil spirits off with how scary they look, although to be honest everything has been made too kid friendly to look even remotely scary. But people still think that, from time to time. That's a great movie, by the way."

Danny appeared immensely confused by my sudden change in topic. "Uh... What movie, love...?" He asked hesitantly.

"From Time to Time, of course! We really need to watch it. It's so sad, but it really speaks to me. There's this blind white girl who is best friends with a black slave of their household, and there's this other boy who is from the 'future', which is actually now. They all lived in a house where time is seamless, so at times it unravels, and the boy can see into the past, or the blind white girl and black slave boy see into the 'future'. And so they become the best of friends over time, and the boy from the modern time-"

"Oh, okay," Danny quickly said before I continued further. "That sounds like a really interesting movie, love. Maybe we can watch it sometime?"

I grinned and nodded excitedly at that. "Yes! We should really watch it! A lot!"

Danny chuckled at my enthusiasm. He took a sip of his water before speaking again. "So about this Halloween...?"

"What about it?"

"Is it only for kids?"

I couldn't help but to laugh at that. Once I had my laughter under control, I shook my head. "No, sweetie. There are plenty of people our age who participate with great enthusiasm, myself being one of them." I stated proudly.

Danny tilted his head. "Then why didn't you participate last ye- never mind. I know the reason." He sighed, and I bit my lip. I shook my head to clear it of the memories trying to intrude before speaking again.

"Would you like to participate this year?" I asked him.

"It depends. What's the 'treat' that you get if you aren't tricked?" Danny asked, raising an eyebrow.

I grinned widely. "Candy."

Danny grinned as well once the thought settled into his mind. "Then count me in." His grin slowly fell to be replaced by a confused frown. "How do we participate?"

"By getting a costume, of course!"

"Where do we get one of those?"

"We go to town and buy them."

Danny's grin suddenly returned. "Sounds like the perfect excuse for an out - of - camp - date to me."

I couldn't help but to smile widely at that. "We can do that, too..."

Danny nodded excitedly before bolting to his feet, going around the table to scoop me into his arms. I yelped when he did, and earned a kiss on my forehead and a chuckle at my reaction. "Let's go do that now," my fiance said before beginning to carry me out of the Food Court and towards Salem for our costumes.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "You have money for them?" I asked him as he carried me.

He nodded. "Zavid has been allowing me to trade in the drachma I've been collecting helping around camp for mortal money. It's how I bought your rings." He gave me a goofy grin, making me giggle.

"So you work to make me happy, is what I'm hearing?"

"Mmm... yeah. Pretty much." His goofy grin widened, making me giggle once more as he proceeded to carry me out of camp.

"How sweet."

"Only for you, love," Danny told me cheesily - if that's even a word - before exiting the camp, still carrying me in his arms.

...

Halloween history for you all! XD