Many years ago, Kevin’s eight-year-old little sister spent late October in Primary Children’s Hospital awaiting possible surgery to explore a massive lump on her neck. Their mother juggled time between being home with Kevin and his younger brother and being at the hospital with Sister. It was a lonely time for Sister and she missed Kevin terribly.
Halloween came; the lump remained, and doctors made plans to do surgery the following day if the lump had not reduced its massive size. Although Mother reassured Kevin that his little sister was being taken care of by loving nurses, he fiercely wanted to do something special for her. So Halloween night, he set off with a starched pillowcase intent on gathering candy galore. He ran from house to house through the late evening hours hollering, “trick-or-treat for my sick sister,” and filled the pillowcase half full.
The following morning Mother surprised Sister with Kevin’s love surprise, and Sister surprised Mother with a smooth lumpless neck.