Page 2 of A Cowboy's Halloween

The clock approached seven on that crisp autumn evening, and Jack anxiously awaited the arrival of his brothers. He had finished meticulously preparing his apartment for their Halloween movie night, and the anticipation was building.

The sound of the doorbell echoed through the apartment, and Jack rushed to the front door. He swung it open to reveal his three brothers, all dressed in costumes that reflected their unique personalities.

Roy, the eldest, arrived first. He was dressed as a classic vampire, complete with a black cape, pale makeup, and sharp fangs. He flashed a mischievous grin as he greeted Jack.

“You dressed up!” Jack exclaimed as they hugged.

“And you didn’t.” Roy laughed and tugged on the cloak string around his neck. “I’m going to feel sheepish if the others didn’t.”

“I ran out of time,” Jack said.

“Good ahead and—”

“Here I am!” Parker declared.

Jack grinned. “Love the costume!”

Parker was dressed like a mummy with strips of white cloth wrapped haphazardly around him. He stumbled playfully toward Jack, groaning like a mummy from an old horror film.

Jack burst out laughing. He could already tell that tonight was going to be a great night.

Ronald, the youngest of the group, had gone for a humorous approach. He was dressed as a giant slice of pizza, complete with a triangular costume and a cheesy grin on his face. Jack couldn’t help but chuckle at the unexpected choice.

“Come in, all of you!” Jack exclaimed, holding the door open wide for them. “I’m so glad you all dressed up!”

“Well, now we’ll be able to get more bang for our buck,” Roy pointed out.

“Yeah. Wearing a costume only once gets expensive,” Ronald added.

“No if you recycle them,” Jack said.

Parker snorted. “As if you’ve ever worn the same costume twice.”

Jack glanced over to where he had stacked up his old costumes in the corner. “You got me,” he admitted, and they all laughed.

The room was bathed in a soft, eerie glow from the orange and purple string lights. The decorations, snacks, and spooky ambiance created the perfect Halloween atmosphere. The scent of freshly popped popcorn wafted through the air.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Jack said, ushering his brothers toward the cozy seating area he had arranged. They settled in, grabbing bowls of popcorn and drinks as they chatted and caught up on each other’s lives.

Jack couldn’t help but feel a warm sense of joy as he watched his brothers enjoying the Halloween festivities he had prepared. The stage was set for a memorable night of horror movies and brotherly bonding, the perfect way to celebrate Halloween together.

All of the Griffins were Christians, and they viewed Halloween as a fun and festive occasion to celebrate with costumes, decorations, and activities like watching spooky movies, going trick-or-treating, or hosting gatherings with friends and family. Like Thanksgiving, they treated it as an excuse to hang out with loved ones, although they all saw each other almost every day as they worked at Hidden Creek Orchard together.

For all of their lives, they used the holiday as an opportunity to spend quality time together, create positive memories, and enjoy the festive aspects of Halloween while staying true to their faith.

In recent years, Jack had started to think of Halloween as an occasion to reflect on themes of light and darkness, good versus evil, and the triumph of light over darkness, = seeing parallels with his faith and beliefs.

Jack grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Hey, guys, you know what time it is, right?”

Roy smiled. “Oh, I think I know where you’re going with this. It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? You don’t want to wait until Halloween night?”

Jack nodded enthusiastically. “No need to wait.” He turned to Parker and Ronald. “Are you all ready for our annual tradition?

Parker chuckled. “Jack, you don’t even have to ask. I’ve been waiting for this since last Halloween.”

Ronald looked as excited as ever. “Me too! Hocus Pocus time is the best time!”

Jack laughed. “That’s what I like to hear. Let’s keep the tradition alive, guys. Hocus Pocus it is!”

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