Victor's mysterious Fangs

3

Victor

Aria grew in a blink, soon she was beyond babbling nonsense. She was no longer the cute little baby, but she was a beautiful and independent seven year old. She was now a school kid enjoying the best holiday for children who love candy— Halloween.

Jack shouted after Aria from the top of his porch, "You come back before it gets dark!" Aria waved to him and I knew in my mind, she didn't care. She always had her own way.

Just like now. I sighed as I fumbled with the pumpkin mess.

"I'm only doing this for her," I mumbled. The other day she told me it would be nice if I decorated for Halloween. I vividly recalled the memory.

"So when I stop by to get candy, your house won't be the only one that looks plain," Aria explained as she sprinkled glitter across her pumpkin. "Could you carve my pumpkin some wings?" She asked, hope evident in her eyes.

"Pumpkins don't need wings," I clarified. "They should be scary."
"Well my pumpkin will be a butterfly and I'm going to be a princess. We're going to match," her toothy grin shined in the light.
"Fine," I gave in without caring for an explanation.
"Be right back," Aria ran off and left me with a crazy duty.

I had never carved a pumpkin before, and it was with a mix of hesitance and excitement that I began. I carved out two wings and a face, but I felt it was still missing something. I looked around for inspiration and my eyes fell on Aria's glitter. I grabbed some glitter and sprinkled it over the pumpkin, giving it an almost magical look. I stepped back to admire my work and couldn't help but smile. I had created a beautiful butterfly-winged pumpkin.

Aria returned to find her pumpkin transformed. "It's perfect!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight. I could see the sparkle of the glitter in her hazel eyes as she hugged me with gratitude.

"Now how should I decorate?" I chose to humor her.
"Surprise me," Aria said.

I had spent the last three hours at home carving pumpkins, and I was still struggling to put them all together. I had no idea how I was going to make it look worth something. I went to the store and picked out several different kinds of pumpkins, from tiny to large, and spent the entire day carving and decorating them. I also bought a few other spooky decorations like fake spiders and cobwebs.I carved the widest range of pumpkins— from round, fat juicy pumpkins to the ugly, dented ones. I sprawled some fake blood here and there, purely for a dab of gore, and retraced the carvings. I tried to have some super scary, creepy ones and cute, angelic ones to balance. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "This takes so much effort," I complained. But at least it'll be worth it. To see Aria smile. Hear her laugh. Appreciate my horrible Halloween skills.

But I was no professional. I had never carved a pumpkin before (I was just starting out) and I was finding it difficult to get the shapes and designs I wanted. After three hours of hard work, I still had a long way to go. I was determined to finish it for Aria. I wanted to make this Halloween special for her.

Finally, after another hour and a half of hard work, I was done. I looked at the pumpkins and smiled. They weren't perfect, but I knew Aria would appreciate them.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched the children play as I positioned the pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns on the steps of my porch. I sprung the webs and spiders everywhere to make it look natural with random specks of fake blood on the concrete and wood. The wind carried Her laughter throughout the neighborhood as they played and I smiled to myself as I heard the children converse about tonight. A smirk graced my lips as I eavesdropped on the playful kids. I retrieved my lighter from my left jacket pocket and my cigarette carton. I lit it and took a long puff, loving the feeling of the burn in my lungs. I admired my porch and I still wasn't satisfied with the way it looked. I fished through ancient dusty boxes just to find some yard guardrails. I stuck the pumpkins on the rails and lined my pathway with them. The pumpkins were on both sides of the pavement leading you straight to my doorsteps. I still wasn't quite finished so I trimmed some leaves and connected them with a thin string by the top. I tossed my creations across the ground, adding leftover decorations. "I may have outdone myself." I admired my work.

Jack crept to his door. "Aria!"
"Bye," her soft voice accompanied her small wave as she ran home.

**

When the night finally arrived, Aria was mesmerized by the decorations all around her. She was dressed up as a princess and she couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. She felt like she was in a fairytale.

As she walked through the neighborhood with her friends, she was amazed at all the costumes and candy. Everywhere she looked there was something new to explore. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was filled with joy and excitement as she collected all the candy she could carry. She pointed every time she saw something she deemed Halloworthy.

Everywhere she went, she was complimented on our her costume and the unique pumpkin i had carved for her. It was clear that Aria's idea had been a success.

After they had circled a few blocks, she gradually split ways with her friends. Naturally my house would be her last stop.

"Aria," Jack scolded her when she kept walking past her home.
"Just wait," she waved Jack a finger, sprinting to my pathway. "One last house Dad."

She felt so special that I had gone the extra mile to make the porch so festive, just for her. Her face showed all her emotions. She looked around at the decorations, smiling at the leaves. She bent down to touch the fake blood and spiders.

"It might stain," I warned.

"It's fine," she stepped forward continuously. "Look!" She wanted me to see that she had been carrying her butterfly pumpkin. Aria grabbed my hand and said, "See, I told you my pumpkin would stand out!" I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. She was right, it did stand out. She must have painted it after I left.

"Love the finishing touch," I hyped.
"Trick or treat!" She laughed opening the top of her pumpkin.
I tugged her nose, "trick."
She pouted, "I wanted a treat."

I chuckled before reaching for my glass candy bowl. I emptied all the candy into her pumpkin, after all she was my only visitor.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed. She tried to stuff the candy into her pumpkin. "Maybe that's too much," she looked at her overflowing pumpkin.

"Then I'll help myself to a treat too," I stole a red twizzler from her pumpkin. I shook it in her face prompting her to free her fit of giggles.
"Mr. Vic, why are people scared of you? You're not scary."

"Aria!" Jack bellowed with a stern look from his open door.

"Goodnight Mr. Vic! Thanks for the candy," she skipped down my steps onto my pathway. "I hope you do this every year!" She shouted to me from her front door with a wave. I waved back, earning a nod from Jack.

From then on, every year I decorated for Halloween. It became a tradition that we both looked forward to.

That little creature.

My lips upturned.