light & gather

When I was a kid, my mother refused to take part in Halloween. She thought it was a demonic holiday — something we should stay far away from. But I always wanted to go trick-or-treating. Halloween fascinated me, partly because I never really got to celebrate it, but also because of how big of a deal it seemed. I loved the idea of costumes, free candy, and staying out late with friends. I imagine, at that age, it would’ve felt a little like freedom.

Instead, I had my Goosebumps books to keep me company. Dracula and Frankenstein became my stand-ins for Halloween nights — a small rebellion in paperback form. Maybe that’s why I was so excited to write The Street That Wasn’t There — it felt like a small homage to my younger self, holed up in her room, pouting over not being able to go trick-or-treating, reluctantly nibbling from the consolation candy bag my mom brought home from the grocery store.

So even though I never got to wander door to door, after writing The Street That Wasn’t There, I started thinking about what Ryan would’ve packed for his perfect Halloween night — before the blue light, before everything changed.

What’s Inside Ryan’s Kit

🍫 1. Pillowcase Candy Bag
Not a store-bought pumpkin bucket — just an old pillowcase from his room, ready to hold as much candy as humanly possible.

🔦 2. Flashlight with Dying Batteries
Because it’s dark, and let’s be honest — when was the last time you remembered to change the batteries in your flashlight?

🎭 3. Freddy Krueger Glove (Plastic)
Freddy Krueger wouldn’t have been my pick but I think he would’ve been up Ryan’s alley. Obviously I’m sure he would’ve wanted the actual gloves but his mother convinced him that the plastic gloves was the closest he was going to get. 

📻 4. Pocket Radio or Walkman
Growing up I had a portable CD player but I imagine Ryan would’ve clipped his walkman to his jeans pocket, probably playing Nirvana because it made him sound edgy.

🍬 5. A Single Full-Size Candy Bar (Traded for Good Luck)
I didn’t know this but apparently full sized candy bars were a huge deal. I probably wouldn’t trade my candy but I imagine Ryan would drive a hard bargain.

🎞️ 6. A Crumpled Flyer for a Haunted House
To this day, I won’t go into a haunted house without at least three people. But Ryan? He’d have gone first. He’d keep the crumpled flyer in his jacket pocket, proof that he wasn’t afraid of anything — or maybe, a reminder that he almost was.

Ryan’s Halloween starter kit definitely would’ve been different than mine. Still, I like to imagine that if I’d had the chance, a part of me would’ve channeled some of his fearlessness — even if only for one Halloween night.

Next week, I’ll be sharing the grown-up version of this: a small-batch starter kit inspired by the story, designed for a nostalgic Halloween night in. Think of it as what Ryan might’ve created if he’d grown up loving the same kind of magic we do.