Spooky Sweet Memories: Rediscovering a Halloween Keepsake

 A soft drizzle tapped against the window as Victoria sat cross-legged on the floor of her childhood bedroom. She had returned home for the weekend, seeking a brief escape from the hectic pace of university life. The room looked almost the same as it had when she was a teenager—posters of bands peeling slightly at the corners, a string of fairy lights hanging limply above her bed, and shelves lined with an eclectic mix of novels and knick-knacks.

Victoria’s gaze wandered to the top shelf of her closet, where a beautifully decorated box sat, its edges fraying from years of being shuffled around. She hadn’t opened it in a long time, but from its wholesome design she knew exactly what it was—her memory box.

With a sigh, she reached up, pulled the box down, and placed it on the floor in front of her. She lifted the lid and was immediately greeted by a wave of nostalgia. There were old ticket stubs from concerts she had attended, friendship bracelets she had made at summer camp, a dried corsage from her high school prom, and faded photographs capturing moments of childhood innocence.

Victoria dug deeper, fingers brushing against forgotten relics of her past, until her hand closed around something soft. She pulled it out slowly and unfolded it, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized what it was: a tiny, white baby vest.

Written in pastel orange across the front was her name, "Victoria" and beneath it, the words "First Halloween" with the date: "October 31st, 2024."

Victoria's mom really thought of everything. Wowwee.ie was her favourite place to order the most beautiful gifts for the people she loved. She had formed such a wonderful relationship with the team of women who worked there, knowing that they all paid such fantastic attention to detail. She knew they would always provide exactly what she needed including her very favourite seasonal mug. 

Victoria couldn’t help but smile. She had heard stories about her first Halloween from her parents countless times. She was only a few months old, and they had dressed her up as a little pumpkin, complete with a hat that had a tiny green stem on top. According to her mother, she had been the star of their small neighbourhood, everyone cooing over how she really was so spooky sweet.

She ran her fingers over the design, feeling the bumps of the wear left behind from a well loved vest. She could almost see herself as that tiny baby, cradled in her mother’s arms, unaware of the world but surrounded by love and warmth.

Gazing at the vest now, Victoria felt a mixture of joy and a twinge of melancholy. She realized that this was more than just a piece of cloth—it was a tangible reminder of her mother's love, of her childhood, and of all the memories she had cherished. She missed those simpler times when her biggest worry was choosing which candy to eat first after trick-or-treating.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her reverie. It was a message from her mom: "How’s my girl doing? Don’t forget we’re carving pumpkins tonight!"

Victoria smiled and typed back quickly, "I’m good, Mom. Guess what I just found? My first Halloween vest. You kept everything!"

Her mom’s reply was almost instant. "Of course, I did! You were the cutest little pumpkin. And now you’re all grown up, but you’ll always be my little girl."

Victoria felt a warm glow in her chest. She folded the baby vest carefully and placed it back in the box, knowing she had found something precious today. Not just a reminder of her first Halloween, but a piece of her history that connected her to the people she loved.

As she closed the lid of the memory box, she realized that some things, no matter how small, could hold an entire world of memories. And in those memories, she found comfort—a connection to her past, her family, and the person she had grown to be.

"Alright, time to carve some pumpkins," Victoria whispered to herself, feeling more at home than she had in a long time. She set the box back on the shelf, a smile lingering on her face, and headed downstairs, ready to make new memories with her family.