Sammy and Glimmer Puff's Haunted Costume Quest

Sammy the Spirited Samurai, a brave girl wearing a shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, a sparkly blue robe tied with a golden sash, and tall boots, stands grinning in front of a bedroom mirror while swishing a foam sword. In the background, a cozy bedroom with a window showing a big orange moon rising in the darkening sky.

Sammy the Spirited Samurai stood in front of her bedroom mirror and grinned from ear to ear. She wore a shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, a sparkly blue robe tied with a golden sash, and tall boots that went clop-clop-clop on the floor. Tonight was Halloween, and the big orange moon was already glowing outside her window. "This is going to be the best night EVER!" Sammy cheered, swishing her foam sword through the air.

Glimmer Puff, a sparkly joyful ghost shimmering like a thousand tiny stars, wearing a tall purple top hat and a silver glitter bow tie, floats through an open window doing a loop-the-loop. In the background, a cozy bedroom with curtains fluttering and the big orange moon glowing outside.

Just then, a shimmering glow floated through Sammy's open window. It was Glimmer Puff, her best friend — a sparkly, joyful ghost who shimmered like a thousand tiny stars. Glimmer Puff wore a tall purple top hat and a bow tie made of silver glitter. "Are you ready for trick-or-treating?" Glimmer Puff giggled, doing a loop-the-loop in the air. "I've been waiting ALL year for this!"

A cobblestone sidewalk lined with glowing jack-o'-lanterns with silly and spooky carved faces, paper bats dangling from a porch draped in fake cobwebs, and lanterns hanging from a lamppost casting warm golden light. In the background, houses decorated for Halloween beneath a big orange moon, with colorful autumn leaves scattered on the ground.

Sammy and Glimmer Puff rushed outside into the lively neighborhood. Glowing jack-o'-lanterns with silly, spooky faces lined the cobblestone sidewalks. Paper bats dangled from porches draped in fake cobwebs, and colorful leaves crunched underfoot with every step. Lanterns hung from every lamppost, filling the streets with a warm, golden light. "Look at all the decorations!" Sammy said, her eyes wide with wonder. The whole neighborhood buzzed with excitement.

Sammy the Spirited Samurai, wearing her shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, sparkly blue robe, and golden sash, leans toward her side and whispers while looking at a group of kids standing apart from the parade crowd, clutching costume bags. In the background, a neighborhood park with a banner reading 'Halloween Parade' and kids in costumes gathering near a start line, lanterns glowing.

They followed the cobblestone sidewalk toward the neighborhood park, where the big Halloween parade was about to begin. Kids in all kinds of costumes were gathering near the start line — pirates, robots, princesses, and dinosaurs. But as Sammy got closer, she noticed something strange. A small group of kids stood off to the side, clutching their costume bags tightly. They weren't wearing their costumes at all. "Glimmer Puff, why aren't those kids dressed up?" Sammy whispered.

A foam sword with a silver blade and a wrapped golden handle, resting against a park bench next to a costume bag with a big fuzzy orange-and-white fox tail poking out of the top. In the background, the neighborhood park with glowing lanterns, colorful autumn leaves on the ground, and the big orange moon overhead.

Sammy walked over to the group carefully. A kid in a plain jacket hugged a bag with a big fuzzy tail poking out of it. "Hey, what's in the bag?" Sammy asked gently. The kid looked down at the ground. "It's a fox costume," the kid mumbled. "But what if everyone laughs at me? What if it looks weird?" Another kid holding a bag full of silver fabric nodded. "Yeah, my costume is a robot made from boxes. It's kind of goofy." Sammy could see they felt nervous, and her heart squeezed a little.

Glimmer Puff, a sparkly joyful ghost shimmering like a thousand tiny stars, wearing a tall purple top hat and a silver glitter bow tie, floats down gently near the ground with a warm, encouraging expression. In the background, the neighborhood park lit by golden lanterns, with jack-o'-lanterns glowing along the cobblestone path.

Glimmer Puff floated down and hovered close to the group. "I know how it feels to be nervous," Glimmer Puff said softly, adjusting the tall purple top hat. "When I first wore this hat, I thought everyone would stare. But you know what? They did stare — because they thought it was AMAZING!" Sammy nodded. "Here's the thing," she said, kneeling down. "On Halloween, EVERYONE looks a little silly. That's what makes it so great! Nobody is going to laugh at you, because we're ALL pretending together."

Sammy the Spirited Samurai, wearing her shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, sparkly blue robe, and golden sash, bounces on her toes with an excited expression, one hand extended in invitation. In the background, the park pathway lined with glowing jack-o'-lanterns and paper bats dangling from nearby tree branches.

The kid with the fox costume bit their lip. "But what if I'm the only one who looks different?" Sammy thought for a moment. Then she had an idea that made her bounce on her toes. "What if we ALL walk in the parade together? If you feel shy, just walk next to me and Glimmer Puff. Sometimes the best way to feel brave is to have a friend right beside you, cheering you on." Glimmer Puff spun in a happy circle, leaving a trail of sparkles in the air. "Yes! We'll be your bravery buddies!"

A pair of enormous butterfly wings covered in purple and green glitter, spread wide open and catching the warm golden lantern light, propped against a park bench. In the background, the neighborhood park at night with glowing jack-o'-lanterns, colorful autumn leaves, and the big orange moon.

One by one, the shy kids started to open their bags. The kid pulled on the fuzzy orange-and-white fox costume with a big bushy tail and pointy ears. Another kid climbed into a robot costume made of painted silver boxes with blinking red lights. A third kid unfolded a pair of enormous butterfly wings covered in purple and green glitter. "Whoa!" Sammy gasped. "Those costumes are INCREDIBLE! You made those yourselves?" The kids nodded, and tiny smiles began to spread across their faces like sunshine breaking through clouds.

Sammy the Spirited Samurai, wearing her shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, sparkly blue robe, and golden sash, stands on top of a hay bale with her foam sword raised high, mouth open in a rallying cheer. In the background, a crowd of costumed kids cheering beneath lantern-lit lampposts, with paper bats swaying on a decorated porch.

"Listen up, everyone!" Sammy called out, climbing onto a hay bale near the parade start line. She raised her foam sword high. "Halloween is the one night where you can pretend to be ANYTHING you can imagine! A fox! A robot! A butterfly! A samurai! It doesn't matter if your costume is fancy or homemade or a little bit goofy. What matters is that YOU made it and YOU love it. So let's show this neighborhood what we've got!" The crowd of kids erupted in cheers so loud that the paper bats on the porches swayed back and forth.

Glimmer Puff, a sparkly joyful ghost shimmering like a thousand tiny stars, wearing a tall purple top hat and a silver glitter bow tie, floats along a cobblestone sidewalk leaving a trail of sparkles glittering on the stones. In the background, a Halloween parade of costumed children marching under lantern-lit lampposts and the big orange moon.

The Halloween parade began with a boom of music from a speaker shaped like a pumpkin. Sammy marched at the front, clop-clop-clopping in her tall boots. Glimmer Puff floated alongside, leaving a trail of sparkles that glittered on the cobblestone sidewalk. Right behind them walked the fox, the robot, and the butterfly — heads held high and smiling wide. The kid in the fox costume even started doing a little fox dance, swishing the big bushy tail left and right. "See?" Glimmer Puff whispered to Sammy. "All they needed was someone to believe in them."

A large candy bucket shaped like a jack-o'-lantern, overflowing with wrapped candies in orange, purple, and green wrappers, sitting on a cobblestone sidewalk. In the background, a lively neighborhood street with costumed kids, lantern-lit lampposts, and decorated porches with paper bats and fake cobwebs.

By the end of the parade, the whole neighborhood was buzzing. Kids who had been too shy to wear their costumes were now showing them off proudly. A grown-up dressed as a giant taco gave high-fives to everyone who passed. Candy filled buckets and bags to the brim. Laughter echoed off every porch and sidewalk. The kid in the robot costume turned to Sammy with shining eyes. "Thank you," the kid said quietly. "I almost didn't wear this tonight. But now it's the best Halloween I've ever had."

Sammy the Spirited Samurai, wearing her shiny silver helmet with a red paper dragon on top, sparkly blue robe, and golden sash, sits on porch steps with her foam sword resting beside her, looking up at the sky with a peaceful smile. In the background, a quiet neighborhood street with glowing jack-o'-lanterns, lanterns on lampposts, and the big orange moon hanging in a starry sky.

Later that night, Sammy and Glimmer Puff sat on the front porch steps, watching the last few trick-or-treaters wander home under the big orange moon. Sammy set down her foam sword and leaned back. "You know, Glimmer Puff, I thought tonight was just going to be about candy," she said softly. "But it turned out to be about something even better." Glimmer Puff floated close and glowed a little brighter. "What's that?" Sammy smiled. "Imagination. And next year, I bet those kids are going to dream up even wilder costumes — because now they know that the only rule on Halloween is to have fun being exactly who you want to be."

Sammy and Glimmer Puff's Haunted Costume Quest

Browse More Stories

from the Fable Public Library