One of Marcus's favorite days of the year was, and always has been, Halloween. As a kid, he adored it for the candy—though his mother never missed an opportunity to chide him for his insatiable sweet tooth. But today, he appreciated Halloween for a different reason: he didn't have to don his usual armored uniform. Instead, he could wear a flimsy costume he picked up from Spirit Halloween. The cherry on top was that he got to share the day with his daughter. Oh, what a delightful day it was.

Still, Marcus couldn’t shake the feeling of silliness as he ventured out. He felt he might be too old for trick-or-treating, despite the cheerful company of his daughter, Missy.

Clad in a dusty brown cowboy hat and a faux leather vest, Marcus had embraced the spirit of the classic cowboy. His daughter, in contrast, was a vision of whimsy in her black witch’s hat and flowing purple dress adorned with glittery stars. Together, they approached the house, their footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves. With a mix of excitement and a tinge of self-consciousness, they rang the doorbell.

“Trick-or-treat!” they called out in unison, their voices ringing with festive cheer.