Halloween night was in full swing, and the streets were alive with glowing jack-o'-lanterns, shrieking kids, and the scent of caramel apples in the air. Benny and I dashed up another driveway, our bags already half-full of candy, but that wasn’t stopping us.

“Alright, this house is the jackpot,” Benny declared, eyes gleaming behind his wizard hat. “I can feel it.”

I laughed, nudging him. “You said that about the last three houses.”

“Yeah, but this time, I really mean it,” he insisted, marching up to the door with all the confidence of someone about to discover buried treasure.

I rang the doorbell, and Benny adjusted his cape dramatically as an old lady answered with a warm smile. “Trick or treat!” we chorused.

She dropped a couple of mini chocolate bars into our bags, and Benny peeked inside. He gasped. “Is that—? Full-size chocolate bars? Ma’am, you are a hero.”

I giggled as he clutched his chest like he’d just witnessed a miracle. The woman chuckled, clearly entertained, and waved us off with a “Happy Halloween!”

As we walked back to the sidewalk, Benny held up his chocolate bar like a trophy. “This… this is why we do what we do.”

I shook my head, grinning. “For the candy?”

“For the experience,” he corrected. “And the candy. Mostly the candy.”

I bumped my shoulder against his, warmth spreading in my chest. Benny had this way of making every moment feel like the best adventure.

“Alright,” he announced, eyes gleaming. “Next house. Let’s roll.”