Gary and Debbie dressed as Waldos for the Halloween party. While they searched for their hats, their grandson Payson slipped in quietly, draping a sheet over himself.
"Boo," he whispered, but his voice sounded wrong, low and distant.
At the party, the Waldos smiled for pictures, but in every photo Payson's face was blurred, his eyes too dark. When they got home, the sheet was still hanging in the closet.
Payson had not come with them at all.
Joe and Becky swore they would plan ahead this year, but when Halloween rolled around, the only thing left in the closet was a pair of paint drop cloths.
Becky held one up and said, “You know, with a little creativity…” Joe just shrugged, cut out some armholes, and called it couture.
By the time they arrived, everyone wanted to know what they were supposed to be. Joe said “modern art,” Becky said “a work in progress,” and honestly, both were right.
It started when Jeff found his old leather jacket in the back of the closet and said, “You know, I used to be pretty cool.” Vanessa laughed, then pulled out a can of hair spray and dared him to prove it.
Before long, Ryker was spiking his hair, Sebastion was trying on sunglasses three sizes too big, and Evalynn was clapping along to music no one could hear. Michelle showed up, took one look at the chaos, and said, “Move over, I’m the lead singer.”
Now the Joneses call themselves a “family band,” though no one has heard them play. Between the big hair, loud colors, and even louder personalities, one thing is clear—the eighties are back, and they’re not turning the volume down anytime soon.
Don was rummaging through an old junk drawer when he found a magnifying glass that caught the light just right. He held it up, gave it a squint, and announced he was bringing it out of retirement.
Ann smiled and went to her closet, pulling down an old hat that once belonged to her grandmother. She set it neatly on her head and said, “Every good detective needs a bit of history.”
These days, the two of them make almost daily trips to the neighborhood post office. Don says it is for “evidence collection,” but mostly they enjoy the drive. On the way home, they always stop to visit their granddaughter, who is only three but already a source of many mysteries. “What’s on her face? Where did she go?”
When they are not out sleuthing, Ann keeps busy tracing family lines and uncovering clues about relatives long gone. Between her genealogy and Don’s magnifying glass, there is hardly a secret left in the family tree.
Kalel and Dylan swore they were going for something cute this year—matching clowns, nothing scary. But somewhere between the white paint, the crooked smiles, and the oversized shoes, things took a strange turn.
Their laughter started sounding a little too real, their matching grins stayed on a little too long, and every time someone asked what kind of clowns they were, they just said, “You’ll see.”
Now they wander the party hand in hand, balloons in tow, leaving everyone guessing whether the joke is over—or just getting started.
It all began when Kaci lit a candle that came with a mysterious label reading “For an evening of enchantment.” She thought it smelled like lavender. Tony thought it smelled like fun.
The moment the flame flickered blue, everything changed. Tony’s shirt turned to armor, Kaci’s eyes shimmered violet, and a sword appeared out of nowhere. Conner laughed, grabbed the sword, and vanished into a cloud of red smoke. When he reappeared, he was cracking Deadpool jokes and asking for tacos.
Then Kara Rose let out a giggle that echoed through the room, and shadows rippled across the floor until she stood there as The Wrath, perfectly pleased with herself.
By morning, the candle was gone, but the costumes stayed. Now the Jensons live with a little more magic, a few more swords, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting.
Julie and Mike may have boarded the same church pew once or twice and shared a tune or two while doing it, but no one expected that to lead to matching pirate costumes.
What started as a shared faith has somehow turned into hats, boots, and perhaps a claim to the same treasure. Julie is at the wheel, but Mike has the map, and it looks like neither plans to turn back.
The high seas are unpredictable. They can inspire camaraderie, treachery, mutiny, and loyalty. A pirate’s conquest is never easy, but their crew will tell you these two seem to sail together just fine.
McKell wanted something elegant for Halloween, so she picked her favorite author, Jane Austen. Her daughters, Avery and Emily, had other plans. They growled, howled, and declared they were going as wolves instead.
McKell smiled and said, “Fine, but if anyone asks, you are characters from Pride and Prejudice and Predators.” The girls howled louder, circling their very proper mother until she gave up trying to stay in character.
By the end of the night, Jane Austen had been chased through the house three times, and the wolves were victorious. No one is quite sure what story they were acting out, but it was definitely a family classic.
Devin had his golf outfit all planned out, but Kennedy wanted something that would really stand out. She grinned and said, “You can be the golfer — I’ll be the hole in one.”
They spent the afternoon crafting the perfect costume pair, complete with fake grass, a tiny flag, and a golf ball. Devin practiced his swing, Kennedy practiced her victory pose, and by the end of it, they both agreed it was a match made for the course.
Now wherever they go, people always shout the same thing, “Put it in the ----!.”
If you know golf, you know.
Devin says he has taken a lot of swings, but she is the best shot he has ever made.
Just a few hours ago, Russ sighed as he pulled on an old Cowboys jersey while Jenny practiced her cheerleader kicks in the kitchen. Jenny got a little too enthusiastic and sent a plate of cookies flying off the counter.
Addison, dressed as a little mouse, scurried across the floor to pick them up just as Camden strolled in dressed as a racecar driver. He smirked and said, “Nice try, but my costume’s the real winner.”
Asher entered next, striking a pose in his flight suit and saying, “We’ll see about that.” Camden rolled his eyes and muttered, “Whatever, wingman.”
Grandma watched the whole scene from her chair while brushing the tail of her cat costume. She smiled and said she couldn’t tell if watching this family get ready was a trick or a treat.
CJ was digging through a storage tub of old junior high clothes when he found his football and a couple of old jerseys. He called Katie over, and before long, the two of them were laughing and tossing the ball back and forth.
That’s when Randi lit up, watching every throw with a big smile. She wanted to play too, so naturally she got a jersey of her own.
Now the Carlos family has a full team — and one very proud little rookie.
A little over a year ago, Alexis and Kayden were tending the Hogwarts gardens when they noticed one of the mandrake pots starting to wiggle. Curious, they pulled it from the soil, and the tiniest cry filled the air.
The sound was sharp at first, but the moment they held the mandrake close, it quieted and looked up with the sweetest little face. They found it too cute to put down, so they carried it everywhere they went. As long as they walked together, the mandrake stayed calm and content.
They named her Haven. Everyone at Hogwarts agrees she is small and adorable, but when she is grumpy, you can hear her clear across the garden grounds.
One stormy night, the Arnolds and the Carlsons were watching their favorite show when the power flickered, the lights went out, and the TV began to hum. As Ryan reached for the remote, he was abruptly sucked into the screen. The group gasped but knew what they must do. Worried they would lose him forever, the rest followed, shouting as they tumbled through the static.
When they landed, everything was the same—just darker, stranger, and crawling with vines. Ryan had a guitar slung across his back, Karen was dressed like a Hawkins High cheerleader, Axel’s hat sparked with static, and Emma could light up rooms just by thinking about it. Avery rolled in with a skateboard and a fierce look in her eye. John stood guard like a lifeguard on duty, and Teagan looked like she had just finished a shift at Scoops Ahoy.
Now they wander through the Upside Down together, lost between worlds but never apart. They may not know how to escape, but they always know how to find each other.
Pam was testing out a new spell from her witch’s cookbook, something about “sparkle and seafoam.” Ben and Stella should have been in bed, but they had snuck into the kitchen to watch the bubbles rise from their grandmother’s glowing cauldron.
Pam gave the potion a stir, said the words “just a dash more magic,” and the whole room shimmered blue. When the smoke cleared, Ben was flopping around like a fish, and Stella was standing there in a glittering princess gown.
Since then, Pam has been banned from experimenting near bedtime, Ben cannot stay out of the tub, and Stella refuses to go anywhere without her royal dress. The spell may fade someday, but for now, it is pure family magic.
One October night, Joseph and Katie were reading Annie a spooky bedtime story about a little mummy who lost its family. Annie listened wide-eyed, clutching her blanket as the wind howled outside.
Annie whispered, “I wish we could help find her a family…” Just then, a cold draft swept through the room, the lights flickered—and in an instant, the Argyles were wrapped head to toe in toilet paper and old rags.
Now they wander the night together, looking for the missing mummy family from the story. Some say they are still searching… others say they found them right at home.
Rondo and Tommy were fixing up the garage when they found an old detective hat and a dusty trench coat inside a forgotten box. Tommy tried them on, and suddenly the lights flickered and a deep voice whispered, “Case reopened.”
Before they knew it, Rondo was holding a magnifying glass, and Tommy was introducing himself as Detective Dick Tracy. Since then, they have been seeing clues everywhere—muddy footprints, missing keys, suspicious glances.
They may not solve many mysteries, but they sure look good while pretending to.
Kathy and McKenzie have always loved animals, so when they found a tiny black kitten shivering by the road, they could not just leave it there. They brought it home, wrapped it in a blanket, and gave it some warm milk.
What they did not know was that this kitten belonged to a witch—and it was not supposed to leave her side. When the witch’s spell tried to call her pet back, it accidentally pulled Kathy and McKenzie into the magic too.
Now the two have whiskers, quick reflexes, and a talent for landing on their feet. The witch got her kitten back, but she might have ended up with two more.