Surrounded by the cover of night, Stanley loitered in a neighbor’s yard waiting for his friend to arrive. He found it difficult to contain his enthusiasm. For weeks, he kept an eye on the calendar as Halloween was one of the few holidays he took notice of. This year was extra special. It was the first time he was permitted to go trick or treating unchaperoned. Out of all the houses in the neighborhood, the one Stanley waited at attracted the most attention. Torch lights that mimicked flickering flames lined the driveway. The motion activated ghoulish displays were supplemented by frightful groans. Carved jack-o’-lanterns and decorative light strings with pumpkin shaped bulbs guided visitors to the front door. Those that approached were rewarded with full sized pieces of candy. Lucas arrived a few minutes later and leaned against a tree. With a downturned smile, Stanley glared at his friend. A promise had been broken. “You’re not wearing a costume. I thought we agreed to get dressed up?” “Neither are you,” Lucas pushed back. “You’re in your street clothes.” “I know. I’m dressed as a pedophile. Y’know, because they look like everybody else.” “There really is something wrong with you. That’s not funny at all. And besides, how do you even know about pedophiles? After all, we’re moths!” “I was an altar boy and a Boy Scout!” insisted Stanley. He thought for a few seconds before revising his response. “Okay, none of that’s true. But I fluttered by a church once. It’s the same thing.” “No you haven’t. We’ve been together since birth. That never happened.” “Okay, fine. That’s not true either. But I once heard a story about a grasshopper fondling a cocoon. A story like that has to be true.” “Then why aren’t you dressed like a grasshopper?” “Hmm, you’ve got a point. I never thought about it like that.” A soft rumbling of children trudging up the gravel driveway interrupted the conversation. Unafraid, the two friends held their position. The playful affections of the young often chased after the pair with innocent curiosity. Their cat and mouse game was preferred over the venomous actions of adults, who usually viewed them as unwanted nuisances. Stanley and Lucas pressed their ears against the darkness, waiting to hear the welcoming chimes of a doorbell. Like Pavlovian dogs, they knew it was the signal to take flight, as the bell was always followed by the brightest illumination. Their efforts would then be rewarded. At least that’s what they hoped. After two failed attempts, they were starting to feel shortchanged. The night had not yet lived up to the hype. “Make sure you enunciate your words this time,” Stanley suggested. “That might be why we’re not getting any candy.” “Did you ever consider that your outfit is scaring the kids off?” “If anybody is scaring them off it’s you. Every time the light turns on, you make a mad dash towards it.” “I can’t help it,” Lucas pleaded. “I get so excited when I see it.” “But what if it’s a bug zapper? You’ll die and I’ll be all alone.” “The only people that put bug zappers by their front door are the ones at the campground. Cause that’s where they sit. This is no campground.” “Believe me, I know,” conceded Stanley. “The real estate taxes in this neighborhood are very high. I can’t believe how much I pay.” “What are you talking about? We’re squatters.” “I was just trying to be funny again.” When the doorbell rang out, Lucas sprang from his perch. He fluttered towards the light with anticipatory delight screaming “trick or treat” along the way. Stanley took a measured approach. He danced around the opening of an outstretched bag. All he had to do was disappear into its safe confines to have all the treats he could stomach. From out of nowhere, a hand swatted Stanley away. He pirouetted downward. When the light turned off, Lucas snapped out of his hypnotic frenzy. He called out to his friend. Off in the distance, he heard the pathetic whimpers from Stanley, who lay injured on the ground. Sitting beside him, Lucas asked, “Are you okay?” “No, my wings are broken.” “It was only a matter of time before you got smacked for that outfit you’re wearing.” “I’m laying here dying and you’re cracking jokes? Now whose not funny?” “I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood.” Stanley lay in quiet contemplation, wondering about the next chapter of his life. He didn’t know what happened after a moth died. His parents used to tell him that the darkness of death was followed by a bright light. He hoped that wasn’t the case. Chasing candy and a light had not worked out for him all that well. The one thing he knew for certain was that he would miss his friendship with Lucas. “Maybe I’ll get reincarnated,” Stanley wondered aloud. “If so, I’ll try to come back as a lightening bug.” “Are you trying to be funny again?” “No. That way you don’t have to risk getting zapped. You can chase after me and we can live happily ever after.” “You’d do that for me? Change who you are, just to keep me safe?” “Of course I would. We’re besties! You mean the world to me. I never told you this before but… I… I…” “What is it? You what?” Lucas asked, his eyes opened wide with hope. Tears dripped down Stanley’s cheeks as he struggled to find the strength needed to respond. He coughed a few times and cleared his throat. In a raspy whisper, he said, “Luke, I am your father.” Lucas blinked a few times trying to remember which movie that line came from. Lost in thought, he almost didn’t notice his friend sit up and flap his wings, which settled into place as if he was never swatted. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not really dying?” Lucas asked. “I guess I was just stunned, that’s all.” “There really is something wrong with you.”