My daughter spent weeks making her princess costume, only to have our elderly neighbor turn her away on Halloween. I was furious, but I never expected him to leave something on our doorstep that night.
“Not you,” Mr. Harrison said, staring at my eight-year-old daughter.
Lily stood on his doorstep in her pink princess costume, holding out her orange pumpkin bucket.
“Trick or treat!” she’d said just seconds earlier.
Now her smile was disappearing.
“Excuse me?” I asked, certain I’d misunderstood.
“I said no candy. Take her somewhere else.”
My name is Daphne, and I’ve spent eight years teaching my daughter that she deserves the same kindness and respect as every other child. Lily has Down syndrome, but that has never stopped her from enjoying Halloween.
She’d counted down the days for weeks. We’d made her princess costume together, sewing little silver stars onto the skirt and attaching a glittering crown to a headband.
