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What is Lily's favorite thing about Halloween?
Pumpkins
What happens to Lily when she enters the abandoned house?
The door slams shut behind her and she disappears
What do you think motivates the tall, thin man from the end of the street to take the pumpkins?
The tall man’s motivations likely stem from his connection to the sinister mysteries of the neighborhood, hinting at a darker, hidden power related to the pumpkins.
How do you think Lily’s disappearance affects her parents and the rest of the neighborhood?
Lily’s disappearance only deepens the fears of the neighborhood, making them retreat further into their superstitions, and they avoid questioning the strange happenings.
What happens to Lily’s first pumpkin?
It mysteriously disappears
What is found the morning after Lily disappears?
A single pumpkin on her doorstep
Do you think the mystery of Lily’s disappearance is meant to be a metaphor for something deeper? If so, what could it represent?
Lily’s disappearance represents how passion and innocence can be misunderstood or rejected by a fearful society, especially when it challenges established norms.
Why do you think the rest of the neighborhood is so wary of Halloween? What might have happened in the past to make them so fearful?
The neighborhood likely experienced a supernatural event tied to Halloween, causing them to view it with fear and wariness.
How does Lily respond after her pumpkin goes missing?
She buys another pumpkin
What do some people believe about Lily after her disappearance?
That her spirit roams the streets on Halloween
How does the story play with the idea of Halloween as both a time of celebration and fear?
The story highlights Halloween as a time of joy but also unveils its darker, more unsettling side, where superstition and mystery lurk.
How does Lily’s love for pumpkins reflect her personality or her view of the world?
Lily's love for pumpkins suggests she has a free-spirited nature and embraces what others fear, refusing to conform to the neighborhood’s superstitions.
What does Lily do the night before Halloween?
Stays up late to watch the neighborhood
How old is Lily?
25
The neighborhood seems to be stuck in superstition and fear of change. What do you think this represents in a larger sense?
The fear of change in the neighborhood represents the human tendency to fear the unknown and resist anything that challenges the status quo.
Do people know what happened to lily?
No, they do not
Where does the figure Lily follows lead her?
An abandoned house
Why do you think Lily is so drawn to pumpkins, even though her neighbors dislike them?
Lily believes pumpkins have magical properties and symbolize the excitement and spirit of Halloween, making her drawn to them despite the neighborhood's opposition.
What do the pumpkins symbolize in this story? Why do you think they’re so important to Lily?
The pumpkins symbolize Lily’s rebellion against the oppressive fears of the neighborhood, as she embraces Halloween and its potential for magic and joy.
Did the figure lily followed close the door on her?
Maybe but no one knows