The Zombie Who Forgot How to Spook

Lily loved October, especially when her dog Barnaby would bark at the cardboard skeleton on their front porch. But this year, something magical happened during the biggest lightning storm anyone in Palm Valley had ever seen.

The lightning flashed purple—three times in a row—and Lily peeked through her window. That's when she saw him: a lopsided zombie shuffling across their lawn, green skin glowing in the dark.

"Barnaby, stay!" Lily whispered, but her golden retriever wagged his tail and trotted outside.

"Wait!" Lily cried, grabbing her raincoat.

But Barnaby wasn't scared. The zombie looked more confused than frightening, holding something carefully in his hands. Something that shimmered orange and blue.

"You dropped this," the zombie mumbled, his voice rumbly but kind. He was holding a glass bowl. Inside, a tiny goldfish swam in circles.

"Goldie!" Lily gasped. "She washed away in the storm!"

"I found her in the gutter," said the zombie, whose name was Zeb. "I was a Halloween decoration, you see. The magic lightning brought me to life for one night. Just wanted to help."

Lily's fear melted away. "Thank you, Zeb!"

Zeb's mouth twitched into a smile. "Being scary is hard work. I think I'd rather be helpful."

"You can come back tomorrow!" Lily offered. "You can help me plant palm seeds in the garden."

"I'd like that," Zeb said, as dawn began to break. "But first—Goldie needs clean water."

Together, Lily, Barnaby, and their new zombie friend rushed Goldie inside, where she swam happily in her fresh bowl. And sometimes, when lightning storms roll through Palm Valley, Lily still sees Zeb wandering by, helping flowers bloom and scaring away the bullies who dare to mess with her friends.

"The scariest thing about Zeb," Lily tells everyone with a grin, "is how kind he turned out to be."