The secret of Grandma's house

This is a story for QVV Spooky Season Challenge. I take great pride in being a part of the LGBTQ community for over 45 years. This is really one of my first ever non poetry stories on the theme of Pride. Enjoy!

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I hated having a birthday on Halloween.

Everyone was out partying, and at 16, my parents wouldn’t let me go to any unchaperoned events, which was pretty much all of them. So, I was super happy when Nilüfer called and invited me over. She was at her grandma's place and kept saying how boring it was. Plus, she mentioned she had gone to Walgreen's and stocked up on a ton of candy, which definitely sweetened the deal.

Nilüfer used to live just a few houses down from me. Her family moved here from Turkiye because her dad got a new job. I can’t quite remember the moment we realized we had feelings for each other, but honestly, who wouldn’t fall for her? She was beautiful and strong and kind and and and... So much more.. Her deep chocolate brown eyes were mesmerizing. She’s not overly emotional, but her eyes say everything. I could get lost in them for hours. Then one day, her dad got a promotion, and they moved 20 miles away. No more easy strolls to her house while daydreaming about her. I even counted the steps to her door once—about a hundred. I know, kind of silly, right? But I really do love her.

The drive to her grandma's house was about 27 miles, and I was so lost in my thoughts that it flew by. I had never been to her büyükannenin (grandmother's) house before or even met her. When I arrived, I knocked on the door of this charming old Victorian house, which is pretty common in the Heights area of Houston. I was a bit surprised when a frail-looking old lady opened the door.

“Hi there! I’m Sam, here to see your granddaughter.”

“Oh yes, *Hos Geldin, Hos Geldin, please come in!”

“Thanks!” I said.

I walked into this massive, beautiful house with soaring ceilings and a grand staircase right in the foyer where we stood. It was all decked out for Halloween, which struck me as strange since her family doesn’t really celebrate it. I figured maybe her grandmother was into it. I mean, Halloween isn’t exactly a religious holiday. Mrs. Ozman guided me into a spacious room that seemed like a den. It had a comfy couch, a desk, and a lovely fireplace.

“Just wait for Nilüfer. She’ll be here soon,” her grandmother said.

The house had this really old-school vibe. I wouldn’t say it was creepy, but when the lights went out, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I could hear Mrs. Ozman calling out, “Where are those candles? Where did I put them?” Then, out of nowhere, there was a scream! I jumped off the couch and shouted for her. For a second, I totally forgot about Nilüfer; I was just worried about her grandmother. Another scream! I was halfway up the stairs when I heard something else. What the... and suddenly, the Monster Mash blared from what must have been a loudspeaker. The lights came back on and people in costumes started popping up from every corner. OMG! It was a party! A Halloween party!

Nilüfer showed up dressed like a fairy, but honestly, she looked more like a Fairy Goddess. She was so stunning that I was completely speechless.

“*Merhaba Canim!” she greeted me, just like she always does.

We embraced, and I exclaimed, “Wow! I can’t believe you pulled this off!” Everyone was there—John and Mark, David and Glenn, Cindy and Stacey, and a bunch of other kids from school. Even Lily, our one Trans friend, made an appearance, which was rare for her since she usually avoids going out at night because of bullying. “Hey Lily, it’s great to see you!” I said. She looked amazing as CatWoman! I’ve always had a thing for women in leather. I got lost in thought for a moment and chuckled to myself.

“Were you surprised? You have to tell me you were surprised!” Nilüfer urged. I grinned at her. “Yeah, I was totally shocked. But I was also REALLY worried about your grandma, you bad girl!” I laughed. She joined in, saying, “Oh, büyükannenin is fine. She learned how to scream from watching old horror movies back in Istanbul. She really nailed it, didn’t she?” “Uh, yeah, she scared the hell out of me!” I replied.

I glanced at Nilüfer, wanting to kiss her so badly. She met my gaze, and in that moment, she pulled me into a small room under the stairs and kissed me for what felt like forever. It was a tight squeeze, but I didn’t care at all with her body pressed up against mine. I told her I loved her, and she replied, “Ben de Seni Seviyorum, Sam,” which means I love you too.

After that, we headed back to the party and had a blast!!

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*Hos Geldin = Welcome

*Merhaba = Hello

*Canim = Dear

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