Sam was no ordinary girl. She did everything ordinary girls did, she had gone to school with all of the neighborhood children every year, but each year it became more apparent to those around her that Sam was different. Sam's parents pretended not to notice that she could hear things others couldn't, in fact, Sam's parents ignored many things much more strange about Sam than that. Sam learned quickly not to tell others about many of the strange things she could do. Sam was able to hear animals... she could even talk to animals... but that was nothing new to Sam... she had been communicating with her cat Silly since before she could talk to everyone else.

It seemed to Sam that each year she could understand new things and could do more different things each year in the fall. Specifically on Halloween night, which was also her birthday. This year Sam was to turn 18. Sam was excited. She planned to go to New Tristram High's Halloween Masquerade with her friends. Kelly, Becca, Ally and Sam had been friends for as long as they could remember. Then again, in a small town like New Tristram, girls had to stick together.

The four planned to dress as greek goddesses adorned in shimmering white robes, but as the days ticked by, each girl had better ideas for their garb. Sam was the first to speak up. "I think we should go as fairies. We just need to make a few adjustments to our dresses and we'll be the belles of the ball."

The other girls agreed. They each worked hard on their dresses. Each afternoon after school the girls gathered to sew, but each chose to work separately on the wings of their costumes. The four had agreed to surprise one anther on Halloween night with their costumes. Sam had chosen to create green gauzy wings with sequins, and her project was going splendidly. Her mother and father remained suspiciously uninvolved in Sam's preparations though. Sam was dejected. Never before had they refused to support any of her endevours. Yet Sam worked on.

Finally the night arrived, and each girl ran home to don their costumes, having agreed to meet afterwards to do hair and make-up together. Sam had just reached her house when she noticed a strange movement in the backyard. Softly Sam heard her name being called from the woods just behind her house. "Sam" whispered the voice,"SAM! "Hello?" Sam called. She felt drawn to the voice, each step moved her uncontrollably closer to the woods. As she reached the boundary of the woods, she saw a beautiful woman dressed in a golden brown robe. The woman was no ordinary woman, but a fairy, her mother, no less.

"Mom!" Sam gasped. "You're a fairie too? Where's Dad?"

"Your father is a human, and he is in the house. He knows about both of us. Because you are half human, you may only use all of your fairie gifts for half of the year, from Halloween to May 1st. The rest of the year you must remain human with a few fairie gifts. Tonight you will receive your wings for the first time!"

Sam was elated. And best of all her Halloween costume was complete. But what if the others found that her wings were no costume? Sam's mother, seeming to hear her daughter's thoughts said, "Don't worry Sam, everyone in New Tristram has some secret, and I'm sure you'll learn more about them as each person turns 18. Why do you think our town is so small?"

Sam smiled, relieved and after a few more minutes, dashed into the moonlit field behind her house. Slowly she began to tingle, and suddenly she began to feel as though she was flying. She was! Sam flitted next door to Kelly's house where the foursome had agreed to meet. Each girl excitedly explained similar experiences with their own secrets, each smiling as they realized that the majority of the town's teens had birthdays on either October 31st or May 1st.

What happened at the masquerade? It was a smashing success. And what happened later, you wonder? Too many things to be recorded, but suffice it to say that the teens of New Tristram would have many more adventures and many new surprises awaiting them over their very long and very happy lives in New Tristram...