Y/n sat comfortably on the couch, a throw blanket draped over her legs as the soft light of the autumn sun filtered through the windows. Her tea was still warm in her hands, and she was scrolling absentmindedly through her phone, reminiscing about the boo baskets she had fallen in love with last year. It had become something of a joke between her and Toto—how she had shown him TikTok after TikTok of couples exchanging adorable, cozy, fall-themed gift baskets.
She had teased Toto at the time, jokingly asking, "So, where’s my boo basket, hmm?" He had just smirked, pulling her close, and promised that maybe one day she’d get a surprise. But Y/n knew her husband wasn’t the type to jump on trendy gift ideas, so she hadn’t pushed it further. Little did she know, Toto had remembered every detail she mentioned.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Toto and Jack were busy at work, their task much bigger than the average boo basket. What started as a simple idea had spiraled into something much grander. The giant basket they’d chosen was practically overflowing, and Jack was already planning what to tell Y/n once she saw it.
“Papa, what about these fluffy socks? Should we put them in the front?” Jack asked, holding up a pair of soft orange socks with little pumpkin faces embroidered on them.
Toto crouched down, examining the basket. “I think that’s a good idea, Jack. She’ll see them right away.”
Carefully, Jack placed the socks right on top, making sure they peeked out over the rest of the items. The basket was already brimming with a mix of cozy fall essentials and thoughtful gifts. There was a cinnamon-scented candle in a beautiful glass jar, a soft knitted blanket in a warm rust color, and a variety of pumpkin spice-flavored snacks—everything from chocolates to cookies.
Toto had also picked up some more personal items for Y/n. He knew how much she loved curling up with a good book on chilly afternoons, so he added a new novel from one of her favorite authors. There was also a set of bath bombs scented with lavender and chamomile, perfect for the relaxing baths he knew she adored after long days.
“Do you think we have enough chocolate in here, Jack?” Toto asked, eyeing the assortment of treats.
Jack giggled. “There’s never enough chocolate, Papa.”
Toto smiled and shook his head, placing another small box of chocolates into the basket. He then reached for the special pumpkin centerpiece they had bought—an intricately carved ceramic pumpkin that glowed when you placed a small candle inside. It would be the perfect touch for their living room, adding to the cozy atmosphere Y/n loved so much during the fall.
Jack tugged at his father’s sleeve. “Don’t forget the card, Papa!”
Toto smiled softly. “Of course, how could I forget?”
He pulled out a small, carefully folded card from his pocket, the cover decorated with autumn leaves and pumpkins. Inside, he had written a heartfelt note:
To my love, Y/n. Last year, you showed me all those TikToks, and I pretended not to understand why they were important. But I knew how much these little things make you happy. So this is for you—your very own boo basket, from Jack and me, to the best mama and wife we could ever ask for. I love you.
Satisfied with the card, he slipped it into the basket, tucking it beside the candle.
"All done, Jack," Toto said, standing back to admire their handiwork. The basket looked massive, filled with all the warm, comforting items that made fall so special. He was sure Y/n would be surprised—maybe even speechless.
Jack was practically vibrating with excitement. "Can we show her now, Papa?"
Toto chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. "Yes, let’s surprise her."
Together, they carefully lifted the basket, with Toto handling most of the weight while Jack guided them through the house. As they approached the living room, Jack darted ahead, his excitement barely contained.
“Mama! Close your eyes!” Jack called out, bounding toward Y/n, who looked up from her phone with a puzzled smile.
“What are you up to?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Just close them!” Jack insisted, and Y/n couldn’t help but laugh as she set her tea aside and covered her eyes with her hands.
“Alright, eyes closed!” she said, indulging him.
Toto followed quietly behind, the basket in his arms, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew Y/n would love it, but seeing her reaction was what he was most excited about.
He set the basket down in front of her and glanced at Jack. "Okay, Jack. Tell her she can open them."
Jack practically jumped. “Mama, open your eyes!”
Y/n slowly uncovered her eyes, and the moment she saw what was in front of her, she froze. Her mouth fell open in shock. There, sitting before her, was the most extravagant, oversized boo basket she had ever seen. It was almost comically large, brimming with every fall-themed item she could have imagined—and more. The beautiful autumn colors of the blankets and candles, the smell of cinnamon, and the sight of the chocolate treats filled her senses all at once.
"Toto… Jack… what is all this?" she asked, her voice soft, her hands going to her mouth in disbelief.
Jack, beaming with pride, clapped his hands. "It’s a boo basket! For you!"
Toto stood behind Jack, his eyes soft with love and a small, proud smile on his lips. "You kept showing me those TikToks last year, and I figured it was time to make one for you—our way."
Y/n's heart swelled as she took in every detail. The thoughtful gifts, the little touches that she knew had Toto’s and Jack’s fingerprints all over them. She reached for the card and read Toto's note, her eyes misting as she smiled.
“You two…” she whispered, overcome with emotion. “This is… this is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
Jack jumped into her arms. "Do you like it, Mama?"
“I love it,” Y/n said, pulling Jack into a tight hug before reaching out for Toto’s hand, pulling him close as well. She wrapped her arms around both of them, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the basket itself. It was the love and care behind it—the way Toto remembered every little thing, the way Jack had helped with so much excitement.
Toto kissed her forehead softly, his hand resting on her back. "You deserve it, my love. Every bit of it."
Y/n, smiling through happy tears, looked back at the basket. “Well, I guess this officially makes you the king of boo baskets,” she teased, playfully nudging Toto.
He chuckled. “I’ll take that title.”
As they settled back onto the couch, Y/n surrounded by her new autumn treasures, Jack crawled into her lap, holding one of the stuffed pumpkins.
“I can’t believe you remembered all those TikToks,” she said, leaning against Toto as he wrapped his arm around her.
Toto smirked, his voice low and teasing. “How could I forget? You showed me at least fifty of them.”
Y/n laughed, resting her head on his shoulder. “Well, it was worth it. This is perfect.”
I’m sorry, but who decided boo baskets were a thing? Don’t we have enough going on, with both parenting and society’s general overconsumption? My kids are all annoyed we don’t “celebrate” boo baskets.
I love Halloween, we carve pumpkins, we go trick-or-treating, it is magical, but no, you are not getting a basket filled with random toys in addition to your boatloads of candy.
Friggin’ Tik-Tok and the idea of Boo Baskets, but I couldn’t resist! My kids are 17 and 20. They don’t trick or treat. So I used their old trick or treat baskets and got a $1 bucket for the hubs. Stuffed not necessarily with actual Halloween items (a few - socks, skeleton, spider) but Halloween colored items where the wrappers are orange, green, or black.
Have mercy. I don’t even have a Tik-tok and they got me. Lol! Spent about $10 bucks each on what will be a cute surprise.
But now I have to put those fall boots on the back burner or hope someone books the smokehouse this weekend!
#the amazing digital circus
#coquette
#photography
#love and deepspace
#iron lung
