A Bedtime Story - Henry And The Gentle Ghost Of Halloween

Hi,

It's Stefania,

And we've got a little treat for you.

It's an original,

Written by us,

Halloween story.

It's not a scary one.

It's a fun one.

It's called Henry and the Gentle Ghost of Halloween.

Our story begins.

It was a crisp Halloween Eve,

And the moon shone like a silver lantern above Pindo's pumpkin patch.

At night,

Smelled of wood smoke and autumn leaves,

And far away,

The faint laughter of children drifted on the cool breeze.

All the pumpkins sat snugly on their vines,

Round and proud,

Their orange skins glowing faintly in the moonlight.

All except one.

That was Henry.

A small,

Curious pumpkin with a crooked stem that looked like a tiny hat.

Henry wasn't the biggest or the brightest pumpkin,

But he had something the others didn't.

He had imagination.

While the elder pumpkins whispered spooky tales about Halloween,

About children who carved faces into their kind,

And ghosts that haunted the fields,

Henry didn't feel frightened.

He felt curious.

He wondered what Halloween was really about.

Was it just tricks and frights,

Or was there something more?

He was pondering this when a sudden gust of wind whistled through the patch.

Hold tight,

Henry,

Called one of the elder pumpkins.

But Henry wasn't ready.

Whoosh,

The wind lifted him clean off his vine,

And he began to roll down the hill,

Faster and faster,

Over roots and leaves and little stones until,

Whoop,

He landed in a soft bed of dry grass at the edge of the meadow.

Henry blinked,

That is,

If pumpkins could blink,

And groaned,

Oh dear,

I'm all the way down here now.

He tried to roll back up the hill,

But his little stem had caught in a nest of twigs and vines.

No matter how much he rocked or pushed,

He was stuck fast.

Wonderful,

He sighed.

Now I'll miss all the stories and songs tonight.

And the night grew quieter,

The air still and soft,

But then a thin ribbon of mist crept across the field.

It shimmered faintly in the moonlight,

Swirling and curling like a silver ribbon.

And out of the mist drifted a small figure,

Pale,

Glowing,

And slightly see-through.

Ghost.

Henry gasped so loudly that a nearby owl blinked in surprise.

The little ghost looked to be about nine years old.

His hair was a faint shimmer of white,

His eyes bright and kind.

He wore what looked like an old-fashioned jacket that rippled gently like smoke in the breeze.

He carried a tiny book tucked under one arm.

When he saw Henry,

He stopped mid-air.

Oh,

He said startled.

You're rounder than I expected.

Henry's stem quivered.

Don't touch me,

Please.

I know what you are.

The ghost tilted his head.

You do?

Yes,

You're here to scare me.

To shout boo or woo or some other ghostly nonsense.

The ghost blinked and chuckled softly.

Oh,

No,

No,

No.

That's not really my style.

Henry squinted suspiciously.

Not your style?

Not at all,

The ghost said.

I'm Cegney.

And to be honest,

I think running around trying to frighten everyone sounds rather dull.

I'd much rather be painting or reading or playing Ghostball.

Henry blinked again.

Ghostball?

It's a game my friends made up,

Said Cegney proudly.

It's like football.

Only the ball floats and sometimes disappears through your hands if you're not paying attention.

Henry couldn't laugh,

But laugh a warm,

Round chuckle.

That sounds fun,

Actually.

Cegney grinned.

See,

I'd rather do that than go around saying boo all night.

He floated down and sat gently on a fallen log,

Though his legs drifted slightly through it.

Besides,

You seem nice.

Why would I scare you?

Henry relaxed a little.

You really don't like scaring people?

Cegney shook his head.

Not one bit.

My parents say that's what Halloween's for,

But I don't think it has to be about fear.

I like to make people smile,

Not scream.

Henry thought about that.

Well,

I'd like to make things too,

He said softly.

I can't draw or play Ghostball,

But I roll in the colorful leaves and make shapes on the ground.

It's like painting,

Only with nature.

Cegney's eyes lit up.

That's wonderful.

You're an artist,

Too.

Henry beamed.

Maybe a little one.

The other pumpkins think I'm odd,

Though.

Cegney shrugged,

Smiling.

Then I suppose we're both odd.

I like odd.

The pumpkin chuckled.

Me too.

A new idea.

For a moment,

The meadow was quiet,

Except for the wind rustling the dry grass.

Then Henry spoke again.

So,

Cegney,

If you don't like scaring people,

What do you do on Halloween?

Cegney looked thoughtful.

I never know quite what to do.

My ghost friends go off shouting boo all night while I stay home with my books or telescope.

But it feels lonely.

Henry nodded.

I understand.

I always wondered what happens beyond the pumpkin patch on Halloween.

I've heard it's a time when people,

Especially children,

Come out dressed in costumes,

Laughing and playing and lighting pumpkins like me to make the night shine bright.

Cegney smiled softly when he heard that.

That sounds lovely.

Maybe,

Maybe we could make something wonderful for them.

Something that shows the real spirit of Halloween.

Not scary,

But joyful.

Henry's stem perked up when he heard that.

A plan,

Yes.

A plan that makes everyone happy.

Cegney's ghostly eyes sparkled.

All right,

Then.

What do we need?

They sat together.

New friends.

Under the glowing moon,

Tossing ideas back and forth like fireflies.

Planning the magic.

Cegney floated above the metal,

Tracing patterns in the air with his glowing fingers.

I could make those lights,

Gentle ones that float and twinkle.

Not frightening,

Just beautiful.

Henry rocked back and forth,

Round and round in agreement.

And I could line up pumpkins to make paths that glow.

Children love following paths,

Maybe to a surprise at the end.

Cegney nodded.

Yes,

A Halloween treasure trail will lead them with light and laughter,

Not fright.

Henry giggled.

We'll show everyone that Halloween isn't just about scary things.

It's about magic.

So they worked furiously through the night.

They worked and worked and worked.

Cegney darted across the field,

Leaving streets of pale light that hung in the air like ribbons.

Then he shaped them into gentle ghosts and stars that winked and glowed softly.

Meanwhile,

Henry rolled back and forth,

Gathering fallen leaves,

Seeds,

And small stones.

He nudged other pumpkins into place,

Some still attached to the vines,

Others loose like him.

Together,

They formed winding patterns,

A golden-orange pathway across the grass.

And by the time the stars began to fade,

The metal shimmered with light and color.

It's perfect,

Whispered Henry.

Cegney floated beside him,

Proud and glowing faintly brighter than before.

Now,

All we need are the children.

The Visitors When night fell again,

The village came alive.

Children in costumes ran through the lanes carrying baskets and laughing between shouts of trick-or-treat.

And far across the field,

One child stopped and pointed.

Look,

There's a glow over by the old meadow.

Another gasped,

Maybe it's magic.

Soon,

A small group of them,

A pirate,

A fairy,

A little witch,

And a knight,

Made their way towards the glow.

When they reached the edge of the meadow,

They saw it.

A pathway of pumpkins glowing like lanterns,

Winding gently between the trees.

Floating above them were tiny lights shaped like friendly ghosts and stars.

It's beautiful,

Whispered the fairy girl.

Let's follow it,

Said the pirate boy.

As they walked,

Cegney floated invisibly above,

Guarding the lights.

Every now and then,

He whispered a soft boo or made a tiny giggle echo,

Not scary but funny.

And the children squealed with delight.

Did you hear that?

The knight laughed.

That ghost got jokes!

Henry watched from the end of the path,

His orange skin glowing warmly.

He could hardly believe how happy everyone looked.

Then,

At last,

The children reached him.

A small,

Perfectly round pumpkin sitting proudly in the moonlight.

Beside him lay a little basket filled with shiny apples,

Sweet treats,

And small paper stars cut from Cegney's magic light.

Wow,

Said the fairy.

A gift basket?

Happy Halloween,

Whispered Henry softly,

Though only Cegney heard him.

The ghost smiled,

Though,

And made the lights swirl about the children's heads,

Forming the words,

Happy Halloween.

The children saw that and they clapped and cheered and their laughter just echoed across the field.

The Lesson When the children had gone,

Henry sighed happily.

That was wonderful.

Did you see their faces?

Yes,

Cegney nodded,

Glowing faintly pink with pride.

Yes,

You were right,

Henry.

Halloween can be about joy.

Henry tilted his head when he heard that and thought,

I think.

I think it's about light,

Even in the dark.

About kindness and laughter.

Cegney nodded.

He smiled.

Then maybe that's what we'll do every year.

You bring the glow.

I'll bring the shiver.

And they both laughed,

Watching the stars fade into the early dawn.

Morning Light The first light of the morning began to spill across the meadow.

Cegney yawned softly.

Ghostly sound,

Like the wind in tall grass.

I have to go soon,

He said.

Ghosts fade when the sun comes up.

Henry's stem drooped a little.

He felt a little bit sad.

Will I see you again?

Cegney floated close and patted Henry's stem gently.

Of course.

Every Halloween Eve,

I'll come back.

We'll make the night sparkle together again.

And Henry smiled at that.

He felt a little better.

Then I'll be waiting with my best ideas ready.

As Cegney's glow began to fade,

He whispered,

Keep the joyful spirit alive,

Henry.

That's the best kind of haunting.

And with a shimmer of light,

He was gone.

The Years That Followed From that night on,

Every Halloween,

The children in the village discovered a glowing pumpkin path leading to the meadow.

The lights danced gently in the air,

Forming shapes of cats and bats,

Stars and smiling ghosts.

Children,

They were so happy.

They'd laugh and they'd follow it,

Never once being frightened.

Just delighted.

No one ever saw who made the path or the lights.

But if you look very closely,

You might notice a small round pumpkin with a crooked stem sitting proudly in the grass.

And beside him,

A faint shimmer in the air,

Laughing softly.

And sometimes,

If the night was quiet and the moon full,

You might even hear two cheerful voices whisper together,

Happy Halloween,

The joyful kind.

That's the end of our Halloween story.

Happy Halloween.

Have fun.

Be safe.

Happy Halloween.