The Battle Of Halloween | A Story Under the Stars (Read In English) | Stories Sotto Le Stelle Podcast | Short Stories For Children And The Young At Heart

The Battle Of Halloween

Three friends, neighbors and very curious, met every afternoon, after finishing their homework, at the playground in their village nestled in the green Tuscan hills. There, sitting on a bench in the middle of the lawn, they plotted how to end the day with fun. Usually, they got up to mischief and sometimes ended up in peculiar situations.

The days passed, and summer was now just a memory. But despite a bit of rain and an autumn breeze, one afternoon they met on the usual bench. After much scheming, they gathered all their courage and decided that one of these nights, they would secretly go to the old abandoned cemetery. It was located behind the church, at the foot of the hill, about 2 kilometers from the village center.

Ghost stories linked to the cemetery, whispered by the elders, had discouraged them many times; moreover, they had heard rumors of a strange character, somewhere between real and imaginary—a mysterious guardian who sometimes watched over the main gate at night.

It was autumn, dense clouds darkened the sky, and the days were gray and foggy—the perfect season for the adventure of the three kids, before winter arrived. The calendar marked October 31, and that very night, Halloween night, would be simply perfect.

A handshake, then a goodbye, and each went home. They had dinner and went to bed early as usual, not to arouse suspicion. Lying in bed, they dozed off, but in their half-sleep, every noise—the bang of a shutter, the creaking of the floor, or the squeak of a door—seemed like spirits moving, maybe ready to join them on their adventure. As planned, at exactly the tenth toll of the bell from the church tower, they snuck out, each from their bedroom window, slipping out through the back of their houses.

Almost at the same time, they met at the designated spot and in the darkness made their way toward the cemetery. Lina, who seemed the bravest, held a small flashlight, pointing it behind her to light the way for Sara and Teo, the other two companions in the adventure.

They were all a bit nervous, stopping to hide at the slightest rustle or the appearance of a sudden shadow. Once they reached the church, they hurried determinedly towards the entrance of the cemetery, and that’s where the night started to get interesting.

For starters, Martino, the mysterious guardian they had heard so much about, was really there. They saw him with their own eyes in front of the old, rusty, and decaying gate. He was sitting, half-asleep, but certainly alert to the slightest noise. He held a still-lit pipe in one hand and a harmonica in the other. A jet-black raven perched on his right shoulder, and a small yet regal-looking dog sat by his left side, keeping him company.

The fear of being discovered froze them instantly. They caught their breath and, in the blink of an eye, reached the wobbly fence barely standing at the back of the cemetery. From there, they climbed a large elm tree and sat on the highest branches. The call of some owls with big, piercing eyes echoed like a dark omen, but a glow unexpectedly appeared on the other side of the crumbling wall.

From the large elm, Lina, Sara, and Teo witnessed an unusual and astonishing sight. In front of them lay a well-kept green park, like a secret garden. Small graves, with tombstones shaped like dogs, cats, and other pets, adorned with flowers of every shade, were scattered in every corner.

In the central part stood imposing statues representing sacred figures for the cemetery and its inhabitants. These were the statues of the Royal Frog, the Wise Turtle, the Noble Horse, the Mysterious Cat, and the Faithful Dog.

Looking around from their vantage point, they saw pumpkins of various sizes, carved with images of animals and lit by candles. Lanterns and various objects typical of Halloween Night were placed around the graves. Curious, they decided to climb down from the elm and, little by little, started walking toward the park, paying attention to the movements of the faint, flickering lights that cut through the mist. The atmosphere was enchanted and magical.

They moved quietly, Lina always leading the way. Every now and then, she would stop Sara and Teo, saying, “Do you hear that noise? Are we sure it’s not a ghost?”
“N-n-no, just the wind... we hope,” whispered Sara and Teo — But it was Halloween Night, and anything could happen.

In the center of the park, the spirits of the animals living in the cemetery jumped and flew, carried by the air with the help of colorful pinwheels spun by a gentle breeze. It was a full-on celebration. Paper lanterns lit up small stalls filled with all kinds of treats for the joy of the animals. Cookies and snacks shaped like little ghosts, skulls, and bats, small fruit pumpkins, and—believe it or not—mini chicken and turkey sausages for dogs, and fish ones for cats!

Several spotlights rose into the sky a...