Bedtime Anytime Classic Stories for Children - Henry and the Gentle Ghost

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We bring you narrations of classic children's stories of all kinds to keep your young ones entertained, read by a professional voice actress. The themes range from animal stories to stories that teach, to classic favourites like Tom Thumb, Red Riding Hood and more. 

 It’s the Halloween season and we’ve got a gentle, fun original story by us, about a curious pumpkin and a gentle ghost. Listen to - Henry and the Gentle Ghost of Halloween - the tale, of how together, they weave magic to bring a different kind of Halloween spirit and fun to the children of the village. Have a listen and see what happens.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, This is Stefania and welcome to the classic children's
story podcast, Stories for Bedtime, for lay Time, any time
to keep your little ones entertained and happy. We've been
an international collection of stories, Stories that teach, Stories that entertain,

(00:22):
and more. Halloween is just a round the corner at
the time of this recording, it's next week. Do you
have any exciting fun plans for Halloween? Maybe a bit
of chuck or treating, or maybe party time. Well, we've

(00:43):
got something special for you in the meantime, a special
originally written 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,

(01:23):
and the moon shone like a silver lantern above Pendos
pumpkin patch. The night smelled of wood smoke and autumn leaves,
and far away the faint loft of children drifted on
the cool breeze. All the pumpkins set snugly on their vines,

(01:44):
round and proud, their orange skins glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Oh except one that was Henny, a small curious pumpkin
with a cook It's stem that looked like a tiny hat.
Henry wasn't the biggest or the brightest pumpkin, but he

(02:06):
had something the others didn't. He had imagination. While the
elder pumpkins whispered spooky tales about Halloween, about children who
curled faces into their kind, and ghosts that haunted the fields,

(02:27):
Henry didn't feel frightened. He felt curious. He wondered what
Halloween was really about. Was it just tricks and frights? Oh?
Was there something more? He was pondering this when a
sudden gust of wind whistled through the patch. Hold tight.

(02:48):
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

(03:12):
in a soft bed of dry grass at the edge
of the meadow. Hen Me blinked, that is, if pumpkins
could blink, and groaned, old 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,

(03:38):
he was stuck fast. Wonderful, he sighed, Now I miss
all the stories and songs tonight. And the night grew quieter,
the air still unsoft. But then a thin ribbon of

(04:00):
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. A ghost. Henry gasped so loudly that a

(04:26):
nearby owl blinked in surprise. The little ghost looked at Bee,
about nine years old. His hair was a faint shimmer
of white, his eyes bright and kind. He wore would
looked like an old fashioned jacket that rippled gently like
smoking the breeze. He carried a tiny book tucked under

(04:47):
one arm. When he saw Henry, he stopped mid air. Oh,
he said, startled, you're rounder, and I expected. Henry's stem quivered.
Don't touch me, please, I know what you are. The

(05:11):
ghost shooted his head. You do, yes, you're here to
scare me, to shout who or woo or some of
the ghostly nonsense. The ghosts blinked, then chuckled softly. Oh no, no, no,
that's not really my style. Henry squinted suspiciously. Not your style,

(05:38):
not at all, the ghost said, I'm Segney, 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 ghost ball. Henry blinked again. Ghostball is a
game my friends made up, said Segney proudly. It's like football,

(06:01):
only the ball floats and sometimes disappears through your hands
if you're not paying attention. And we couldn't laugh but
laugh a warm round chuckle. That sounds fun, actually, Segney grinned. See,

(06:24):
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

(06:46):
really don't like scaring people, Signey 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,

(07:07):
i'd like to make things, too, he said softly. I
can't draw or play ghost ball, but I roll in
the colorful leaves and make shapes on the ground. It's
like painting, only with nature. Sagney's eyes lit up. That's wonderful.
You're an artist, too, Henry beamed. Maybe a little one

(07:33):
thee O. The pumpkins think I'm odd, though, Sydney shrugged, smiling.
Then I suppose we're both hot. I'd like art. The
pumpkin chuckled. Me, Me too, a new idea. For a moment,
the metal was quiet except for the wind rustling the

(07:53):
dry grass. Then Henry spoke again. So, Segney, if you
don't like scaring people, what do you do on Halloween?
Sagney looked thoughtful. I never know quite what to do.
My Gholst friends go off shouting boom all night, while

(08:14):
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 is
a time when people, especially children, come out dressed in costumes,

(08:36):
laughing and playing and lighting pumpkins. Like me to make
the night shine bright. Sydney smiled softly when he heard that.
That sounds lovely. Maybe maybe we can make something wonderful
for them, something that shows the real spirit of Halloween.
That's scary, but uh joyful. Henry's them hurked up when

(09:03):
he heard that A plan, Yes, a plan that makes
everyone happy. Sagney's ghostly eyes sparkled. All right, then what
do we need? They sat together, new friends, under the

(09:24):
glowing moon, tossing ideas back and forth like fireflies. Planning
the magic. Segny floated above the meadow, tracing patterns in
the air with his glowing fingers. I could make ghost lights,
gentle ones that flowed and twinkle, not frightening, jist beautiful.

(09:46):
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,
Segney nodded, Yes, a Halloween treasure trail will leave them
with light and laughter, not fright Henry guild will show

(10:11):
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. Segney darted across the field, leaving streets

(10:35):
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, seas, and small stones. He nudged other

(10:57):
pumpkins into blaze, some still attached to their 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.

(11:21):
It's perfect, whispered Henry. Sagny 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

(11:44):
came alive. Children and 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 guest,
maybe his magic. So a small group of them, a pirate,

(12:09):
a fairy, a little witch, and a knight made their
way towards the glow. When they reached the edge of
the meadow, he 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,

(12:34):
whispered the fairy girl. Just followed, said the pirate boy.
As they walked, Sydney floated invisibly above, guiding the lights.
Every now and then he whispered a soft boot or
made a tiny giggle echo. Not scary, but funny, and
the children squealed with delight. Did you hear that? The

(12:58):
knight laughed? Oh's got jokes. Henry watched from the end
of the path, his orange skin glowing warmly. He could
out even believe how happy everyone looked. Then, at last
the children reached him, a small, perfectly round of pumpkins
sitting proudly in the moonlight. Beside him lay a little

(13:22):
basket filled with shiny apples, sweet treats, and small paper
stars cut from Segney's magic light. Wow, said the fairy,
a gift basket. Happy Halloween, whispered Henry softly. The only
Segny heard him go smile though, and made the light

(13:46):
swirl about the children's heads, forming the words happy Halloween.
The children saw that, and they clapped and and their
laughter just echoed across the field the lesson. When the

(14:10):
children had gone, Henry sighed happily. That was wonderful. Did
you see their faces? Sagney nodded, glowing faintly pink with pride. Yes,
you were right, Henry, Halloween can be about joy. And
he tilted his head when he heard that and thought,

(14:33):
I think I think it's about light even in the dark,
about kindness and laughter. Segney nodded. He smiled. Then maybe
that's what we'll do every year. You bring the glow,

(14:54):
I'll bring the shiver. And they both laughed. Watching the
stars fade into their early dawn morning. Right the first
light of the morning began to spill across the meadow,
Segney yarned softly, a ghostly sound, like like the wind

(15:17):
in tall grass. I have to go soon, he said,
ghost fade when the sun comes up. Henry's stem drooped
a little. He felt a little bit sad. Will I
see you again? Sagney floated close and patted henry stem gently.

(15:37):
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 Segney's glow began to fade,
he whispered, keep the joy for spirit alive in me.

(16:04):
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

(16:25):
lights danced gently in the air, forming shapes of cats
and cats, stars and smiling ghats. 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

(16:47):
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

(17:08):
night was quiet and the moon full, you might even
hear two cheerful voices whispered together, Happy Halloween, the joyful kind.

(17:37):
That's the end of our Halloween story, Happy Halloween, have fun,
be safe, Happy Halloween. And that's the end of today's story.
I'll be back again with a news story soon. You
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(18:00):
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(18:22):
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(18:45):
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where you can find even more good stuff. Bye for now,

(19:11):
one more time, Happy Halloween, Happy Halloween, Happy Halloween.