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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 10/20/2025
C02-Angel Candidates Save Halloween
Born 1950, U, from Arlington, TX, United States.jpeg)
Nona Ambruzzio used to love the view from her patio. The manicured garden just down the slope, with its seasonal splash of color was always beautifully framed by the rolling landscape beyond that seemed to stretch forever into the distance.
This morning, at 85, as she sat alone eating her breakfast, Nona no longer even noticed the scenery. Living alone in her huge house with no one but the servants, since the death of George, her husband of many years, was taking its toll. She longed for the days when she and George would share conversations about everything while gazing at the view from the patio.
It was September 30th. If she had looked out at the colors, she would see that this not only meant the change of seasons was well underway, but also that it was time for the Town Hall meeting to discuss the plans for the annual Halloween festivities. She already knew that they would be tomorrow. George used to love the celebration. He generously funded the entire cost of the event. He called it giving back to the community which shopped at his chain of stores.
As it was, her mood was as gloomy as the overcast sky, which was full of clouds heavy with rain awaiting the opportunity to cover the valley. She could feel the end of her days approaching. She looked forward to seeing George again, but it did not seem that her life had mattered.
Her expensive Italian coffee tasted sour and bitter this morning, echoing her thoughts. She was planning to let the town know that she would not be continuing George’s tradition of funding the celebrations at the meeting tomorrow.
When Cindy, her serving girl, came out to check on her, she sent away the coffee and barely touched breakfast.
* * *
That evening, as she sat in her large bedroom with its heavy oak furniture and the four poster bed with the curtains pulled back and tied, she waited for Katherine, the woman who helped her with her private needs.
She sat at the vanity and gazed at her reflection in the large mirror. She had aged rapidly since George had gone.
The door opened and Katherine entered.
“And how are you feeling tonight?” She said brightly. Katherine always seemed to be in a happy mood.
“I’m still here,” Nona replied sullenly.
“It’s so dark in here,” Katherine said noticing that only the one lamp on the vanity was on. She walked over and turned on the bedside lamps. “There. That’s better.”
“That will brighten the room and your mood.”
Katherine stepped into the adjoining bathroom and started filling the tub. As she held her hand under the flow of water cascading out of the faucet, she thought about her employer.
She had worked for Mrs. Ambruzzio for many years, and it was so sad to see how the once vibrant woman had deteriorated into her current state. She decided that she must break the unwritten protocols of servitude and would speak to Nona to try to help her out of her funk.
When the water temperature was just right, Katherine added foaming salts to create a luxurious bubble bath. She then helped Nona to ease into the tub, to ensure that the frail woman did not slip.
"This is such a wonderful time of year," Katherine began the conversation. "The air is getting crisp in the evenings. The leaves are starting to change, and the town is beginning to buzz about the upcoming celebration."
When Nona said nothing, Katherine continued, "The Halloween Festival that you and your husband sponsor every year has been such a boon to the town. Everyone looks forward to it, and it has always been such a support."
Nona remained silent, so Katherine continued, "I remember being a little girl and my family had not much of anything. Not even enough food. The Witch's Brew Stew that the festival provides for free each year was our family meal more than once!"
"There were some good times," Nona finally added.
"Yes! The Festival has become a celebration, not only of the season, but of your late husband's memory for the last few years. Your husband helped so many. Made so many lives better."
"Seasons change. Times change," Nona responded. She did not want to discuss her plans with a servant.
Not knowing what to make of that comment, Katherine added, "True. Change can be good. I'm sure that Mr. George is up in heaven smiling down on the Festival each year."
Katherine helped Nona from the tub and toweled the water from her, then wrapped her in a warm dry towel and the two headed back into the bedroom to get Nona ready for bed.
* * *
Nona sat alone in her dining room the following morning at one end of a very long and heavy oak table, thinking about what she planned to say to the Festival Committee at the Town Hall meeting later that day. The weight of her loneliness and despair were heavy upon her shoulders. She left most of the meal barely tasted and got up to prepare for the meeting.
* * *
Nona sat at her customary place in the center of the first row at the Town Hall. The room was noisy and getting noisier with the swelling crowd. She had not touched the small bowl of Witch's Brew Stew that the town had prepared to help set the mood for the upcoming discussions. She would be called up in just a few minutes after the Mayor began the meeting.
As she frowned to herself, preparing her speech in her head, she barely noticed a family walking by to find a seat. Trailing at the end of the procession, a little girl, not more than six years old, held her mother with one hand and carried a bowl of Witch’s Brew in the other, tugged along in the wake of her family. When the girl noticed Nona frowning from her seat, she pulled her hand free and stepped right up to Nona.
Smiling the brightest little girl smile that the world has ever seen, the girl said, "My name is Adelina."
With this pronouncement, she handed Nona a round token about the size of a quarter which contained a smiling happy face on one side and a phrase on the other. Her mother came back quickly, collected her wayward daughter, and hustled her away.
Nona was just taking a look at the token when the Mayor raised his voice and announced, “And now, some words from Nona Ambruzzio!”
Closing her hand around the token, she picked up her purse with the other hand, stood and walked up to the lectern. Her steps were slow and as heavy as her heart, as she thought of the news that she was about to give the crowd. When she arrived at the lectern, she placed her purse on the little shelf near her knee and put the token down on the top. The Mayor adjusted the microphone for her and then backed away.
Nona looked at the sea of faces, hesitant to start. Everyone was quiet, waiting expectantly for her to announce the beginning of the new festival season. Only Nona knew that was not going to happen.
She cleared her throat as she took a few more seconds to gaze out over the assembly. One face suddenly stood out. The little girl who had spoken to her was sitting on her father’s shoulders near the back. She still wore that beaming smile and was holding up another of those tokens.
Nona looked down at the token which she had placed on the lectern. It was laying there with the phrase showing. Her eyes focused on it and read the words, ‘Smile and You Make the World Brighter!’
Suddenly, she remembered the words of her care-giver, spoken casually, not as if trying to change her mind, but merely relaying facts. The festival was so important to so many, as it had been to George. George had always said that you should shine your light and make the world brighter.
Her voice choked as she tried to start speaking. It hit her in an instant that she could not let the Festival be halted. It was George's legacy and important to so many. She did not need the money that would be saved by cancelling it.
“Excuse me,” she finally managed. “I had a speech all prepared, but now I don’t think it will do.”
“In our town, Halloween has always been more than just costumes and candy. Scholars will tell you that Halloween is an old celebration created by the Catholic Church to help pagans transform their Day of the Dead celebrations into a event honoring the Saints and departed souls of the true believers which occurs on the first of November each year. The eve before All Hallow’s Day gradually changed from All Hallow’s Eve to Halloween.”
“There is truth in that, but what they left out of their explanations was community. All Hallow's Day is not just about the departed, but also about the living, about the people that perform the everyday tasks, the families that gather together to share their bounty with others. Halloween is about communities becoming better through the generosity and shared efforts of us all.”
Looking up at the ceiling as if she could see through to the heavens above, she whispered, “George, I have always been so proud of you. Now I understand what you always said.”
Facing the crowd once more, her lips parted and a big smile beamed over the mass of faces, then she continued in a normal voice, “I am pleased and proud to carry on my late husband, George’s, tradition and to announce that the 43rd Annual Halloween Festival is officially open.
This morning, at 85, as she sat alone eating her breakfast, Nona no longer even noticed the scenery. Living alone in her huge house with no one but the servants, since the death of George, her husband of many years, was taking its toll. She longed for the days when she and George would share conversations about everything while gazing at the view from the patio.
It was September 30th. If she had looked out at the colors, she would see that this not only meant the change of seasons was well underway, but also that it was time for the Town Hall meeting to discuss the plans for the annual Halloween festivities. She already knew that they would be tomorrow. George used to love the celebration. He generously funded the entire cost of the event. He called it giving back to the community which shopped at his chain of stores.
As it was, her mood was as gloomy as the overcast sky, which was full of clouds heavy with rain awaiting the opportunity to cover the valley. She could feel the end of her days approaching. She looked forward to seeing George again, but it did not seem that her life had mattered.
Her expensive Italian coffee tasted sour and bitter this morning, echoing her thoughts. She was planning to let the town know that she would not be continuing George’s tradition of funding the celebrations at the meeting tomorrow.
When Cindy, her serving girl, came out to check on her, she sent away the coffee and barely touched breakfast.
* * *
That evening, as she sat in her large bedroom with its heavy oak furniture and the four poster bed with the curtains pulled back and tied, she waited for Katherine, the woman who helped her with her private needs.
She sat at the vanity and gazed at her reflection in the large mirror. She had aged rapidly since George had gone.
The door opened and Katherine entered.
“And how are you feeling tonight?” She said brightly. Katherine always seemed to be in a happy mood.
“I’m still here,” Nona replied sullenly.
“It’s so dark in here,” Katherine said noticing that only the one lamp on the vanity was on. She walked over and turned on the bedside lamps. “There. That’s better.”
“That will brighten the room and your mood.”
Katherine stepped into the adjoining bathroom and started filling the tub. As she held her hand under the flow of water cascading out of the faucet, she thought about her employer.
She had worked for Mrs. Ambruzzio for many years, and it was so sad to see how the once vibrant woman had deteriorated into her current state. She decided that she must break the unwritten protocols of servitude and would speak to Nona to try to help her out of her funk.
When the water temperature was just right, Katherine added foaming salts to create a luxurious bubble bath. She then helped Nona to ease into the tub, to ensure that the frail woman did not slip.
"This is such a wonderful time of year," Katherine began the conversation. "The air is getting crisp in the evenings. The leaves are starting to change, and the town is beginning to buzz about the upcoming celebration."
When Nona said nothing, Katherine continued, "The Halloween Festival that you and your husband sponsor every year has been such a boon to the town. Everyone looks forward to it, and it has always been such a support."
Nona remained silent, so Katherine continued, "I remember being a little girl and my family had not much of anything. Not even enough food. The Witch's Brew Stew that the festival provides for free each year was our family meal more than once!"
"There were some good times," Nona finally added.
"Yes! The Festival has become a celebration, not only of the season, but of your late husband's memory for the last few years. Your husband helped so many. Made so many lives better."
"Seasons change. Times change," Nona responded. She did not want to discuss her plans with a servant.
Not knowing what to make of that comment, Katherine added, "True. Change can be good. I'm sure that Mr. George is up in heaven smiling down on the Festival each year."
Katherine helped Nona from the tub and toweled the water from her, then wrapped her in a warm dry towel and the two headed back into the bedroom to get Nona ready for bed.
* * *
Nona sat alone in her dining room the following morning at one end of a very long and heavy oak table, thinking about what she planned to say to the Festival Committee at the Town Hall meeting later that day. The weight of her loneliness and despair were heavy upon her shoulders. She left most of the meal barely tasted and got up to prepare for the meeting.
* * *
Nona sat at her customary place in the center of the first row at the Town Hall. The room was noisy and getting noisier with the swelling crowd. She had not touched the small bowl of Witch's Brew Stew that the town had prepared to help set the mood for the upcoming discussions. She would be called up in just a few minutes after the Mayor began the meeting.
As she frowned to herself, preparing her speech in her head, she barely noticed a family walking by to find a seat. Trailing at the end of the procession, a little girl, not more than six years old, held her mother with one hand and carried a bowl of Witch’s Brew in the other, tugged along in the wake of her family. When the girl noticed Nona frowning from her seat, she pulled her hand free and stepped right up to Nona.
Smiling the brightest little girl smile that the world has ever seen, the girl said, "My name is Adelina."
With this pronouncement, she handed Nona a round token about the size of a quarter which contained a smiling happy face on one side and a phrase on the other. Her mother came back quickly, collected her wayward daughter, and hustled her away.
Nona was just taking a look at the token when the Mayor raised his voice and announced, “And now, some words from Nona Ambruzzio!”
Closing her hand around the token, she picked up her purse with the other hand, stood and walked up to the lectern. Her steps were slow and as heavy as her heart, as she thought of the news that she was about to give the crowd. When she arrived at the lectern, she placed her purse on the little shelf near her knee and put the token down on the top. The Mayor adjusted the microphone for her and then backed away.
Nona looked at the sea of faces, hesitant to start. Everyone was quiet, waiting expectantly for her to announce the beginning of the new festival season. Only Nona knew that was not going to happen.
She cleared her throat as she took a few more seconds to gaze out over the assembly. One face suddenly stood out. The little girl who had spoken to her was sitting on her father’s shoulders near the back. She still wore that beaming smile and was holding up another of those tokens.
Nona looked down at the token which she had placed on the lectern. It was laying there with the phrase showing. Her eyes focused on it and read the words, ‘Smile and You Make the World Brighter!’
Suddenly, she remembered the words of her care-giver, spoken casually, not as if trying to change her mind, but merely relaying facts. The festival was so important to so many, as it had been to George. George had always said that you should shine your light and make the world brighter.
Her voice choked as she tried to start speaking. It hit her in an instant that she could not let the Festival be halted. It was George's legacy and important to so many. She did not need the money that would be saved by cancelling it.
“Excuse me,” she finally managed. “I had a speech all prepared, but now I don’t think it will do.”
“In our town, Halloween has always been more than just costumes and candy. Scholars will tell you that Halloween is an old celebration created by the Catholic Church to help pagans transform their Day of the Dead celebrations into a event honoring the Saints and departed souls of the true believers which occurs on the first of November each year. The eve before All Hallow’s Day gradually changed from All Hallow’s Eve to Halloween.”
“There is truth in that, but what they left out of their explanations was community. All Hallow's Day is not just about the departed, but also about the living, about the people that perform the everyday tasks, the families that gather together to share their bounty with others. Halloween is about communities becoming better through the generosity and shared efforts of us all.”
Looking up at the ceiling as if she could see through to the heavens above, she whispered, “George, I have always been so proud of you. Now I understand what you always said.”
Facing the crowd once more, her lips parted and a big smile beamed over the mass of faces, then she continued in a normal voice, “I am pleased and proud to carry on my late husband, George’s, tradition and to announce that the 43rd Annual Halloween Festival is officially open.
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