'Please, Jack?' one of the children asked me.
'Yeah, Jack,' another one moaned sadly. 'Don't be like that!'
'I'm sorry, I can't right now!' I explained. 'As long as I am still the Pumpkin King, I must do everything I can to prepare for Halloween an it's October 30th and I have to make some last minute touches.'
The children, a group of six, male and female, 9-13 years old, were asking me to tell them the story of how Halloween began. They were very enthusiastic about our spooktacular holiday and were some were even aiming to become Pumpkin King/Queen one day. But, as I said, I was very busy preparing for Halloween the next day.
'I'm sorry;' I repeated, 'I can't right now.'
'Come on, Jack!' the kids all pleaded at once.
I gave a deep sigh. 'Alright, alright, already.'

I ran up to my room as quickly as possible and got out of a bookshelf a dusty old book with an auburn cover. I jolted back down the the Square and I looked at the kids.
'See that winged serpent atop the fountain?' I asked, pointing to the fountain where a stone serpent with small wings was strangling himself and vomiting into the fountain (of course, this was just Halloweentown spring water). 'This story is about him. To be more clear, it's his journal.'

'What's his name?' asked a putridly cute little creature, about ten years old.
'His name,' I began. 'Is Matthias. He is the founder of this town of Halloween.'
The kids looked lin awe at the fountain.
'What was he like?' asked a little demon.
'I heared he was quite kind;' I replied, 'But also scary enough that he could scare the wits out of everybody-just like yours, truly!'
The little ones whispered amongst themselves for a few seconds.
'And now begins his tale!' I crowed.
I opened the old, decaying book, brushed the cobwebs out of the way and I began to read.