Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 21: A Message From Above
Note: this chapter features Candice as a child from my story "Dorrie". This chapter of "Tales from the Castle" is set between chapters 33-35 of "Dorrie".
Helping out
Candice was inside the storage building belonging to the Dunwitty Children's Aid Committee. She had volunteered to help wrap used toys which would be given to needy children living in and around Dunwitty.
As Candice worked along side adult volunteers, she was watched by Mrs. Barnett, the director of the Dunwitty Children's Aid Committee. Mrs. Barnett noticed that Candice was a very dedicated volunteer, and took great care in handling and wrapping each toy she was assigned.
Soon, the work was complete. As the adult volunteers dispersed, Mrs. Barnett walked up to Candice.
"That was excellent work, Candice" Mrs. Barnett smiled. "A lot of needy children are going to benefit from the work which was done here today".
"I was happy to help" Candice happily acknowledged. "It feels good to be able to help others".
"I'd like to reward you for your efforts" Mrs. Barnett announced. "There are still a lot of toys on the shelves. I want you to pick one out, and take it for your own".
"I couldn't ..." Candice started.
"Please, I insist" Mrs. Barnett gently said.
"Then, I will" Candice agreed. "Thank you".
Jenny
Candice looked through the shelves, and discovered a lot of nice used toys. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Candice spotted a cloth girl doll with brown hair, wearing a pink floral dress. The doll was old, a tad worn, but still in usable condition.
"Well, aren't you just precious" Candice smiled at the doll as she picked it up.
"Ah! I see you found something" Mrs. Barnett happily observed as she walked up.
"Yes" Candice acknowledged, pleased.
"She's been here as long as I can remember" Mrs. Barnett said of the doll. "Since she's on the old side, and a bit worn, she isn't as popular as other toys".
"She may be old and a bit worn" Candice started, "but that's part of her charm as far as I'm concerned".
"I agree completely" Mrs. Barnett chuckled happily. "If you want her, she's yours".
"Oh, yes!" Candice gleefully said as she hugged the doll. "I'll take her".
"Good!" Mrs. Barnett happily exclaimed. "It's nice seeing Jenny get out of here".
"Jenny?" Candice asked.
"She has my name is Jenny sewn to the inside of her dress" Mrs. Barnett said of the doll. "That's all we really know about her, except that she's been here for years".
"Well then, Jenny it is!" Candice cheerfully acknowledged. "Thank you for letting me have her".
"Oh, you're very welcome, Candice" Mrs. Barnett smiled as she warmly hugged Candice.
Taking Jenny home
Candice walked out of the storage building lovingly holding Jenny. As Candice started mounting her broom, a girl's voice called out.
"Candice, over here" the girl's voice happily said.
Candice looked to see Sofia standing next to a royal carriage.
"Sofia" Candice smiled.
"I'm heading back to the castle" Sofia announced. "Want a ride?".
"I'd like that" Candice agreed. "Thank you".
Sofia and Candice climbed aboard the royal carriage, and sat down. As the carriage made its way to the castle, Sofia saw the doll in Candice's arms.
"Who's that?" Sofia asked Candice about the doll.
"Oh, that's Jenny" Candice smiled. "Mrs. Barnett gave her to me as a reward for helping out today".
"She's so sweet!" Sofia happily exclaimed as she looked at Jenny.
"There's a small area of her dress I'll have to sew up, but after that she'll be as good as new" Candice remarked about Jenny.
"Allow me to do that for you" Sofia offered. "After all, I've been fixing my dolls' dresses for years".
When Sofia and Candice arrived back at the castle, they went up to Sofia's room. In a few minutes, Sofia had fixed Jenny's dress.
"There you go" Sofia smiled as she handed Jenny back to Candice. "Good as new".
"Thank you, Sofia" Candice gratefully said.
"I have a favorite doll, too" Sofia announced as she pulled out from her trunk a cloth girl doll with brown hair, wearing a pink dress, and a calico jumper. "This is Maryanne, and she came with me when Mom and I moved here from the village".
"She's pretty" Candice smiled as she looked at Maryanne.
"I have an idea!" Sofia announced. "Let's say we play dolls, that is if you have nothing planned?".
"I don't have anything planned" Candice happily answered. "I'd love to play dolls".
Sofia and Candice spent the afternoon playing with Maryanne and Jenny, and having a wonderful time in the process.
That night
Candice was in her room getting ready for bed. After Candice had changed into her nightgown, she picked up Jenny, and climbed into bed. As Candice lay in bed, she held Jenny close, rolled over, and fell asleep. It was a sweet scene, with Candice having a smile on her face as she lovingly held Jenny.
In the middle of the night, Candice was awakened by a glow in her room. Candice opened her eyes, and noticed the ghost of a girl her age.
"Please don't be afraid" the ghost said in a reassuring voice.
"Who are you?" Candice asked as she got out of bed.
"I'm Maria Hallowell" the ghost answered. "I wanted to thank you for giving my Jenny a home".
"Then Jenny was your doll?" Candice inquired.
"Oh, yes" Maria smiled. "She was my favorite toy. I'm glad to see you love her as much as I did".
"I love Jenny very much" Candice smiled. "I promise you I'll take good care of her".
"I know you will" Maria smiled back.
"So, what happened to ... cause your death?" Candice asked.
"A long time ago, I contracted a sickness" Maria answered. "I was taken to the hospital where I died. At first, I didn't know I was dead. I wandered around the hospital for what turned out to be years. One day, your friend, Lucinda, was admitted to the same hospital when she was sick. She came across me, and explained to me that I was dead. Thanks to her, I was finally able to go up to Heaven".
"Lucinda is a fine person" Candice smiled.
"The best" Maria happily agreed. Maria then looked at Jenny. "You have a good home now, my precious Jenny. Candice will take fine care of you".
"I promise you that Jenny will always be well looked after" Candice assured Maria.
A bright beam of light then surrounded Maria.
"It's time for me to be returning to Heaven" Maria announced. "But, before I go, I have a message for you, Candice".
"What message?" Candice asked, curious.
"God wants you to know he is very proud of you, Candice" Maria smiled. "You make him proud every day, and he looks forward to seeing you grow up into the fine woman he knows you'll become".
Maria then traveled up the beam of light. In a few moments, the beam of light, and Maria, had vanished from Candice's room.
Candice looked up toward Heaven for the longest time, and felt a love and a warmth beyond anything she had felt before. It was really quite a wonderful feeling, as if all the love and warmth in the world was surrounding her in its tender embrace.
Candice held Jenny, and climbed back into bed. Candice then rolled over onto her side, smiled, and went to sleep, secure in the knowledge that life was good, and the future was bright.
Author's notes
For more about Candice, see my stories "Dorrie", and "Enchancia Castle".
For more about Maria Hallowell, see my story "An Act of Kindness".
Maryanne is the doll that Sofia brings to the castle in the "Sofia the First" premiere episode "Once Upon A Princess". Since the doll was never given a name in "Sofia the First", I decided to name the doll Maryanne so it would have a name in this story.