Just a note: While I understand that not all Hearties celebrate Halloween and I respect that fact, I would ask that you refrain from leaving rude comments should this be the case. Please and thank you. Also, I promise this story won't have any sort of menacing themes.

It was early October in the town of Hope Valley, Maryland and Elizabeth Thornton was decorating her second grade classroom for the festivities. She had arrived to Hope Valley Elementary School early that way all of the decorations would be set out by the time her students arrived. She smiled to herself as she placed pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns around the room, hung cut outs of bats and ghosts on the walls, and a few fall colored leaves as a finishing touch. The first bell rang and she glanced out the window to find all of the students getting off the buses. Among the students were her own son, William Thornton, who was in the fourth grade, Lillian "Lilly" Coulter, Lea and Lydia Cantrell, who were all in her second grade class, Joshua "Josh" Flynn, who was in first grade, and Lilly's brother, Aaron Coulter, who had just started kindergarten that year. The students entered the classroom and she smiled brightly, "Good morning boys and girls!"

"Good morning, Mrs. Thornton," they all chorused back.

"Today, we are going to start off our morning with spelling. As you can see, I have written a list of fall and Halloween spelling words on the board. I would like you all to copy this list down in your notebooks and then use the dictionaries on the back shelf to define them. The spelling test will be this Friday where you will be asked to spell the words correctly and use them in a sentence properly."

The students nodded, got out their notebooks, and obtained dictionaries. Elizabeth took a seat at her desk and finished grading the math tests she hadn't finished the night beforehand. Jack had had to work late with the Hope Valley Police Department so she had been watching William, Mary, and Charlotte on her own.

"Mrs. Thornton," Lilly raised her hand.

Elizabeth got up from her desk and walked over to the young girl, "Yes Lilly."

Lilly motioned for Elizabeth to lean closer and Elizabeth obeyed, "Mommy and Daddy said they wanted to talk to you and Uncle Jack about the town Halloween party and also my birthday party."

"I know she does and that's why we're all having dinner at Abigail's Diner tonight," said Elizabeth.

"Oh good!" Lilly beamed.

"Now finish your list and definitions, Lilly," stated Elizabeth. Lilly nodded and went back to her work. After their math lesson and science lesson, Elizabeth led the children down to the cafeteria for lunch. By the time Elizabeth arrived to her classroom again, Rosemary Coulter was standing by her desk, "What are you doing here, Rosie?" Elizabeth questioned as she found her lunch and sat down behind her desk.

"I can't just come by to see my best friend and the Godmother of my children?" Rosemary questioned and Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, "Fine, I'm here to ask you a favor."

"That's what I thought," Elizabeth smirked.

"Listen, I know I usually just take over committees in this town…"

"You?" Elizabeth asked jokingly.

"Yes, I know," mocked Rosemary, "Listen, I really need you to take over the Halloween committee because I have too much responsibility on my hands. I already have my classes, children's church choir rehearsals, play rehearsals for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the rec center, not to mention Lilly's birthday party, Aaron is still adjusting to being in school, Lee's working late to complete that new CVS down the street from Abigail's Diner, and then of course, there's Violet, who is not sleep training well," listed Rosemary. Violet was Lee and Rosemary's three month old baby daughter.

"Well," Elizabeth hesitated.

"PLEASE Elizabeth! I swear I spend all my time either pumping or dealing with one of my kids or the town kids. If I'm not planning Lilly's party, then I'm helping Lilly or Aaron with their homework. If I'm not working on lesson plans, then I'm planning a rehearsal schedule. And then Violet's colicky and she loves to be held, plus she still nurses every 2-3 hours, even throughout the night. And then of course, there are all the stinky little diaper changes and you know what's in a baby's diaper," she whispered with emphasis, "I'm so tired I can't see straight. You wouldn't really say no to the mother of an infant would you?"

Elizabeth struggled to hold in her amusement over Rosemary's dramatics and nodded, "Yes, I'll take over responsibility for the Halloween planning committee. And if you and Lee ever need an evening baby and child free, Jack and I are always willing to babysit."

"Thank you," Rosemary slid her hand across and collapsed on Elizabeth's desk. Rosemary stood to leave, "I owe you one."

"Are we still on for dinner tonight?" Elizabeth called after her.

"Of course!" shouted Rosemary excitedly.

Later that evening, after school had let out for the day, Elizabeth picked up her daughters from preschool and headed for home. Jack was just arriving at the same time, "Daddy!" shouted Mary and Charlotte happily.

"Hey girls," he kissed them both, "Hey Buddy," he hugged William.

"Hey Daddy," he smiled.

"How was school today?" asked Jack.

William shrugged, "Okay, I have a math test about mixed fractions on Friday. I was wondering if you could help me study."

"Of course I can, Buddy. Maybe after we get back from Abigail's," William nodded and Elizabeth unlocked the door.

The kids ran inside and went to their rooms, "William, get started on your homework. No video games!" she demanded. She heaved a sigh and sat down on the couch.

Jack sat down next to Elizabeth and wrapped his arm around her. They kissed and he asked, "How was your day?"

"It was good except for the fact that Rosemary stopped by my classroom," started Elizabeth.

Jack chuckled amusingly, "Oh boy. What did she want?"

"She wants me to take over the Halloween committee," said Elizabeth.

"Really?" Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise, "She wants someone else in this town to be in charge of a committee?"

"Want isn't exactly the right word, but I think she's too overwhelmed to do so. Between her obligations at school, church, the rec center, plus the kids and the baby, I think she needs someone else to shoulder the responsibility of the town's Halloween celebration."

"Understandable," said Jack.

"Don't be surprised if she takes up my offer to babysit the kids sometime soon," said Elizabeth.

Jack chuckled, "That's okay. I fondly remember our days with infants and still know what it's like to deal with young children," Jack looked at his watch, "Well, we should probably be heading over to Abigail's soon. I'm sure Abigail and Clara will be expecting us."

Elizabeth nodded, "Let me go get William and we'll be on our way."