The Landlady | A Short Halloween Story for Kids
📖 Story Summary
This spooky Halloween story for kids tells the tale of two friends, Ben and Toby, who find shelter in a mysterious old house run by a friendly landlady, or so they think! What begins as a warm welcome turns into a chilling night full of secrets. This story is perfect for Halloween bedtime reading, teaching kids to trust their instincts and stay brave when things get strange.
Listen To The Landlady, The Famous Halloween Short Story For Kids (Audio)
🏚️ The Story: The Landlady
🌕 A Cold Halloween Night
On a foggy Halloween evening, two best friends, Ben and Toby, were on their way to visit their grandparents. The bus rattled through dark, misty woods until it suddenly broke down in a quiet village.
The driver scratched his head. “Sorry, boys. It’ll take a few hours to fix.”
Ben and Toby looked around. The street was empty except for one house glowing warmly at the end of the lane. A small sign hung on the gate:
“Rooms for Rent — All Guests Welcome.”
“That looks cozy,” said Ben. “Let’s stay there until the bus is ready.”
🪄 The Friendly Landlady
They knocked on the door, and before they could blink, it opened. An old lady with a kind smile and silver hair greeted them.
“Oh, what lovely boys!” she said cheerfully. “Come in! You must be cold.”
The house smelled like cinnamon and cookies. Two cute dogs sat by the fireplace, their glassy eyes watching quietly. The landlady brought them hot cocoa and said, “Make yourselves at home.”
Ben noticed several framed photos on the wall. They showed smiling young guests — all around his and Toby’s age.
🔮 The Strange Discovery
As they sipped cocoa, Ben frowned. The names under the pictures looked old — really old — and yet, the faces looked fresh and young.
“Ma’am,” he asked politely, “didn’t these guests visit you a long time ago?”
The landlady smiled sweetly. “Oh yes, dear. They liked it so much… they never left.”
Just then, one of the dogs blinked. Toby gasped. “Ben! Did you see that?!”
The landlady chuckled softly. “Why, yes. My guests don’t move much these days.”
👻 The Secret Revealed
The boys exchanged nervous glances and went up to their room. On the bed were two folded pajamas, with their names stitched neatly on the collars.
“That’s it. We’re leaving,” whispered Toby.
They climbed out the window into the foggy night. As they ran, they heard the landlady’s calm voice echoing through the mist:
“Don’t worry, boys. I’ll keep your rooms ready.”
🌄 The Morning After
When the bus driver found them the next morning, he scolded gently. “You shouldn’t wander off! That old boarding house burned down fifty years ago.”
Ben and Toby stared at each other in disbelief. Had they just spent Halloween night with a ghost?
🌟 Moral of the Story
🔹 Trust your instincts when something feels strange.
🔹 Bravery and quick thinking can protect you in scary situations.
🔹 Not everything that seems kind and welcoming is always what it appears to be.
🧐 Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ Why did Ben and Toby decide to stay at the landlady’s house?
2️⃣ What strange things did they notice inside the house?
3️⃣ How did the landlady’s pets behave?
4️⃣ What made the boys realize something was wrong?
5️⃣ What is the main lesson the story teaches?
📌 Important Note:
This story is an original, family-friendly Halloween tale written in simple language for children. Our goal is to make spooky stories fun, imaginative, and safe for young readers while teaching courage and awareness. We aim to be the best platform of Online learning for kids, Visit us more often for more such famous short stories.
