Susanna Leonard Hill holds these fun contests every once in a while and I couldn't resist entering again (see below for my entry into her holiday contest last year) for her third annual Halloweensie contest.
Here are the rules:
"Write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words spooky, black cat, and cackle. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words (you can count black cat as one word) and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!)"
Here's my entry. Enjoy!
One Ghostly Halloween (99 words)
Halloween was Billy’s favorite holiday. “I’m gonna scare
someone good!”
But Billy was a ghost in the spookiest ghost town west of
Texas. And ghosts don’t scare easy. She tested costumes:
A black cat,
“Ain’t you adorable,” said Sheriff.
A witch with a mean cackle,
“Ooooh…spooky,” said the cowboys guffawing.
A tarantula, a headless cowboy, a were-coyote. But nope, nada, not even a whimper.
Billy frowned. A ghost who couldn’t scare wasn’t
worth a penny – especially on Halloween.
She thought and thought until...
“AIYEEE! Float for your lives!” cried
the town-ghosts.
“Trick or treat!” said Billy, the
ghost hunter.
This is fun! What a creative idea, a ghost in a ghost town. Clever ending. Great job, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheryl! I'm glad you liked the ending -- that was the part I had the hardest time with!
DeleteSo cute! Love the Texas flair! (I'm from Texas :-) Really nice entry, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny! I partly grew up in Texas!
DeleteThis is adorable! Great ending too, Margaret! :0)
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. Glad you liked the ending. :-)
DeleteI enjoyed the Texan slant, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanna!
DeleteA ghost hunter in a ghost town. Nice one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Grannymar.
DeleteGreat job, Margaret! LOVED the ending! :) I was trying to guess what it would be, but I didn't figure it out. And the whole story had a wonderful kid-friendly feel to it because what kid hasn't been in that predicament? I'm so glad you got your entry done - it's tons of fun!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Susanna and thanks for holding these contests. They are so fun. I love reading what everyone comes up with! :-)
DeleteHa! A twisty story--love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy!
DeleteHaha...a ghost hunter is the perfect custume!
ReplyDeleteThanks Janna! I loved Marcia Mackle!
DeleteHa ha HAAAAA! GREAT twist at the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beth. Glad you liked it!
DeleteBwaahaaa, love how Billy's problem was solved. What's more necessary than a ghost hunter? There's certainly nothing scarier!! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam!
DeleteWhat a super twist ending, Margaret...and I loved the whole piece...especially the old West/cowboy feel to it. Great entry.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Vivian! So glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteNice twist. I was thinking a chupacabra might pop out!
ReplyDeleteLOL. That probably would've scared the ghosts too.
DeleteKiller ending! And I love the idea of a were-coyote.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike! I did too -- Halloween costumes with a Western/cowboy twist are fun.
DeleteI agree abouthe coyote. I almost had one in my entry, but I was not as creative - were-coyote! Love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike, right? :-)
DeleteOh, yeah - Billy got them in the end! I can't decide if I want to picture the guys from the tv show Ghost Hunters with their electronic gadgets or Egon with a proton gun :)
ReplyDeleteI originally thought of the ghostbusters (complete with the music), but didn't think kids these days would get it...so ghost hunters had to do.
DeleteLove it...yes a Ghost Hunter is scary... :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Catherine. :-)
DeleteGenius ending and what a twist on a ghost story. Excellent job you've done here. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn!
DeleteI like the voice!
ReplyDeleteFabulous, fabulous ending!
ReplyDeleteGreat fun! But come on, couldn't you have added one more little word? So close to 100... sigh.
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT idea for a setting - a ghost in a ghost town. You should really expand this into a longer story, Margaret. It's an excellent premise.
ReplyDelete-Carrie
I agree with the comment above that this needs to be expanded into a longer story. It must have been hard cutting out words. Though I love the idea of a ghost town and cowboys.
ReplyDeleteI also did a story about costumes. I Hope you visit my post. :)
Oh I LOVE this one!
ReplyDeleteI think the were-coyote needs its own story! Great job setting up a character with a problem and a solution in such a story piece.
ReplyDeleteA clever twist with the "Texas flair". . .good one, Margaret!
ReplyDelete