Unless you’ve been hiding under an apple barrel, I think you know what time of year it is. That’s right: leaves are falling, creatures are crawling, so it must be Halloweensie week!

OOOOOOHHHHH!

THE 9TH ANNUAL HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!

~ FOR CHILDREN’S WRITERS ~ 

            Writers near and far are sharpening their pencils and exercising their typing fingers and minds to create, in the words of the extraordinary contest creator, Susanna Hill, “a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words potion, cobweb, and trick.  Your story can be scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!).”

Please stop by Susanna’s blog to read more awesome entries!

Without further ado, my 96-word entry, the idea for which, true confession, occurred to me when I saw an advertisement for a magic, internet-connected mirror (now that is one scary mirror, in my humble opinion):

Mirror, Mirror

“Mirror, mirror on the wall! Make me ghastly and gruesome for the Hallow’s Eve Ball.”

“Try this potent lotion, your shadow will glow green. Then sip this toad’s blood potion to grow warts never seen.”

“If you add a cobweb necklace and braid eels through your hair, you can be the death of the party — a real howling scare.”

“Mirror, mirror on the wall! If this isn’t a trick, I’ll be the ghost of the Ball.”

“A trick not a treat? That would be such a foul feat! But you’re a ghost, so we’ll see…

                           MAYBE!”

It’s that time of year again: that time when we all can use a bit of a break from the holiday hustle, a bit of diversion for the impatient kids in all of us, a bit of a reminder of why we celebrate. Thankfully, Susanna Hill has just the solution! Below are the rules – followed by my 341-word entry. Check out all of the fabulous entries on her blog. Put your feet up, gather the young (and old) ones around, and enjoy!

The Contest:  Write a children’s story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) beginning with any version of “Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop.”  You may use that actual opening, or you may change it to any similar version “[Verb of your choice]ing [any preposition you choose] the [any item you choose] [any preposition you choose] the [venue of your choice].”  …. Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words….

Following, without further ado:

Perfect Christmouse Pic’

Sneaking out from the burrow at night, in search of Santa Claus.
Not a creature was stirring, except Margaret Mouse,
Who had visions of the perfect pic to gift to dear Mama.
As the chiming clock struck one, up Margaret did run;
Her furry brothers, Mick and Tim, in hot pursuit. 

Creeping into the Mall at night, on their way to Santa Claus.
Just like the three blind mice, stealthy, silent as could be.
Trying locked windows and doors, checking cracks in walls and floors.
As the clock struck two, Margaret knew just what to do;
Determined brothers, Mick and Tim, did follow suit.

Scurrying through the Mall at night, as they searched for Santa Claus.
Quiet as a mouse, the trio seeking Santa’s house;
Until ahead they did see: huge, horrid, hissing Miss Kitty.
As the clock struck three, Margaret’s frightened as could be;
Her fearful brothers, Mick and Tim, quaked timidly.

Scrambling away from Kitty Cat, and her dagger-like, sharp claws.
Visions of mouse mince pies flashed in front of Kitty’s eyes;
But eagle-eyed Margaret spied Santa’s photo booth instead.
As the clock struck four, Margaret headed under door,
Zigzagging brothers, Mick and Tim, in hot pursuit.

Posing inside the photo booth, at the Mall with Santa Claus.
Margaret with perfect smile, dressed in holiday style.
Brothers’ fur a whirling mess, with smudged faces and sloppy dress.
As the clock struck five, Margaret wearied of their jive;
Those goofy brothers, Mick and Tim, such silly mice.

Grabbing the photo in gilded frame, with tiny, grimy paws.
Margaret screeched, reached and wrangled to snatch that pic back
From those conniving, striving, oh-so-annoying, bitty Bro’s.
As the clock struck six, Margaret hoped for no more tricks,
From pesky brothers, Mick and Tim, those nasty lads.

Sneaking into the burrow this morn, held pic with Santa Claus.
One busy creature was stirring, beloved Mama Mouse.
“You all look perfect,” she exclaimed; “And it’s beautifully framed.”
As the clock struck seven, Margaret was in heaven;
Imperfect brothers, Mick and Tim, flashed Christmouse grins.