FALL FAIR FRIGHTS
Here is my entry for the 2023 Fall Writing Frenzy contest:
FALL FAIR FRIGHTS
By Tracy Smith Schmidt
117 words
Leaves keep
crunching
as we
run.
Vibrant
fairground—
autumn
fun!
Candy
apples,
pumpkin
pies.
Jack-o'
lanterns
catch our
eyes.
Cornfield
mazes.
Lost then
found.
Scarecrows
tethered
to the
ground.
Round the
corner—
gasp and
stare.
Haunted
hayride—
do we
dare?
Sunset
fading,
nightfall
chills.
Tractor
slows, then
wagon
stills.
Screeches
echo
in the
black.
Heartbeats
pounding—
don't look
back!
Crouching
lower,
gnawing
fear.
Seeing
spirits
drawing
near.
Are they
real or
are they
fake?
Shivers
slither,
start to
shake.
Moaning
phantoms
reach and
lunge.
Screaming,
stretching.
Stomachs
plunge.
Witches
cackle.
Cauldron
boils.
Muscles
tensed to
spring like
coils.
Creepy
laughter
pierces
night.
Headless
horseman!
Final
fright.
Thrills are
over.
Cider
steams.
Hallows’
eve seeps
through our
dreams.
Background:
The rules for the Fall Writing Frenzy challenge were to pick one of the contest pictures for inspiration and write a KidLit piece (for any age group) under 200 words.
I chose the following picture, which oozed Fall Festival vibes.
My story was also inspired by visceral memories from an evening trip I took to a haunted theme park in Berlin, Massachusetts.
I was lured by the promise of a fun autumn outing with friends, as well as the novelty of seeing Tiny Tim singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” live on stage, followed by Boris “Bobby” Pickett singing “Monster Mash.” Clearly I was duped, because what I remember the most is this:
SCREAMING MY HEAD OFF DURING THE HAUNTED HAYRIDE AND AGAIN IN THE HAUNTED BARN.
Raise your hand if you have ever apologized profusely for screeching uncontrollably into a cast member's face in a haunted experience, even though you knew cast members were not allowed to hurt you or touch you in any way.
Anyone?
Bonus points if the cast member broke character and laughed, then pulled off his creepy cadaverous clown mask and said "Why are you apologizing? You are supposed to scream!"
I hope FALL FAIR FRIGHTS gets you in the mood for Halloween.
Many thanks to Kaitlyn Sanchez for organizing the Fall Writing Frenzy and to all the judges and donors for giving up their time so generously! Please make sure you check out other submissions here.