I decided to enter the Fall Writing Frenzy hosted by Kaitlyn Sanchez.
The rules stated:
1. Select one of the images below and write about it.
It can be a poem, a story, a mood piece, or whatever comes to mind. Happy, scary, beautiful, grotesque, whatever suits your fancy for any kidlit age, board book through young adult. You can write about the picture in a literal or metaphorical way, or focus on a memory or emotion it elicits. Just let the photo inspire you and have fun!
I selected this photo #9 by Saliha Sevim on Pexels.com. (There were 14 to choose from.)
When I first looked at it, I got quite a sinister vibe from it, and that’s the way I started writing. However I decided that I didn’t want to go as grim as some of the fairy tales like Hansel and Gretal or Snow White, so toned it down in the end. I’m not sure how it works as a story for children, but since time to enter has run out, so has my time to revise.
Please pop over to Kaitlyn’s blog to read all the entries.
Bears in the Woods
“Where are we going? Mama?”
“Why are we going into the woods, Mama?”
Mama just smiled and sang, “If you go down to the woods today . . .”
“Are there bears, Mama?”
“Mama. Are there bears?”
“It’s dark, Mama. Can we go home now?”
“Don’t worry, Billy. You’re with Mama. Nothing will hurt you.”
“But it’s scary. There’s bears. And monsters.”
“There’s no monsters, and the bears—”
He pulled his hand from hers and ran.
“—are just teddy—. Billy!”
Blinded by tears and monstrous fears,
he ran willy-nilly,
kicking up dry autumn leaves,
head-first into spider webs,
through prickly bushes.
Mama ran after him. “Billy! Billy!’ His comfort doll hung limply over her arm.
He didn’t hear. He kept running, running, running. He wanted out of the deep dark terrifying bear-infested woods. Finally, he collapsed in a pile of leaves, no longer able to outrun the fears.
Rustle! Rustle! Something’s nearby. Shhh!
People’s voices? Children’s voices.
Billy peered around the tree. In a clearing, children were singing to teddy bears and toys. Adults were talking. In the middle, was Mama, crying.
“Mama! Mama!” Billy called.
She scooped him up. “Oh, silly Billy. They’re only teddy bears.”
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
Norah Colvin 
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