Tag Archives: children

MEGHA NAYAR: The Spirit Came Calling

Adventure, Odd, Submissions, , , , ,

“Mummy! Anna says she saw an evil spirit!”

“Don’t be silly, Ginny. There are no evil spirits.”

Early the next morning, while watering the plants, she noticed the giant, chalky crosses on the windows. God forbid… Had the house been marked out?

She bolted upstairs.

Ginny’s little bed was empty.

Megha Nayar is a 26-year old Communications professional from India who has forever loved and lived for the written word. She is an independent writer/editor and regularly contributes to contests, anthologies, and literary magazines. She is also currently writing her first collection of short stories.

COURTNEY HAMEL: Fairy Ring

Submissions, Touching, , , , ,

After my sister disappeared, Father brought me behind the house to see a wet circle of mushrooms. “A fairy ring,” he said, hoarsely. “They take little girls to dance with.”

There were policemen inside. They bored me.

I asked if I could dance, too, but Father wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Courtney Hamel lives with many cats in Toronto, Ontario.

SUZI HARRIS: Playground Warrior

Amusing, Submissions, ,

“Baby’s scared,” Sheila taunted.

“Am not!” The staunch denial lost cohesion in Alex’s trembling lip as he stood atop the big boy’s silver speedster. He pushed off, flew through the metal corkscrew, and burst from the chute.

Fists pumping, grin spreading, he stuck his tongue out at Sheila. “Am not!”

Suzi Harris is a retired technical writer working on her first novel while living in Nashville, TN with her Canadian husband and two psychotic cats.

JOE MALONE: Kids Aren’t Mean

Puns and Wordplay, Submissions, , ,

Children aren’t mean. Sometimes they just lack common sense.

For example, at the party I was in charge of the pinata. Finding one, hanging it up, getting some big sticks.

We were having a lot of fun until Mrs. Pinata from down the block showed up, looking for her kid.

Joe Malone is living in a mud hut in South Sudan. Read more from him at http://joem18b.wordpress.com/.

SHELLY EADY: The Playground

Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

At age 5, Brody required less of my doting. Horsing around on the monkey bars, he slipped. His embarrassment outweighed his pain.

Bath time, I asked if I could take a look. Reluctantly, he agreed. As I kneeled in for examination, he turned his head, rolled his eyes and said, “Awkward.”

Shelly Eady is an emerging writer with an abundance of faith and a heart’s desire to enrich, inspire, and encourage others to dream through the art of creativity.

JOHN KUJAWSKI: Santa and the Monster

Amusing, Submissions, ,

Santa came on Christmas. I was four years old. He put a stuffed Cookie Monster in my stocking.

A week later, I returned to school. I kept getting yelled at by an authority figure.

The next year, I politely asked Santa for a monster that would eat my Kindergarten teacher.

John has interests that range from guitars to the Incredible Hulk. He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and still lives there to this day. You can hear him on the weekly podcast at www.comicbookshowdown.com.

SARA JACOBELLI: Anniversary Present

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

“I thought you said you wanted a kid.” Brandon plopped the chubby little brown-eyed toddler into her lap.

“Yeah, but…” Marie looked nervous. She ran her fingers through the boy’s curly brown hair.

“But what?”

Marie lowered her voice to a whisper. “I didn’t know you were gonna steal one.”

Sara Jacobelli lives in New Orleans, where she tries to avoid vampires, Bourbon Street and tourists.

WENDY WHITE LEES: My Daughter’s Sundress

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

Lucy is eating her second watermelon slice. I indulge her because her sister, Rachel, is on a playdate and she’s not.

Slurp. Drip.

“Lucy, please don’t get watermelon on your dress.”

“Okay.”

Slurp. Drip. Drip.

“Lucy, I just said not to get watermelon on your dress!”

“I’m wearing Rachel’s dress.”

Wendy White Lees is a freelance writer and editor. Her two daughters fuel both her creativity and her insomnia.

All Dressed Up

Touching, , , ,

Vee wore a flimsy veil from a costume store, and Mommy’s 15-year-old prom dress.

Scottie wore 80s sunglasses and a plaid hunting cap.

As they struggled through their “vows”, my wife and I held hands behind our backs.

I smiled almost as much at that “wedding” as at my own.

This story was based on the prompt “hunting cap” at TypeTrigger.

The Italian Mouse

Amusing, Touching, , , , , ,

“Please, Clarissa,” pleaded Sergio, “don’t leave me! I’ll make you better spaghetti, better pizza, better wine!”

“Always food with you,” said Clarissa wearily. “Always wine… Don’t you understand me? What I really want are children… and pets!”

Sergio bought her a mouse. She kept it, and got rid of him.