Spoiler Alert- My Fall Writing Frenzy Entry Is Super Spooky!

​Fall is finally here! I am relishing pumpkin everything, the golden, orange and red falling leaves  and especially the super spooky Halloween decorations. Another favorite part of the season? The contests! 

This year for Fall Writing Frenzy I challenged myself to step outside my usual picture book and middle grade age range and write a super spooky YA story in free verse. With only 200 words!




Image credit: Halloween- Credit: Neon Brand/Unsplash

Clowning Around
By Kari Ann Gonzalez
 
Late!
I fly off the porch steps,
tugging on my malicious-looking mask.
Splashing past a puddle,
I’m relishing the look of my new warped, white face.
The creepy corkscrew curls
and red rubber nose
stacked over a sinister, ruby-red smile.
Max and those other bozos
deserve everything they have coming.
 
C-R-E-A-K.
I slip through the carnival’s back gate,
tuck into the shadows
and wait…
They are going to scream
and pee their pants
when Jake and I jump out from hiding.
Almost there!
 
Wait.
Wait.
Heart pounding like a drum,
I peek.
No one…good.
Slipping into the dark House of Horrors, I whisper…
“Jake?”
My heart pounds louder.
I toe around an almost-headless horseman.
Then, crawl through sticky cobwebs
past the ginormous, rearing spider.
“JAKE!” I whisper louder,
struggling to see through the fake fog.
 “Where are you? They’re going to be here any minute!”
I squint hard.
Edge forward.
Finally seeing something…
 
“Jake!”
I take in all of him.
Bloodstained jumpsuit.
Disheveled rainbow hair.
Rubber nose.
Maniacal smile stretching over rotting teeth- terrifying!
Jake’s ax even glints like steel.
“Great costume, Jake! That ax looks almost real. Are you ready?”
 
“Oh, I’m ready…” the voice growls, “But, who’s Jake?” 



So-how did I do?

A huge thank you to Kaitlynn Lean Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis for hosting another fun contest. I hope this little piece jumpstarts your October with a little shiver. Thanks for stopping by to read my entry! Wishing the best of luck to all the contestants!

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