The Trick-or-treaters are finally gone, and our wheelbarrow-filled-with-skulls-and-treats (do-it-yourself-virus-conscious) strategy seems to have worked well. But I just realized that the deadline is an hour away for the 10^th annual Halloweensie Contest, and I actually wrote an entry for it!

So, in honor of Susan Hill’s tradition (and in hopes of qualifying for one of the amazing prizes donated for the cause of promoting children’s literature) I present a little story here for your perusal. I also invite you to hope over to https://susannahill.com/blog/ to submerge yourself in a world of creative responses to the challenge to write a story in 100 words or less that includes the three words “skeleton, creep, and mask” in any variation.

Too Much 

 “Too many leaves!” the old witch complains
 “And those caw-cawing crows creep louder than trains! 

 Leaves bury my toadstools. Noise hurts my ears,
 They’re ruining Halloween every year!”

 She conjures a spell in her rusty old kettle
 throwing in thorns and a handful of nettles.

 “Let’s turn them to pebbles, old Skeleton friend!
 Free those poor toadstools and let the noise end.

 I’ll get our masks, you stir while I go.”
 But Skeleton whispered her plot to the crows. 

 The birds flew away with their beaks full of leaves, 
 so the witch could enjoy her All Hallows Eve.