In the true spirit of Halloween horror, I've decided to unleash my inner gruesome! LOL! Here's my attempt at a spooky short story. And please, do remember folks: this is just a fictional Halloween tale. Or... is it? Muahahaha!! xD
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"Your granny looks like a witch!" Every morning my classmates would taunt me, having spotted my grandma pick me up in her car after school the previous day. Garret was the worst of them all. His taunts were often accompanied by physical attacks. He'd resort to pitching painful objects in my direction, like a heavy book or a wooden chalkboard brush. The classroom would typically burst into laughter and the teacher would silently nod in disapprouval, but no more. Then, come recess, Garret would rough me up in the school yard, pretending it was all fun and games. This made going to school a living hell for me.
"Hello, sweetie? Are you still there?" my grandma's voice gently brought me back to the kitchen. She smiled when I finally caught sight of her face. "Would you like some tea, dear?"
"Yes, please..." I replied, embarrassed by my absent-mindedness. I remained seated at the kitchen table as I watched grandma turn towards the sink and let the cold water run for a little bit before filling the kettle and putting it on the stove.
"Were you bullied at school again today?" grandma asked me, her eyes softening. She fussed over her apron, unconsciously adjusting it against her hearty figure.
"Not so much," I said, with a hint of surprise in my voice. "Garret did not show up at school today." My eyes casually glanced at the portraits along the kitchen wall. There was a black and white photo of my dad pressing a loving kiss on my mom's cheek, taken several years ago, back when they were young and still alive. There were many more photos of me and grandma on the wall, though. She did raise me, after all.
"Oh," grandma punctuated. I was unsure if she was reacting to my last comment or to the kettle that was now whistling wildly.
"I hate it when the kids at school say that you look like a witch! They say it as if you were hideous and it makes me so mad!" I blurted out, unexpectedly.
"The kettle and the cauldron... You tend to boil and I prefer to simmer," grandma chuckled as she joined me at the kitchen table and poured us some tea. "Do not sweat the small stuff, my dear. Take it from me." Her eyes glimpsed at a handful of paintings on the wall behind me and I turned around in my chair to follow her gaze, even though I was already familiar with the paintings in question. Three bold works of art hung on that kitchen wall, though grandma never did tell me who had painted them. All I knew with certainty was that in all three paintings, the witch being burned alive at the stake in vivid fiery brush strokes, was indeed my beloved grandma.
"Would you like some biscuits with your tea?" grandma lifted the lid off a tin of shortbread cookies before I could say yes.
"Speaking of, where is Biscuit?" I asked grandma, as I looked about the kitchen floor in search of our black cat.
"She's probably waiting for us to light a warm fire," grandma chuckled. "Oh, my! That reminds me, I've got a surprise for you! Guess what we're having for dinner? Here's a hint: it's your favourite dish..."
My face lit up with excitement. "Did you really?!"
"Yep," grandma smiled. "We're having Barley Bully Stew!"
And, with that announcement, I made a gleeful dash for the basement. That is where grandma kept her large cauldron. And just as she had predicted, Biscuit was patiently sitting not too far from the pile of wood beneath the cauldron, licking her paw and waiting for someone to set it ablaze so that she can groom in its warmth.
A whimpering cry came from the cauldron. Seeing a bewildered and naked Garret soaking in the broth brought a smile to my face. His mouth had been generously over-stuffed with sage bunch, he could barely scream for help.
I heard grandma's steps behind me, as she too descended into the basement.
"Barley Bully Stew..." she gently patted me on the shoulder. "You tend to boil, but I prefer to simmer..."
Grandma bent down to give a loving carress to Biscuit. Our black cat purred like a wild engine as she watched the witch light a roaring fire beneath the cauldron.
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Thank you, bjgamer, for this Spooktober giveaway! And much respect to all our donors for their generosity. :)
I've not yet made up my mind if I am in for the prizes or just for the fun. Sorry! xD
I'll need to give this some thought and I'll edit my post once I've made a decision. :P
Edit: Decision made... Not in! The more I think about it, the more I realize that I posted my story to see if I had enough spook in me. :P That being said, I want to wish GOOD LUCK to all participants! :)
Post edited October 19, 2024 by matterbandit
