Once again, thank you to Madison Woods for a stunning photographic inspiration. I’m saving my introduction for after the story, as it contains spoilers, but I do hope you’ll read to the end.
Halloween
It’s a night fit for horror. The full moon struggles to pierce gathering thunder clouds overhead and rumbles in the distance foretell a coming storm. Bat-like silhouettes flit briefly across the bright spot in the clouds, then disappear cackling into the blackness.
My teenage self would have feared ghouls and vampires approaching unseen in the gloom. As a child, I’d have been dressed as one and demanding treats. All Hallow’s Eve, the Day of the Dead.
But today there are no horrors. Today, I’m busy with the most important job of my life, and so is my brand new daughter*.
* * * * *
Post-Story Introduction
Clichéd, I’m sure, but the picture said ghosts and ghouls to me. However, the end of October has a special significance in our household at the moment, because we’re expecting a baby (*gender unspecified, but I had to pick one for the sake of the story), due 30th October! And what better way to tell you all than through a bit of Friday Fiction?
elmowrites 
How lovely! Congratulations to you both. And a lovely piece of writing too. Well done on both counts.
Thanks Sandra, it’s so nice to finally be able to share the news!
A fine cycilcal story, weaving the various stages of growth ever so well, culminating in the birth of the daughter, thus completing the cycle. I never felt the horror and I love this. I’m over here: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/fridayfictioneers-tanoas-baby/
Funnily enough, I think you read more of a cycle here than I did, but I love it. It makes me feel like I was being very literary. Thank you!
Congratulations! My hairdresser’s son was born on Halloween (random bit of pointless info!)
I love how the coming child gives the narrator a sense of what’s important in life 😉
Ours is here (160 words) http://www.lazuli-portals.com/flash-fiction/moon-and-sky
Thanks Joanna, I think it’s probably giving me a sense of what’s important too.
Congratulations! What a great surprise!
The story had a creepy nostalgic feel.
Mine is here http://createrealitylivelife.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/friday-flash-fiction-2/
Well, you know I couldn’t write something too bright and breezy, even with such good news in the wings! My child(ren) will grow up with horror in their blood!
#1. Congrats
#2. I’ve many fond memories of dressing up and trouncing around the neighborhood. Thanks for reminding me of them 🙂
oh and my story is at http://authorbrandonscott.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/death-cart/ if you’re interested in reading.
I loved your story, Brandon and I’m glad mine gave you some happy memories!
Wow. The perfect ending to a story. Congratulations
Thank you, Lindy. It suddenly came to me that this would be a great way to make the announcement!
Loved, loved, loved this one, Elmo. A great foreshadowing of a magical life to come. (Congrats!) Beautiful descriptions and purposeful narrative combined to make this one of the more unique takes on the prompt. (My prediction of lots of werewolves was dead wrong, happily so, and yours is the only Halloween riff so far.)
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/last-of-the-first/
Hey Doug! Like you, I foretold werewolves aplenty, but there has been the usual mix of everything this week. We should have more faith in the fictioneers!
Your first sentence made my day. you’re going to have to start being critical occasionally though, or I’ll stop trusting you to be honest! 😉
First, fantastic and second, congratulations! I love the specific imagery and the flashes of reminiscence linking to the future with the baby. *momsigh*
Kathy
http://notforallmarkets.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/stay/
Thank you, Kathy. I’m glad you liked the story, and I hope the news gives you happy memories too.
A cool take on the prompt – especially cool because you started off in the creepy direction I expected and then totally turned it. Nice one.
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/05/11/the-runaway/)
Haha! Like to keep you on your toes, Brian! I’m glad you liked it.
Totally adorable–starting with the Halloween memories right up to your “Memories-in-the-making.” Well done and CONGRATILATIONS!!
Mine: http://www.vlgregory-circa1800.vpweb.com/blog.html
Thank you V.L. Adorable isn’t a word I get very often, so I’ll grab it with both hands!
Congratulations for the baby, may her arrival overfill your lives with joy and happiness.
And a good idea, starting with Halloween memories… it sounds nice, hope she or he will appreciate it when he or she is old enough… 🙂
Thank you for all your good wishes, ahamin. I think it’ll be a while before any child is old enough to go near most of my writing – Don’t want to give them nightmares!!!
Haha! Well, its no wonder your mind is on Halloween already then 🙂 Congratulations!
heehee, indeed. Although I was surprised this picture didn’t evoke more ghouls. As I said to Doug, we obviously need to have better faith in the Fictioneers!
The honesty of the writing is very touching.
Here’s mine: http://wp.me/p1Tjpv-aJ
Thank you. I usually go for all-out fiction; this feels almost like fact, although obviously only my foretelling of what might happen!
Great reversal there. Congratulations. A friend of mine was born on Halloween. It gave us the perfect excuse to have costume parties even after we were grown with kids of our own. Great times to come.
My life has been sorely lacking in costume parties, so even if s/he isn’t born on Halloween, they may get costume parties whether they like it or not! thanks for stopping by and commenting
Congrats! Yay!
My attempt (much more cliched than yours and not nearly as exciting): http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/she-called-to-him/
Thank you, and I disagree about yours being cliched, as I believe I said on my comment!
Yay, way to tie your fiction to reality. All fiction writers do this to a certain degree. Happy pre-birthday!
Here’s mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/05/10/friday-fictioneers-et-wannabe/
Thanks Tesch! I think you’re right, although sometimes I worry about where my fiction comes from if this is true!
Congratulations on both fronts!
http://mysocalleddutchlife.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/following-footsteps/
Thank you!
Makes me think of ‘passing the torch’, the first step in teaching the newborn of the glories and perils of Halloween.
Here’s mine: http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/flash-fiction-friday-3/
Again, I love how people have read great literary meaning into this piece! Thanks for your kind comment, JK
Awww…
My story: http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/friday-fictioneers-lunacy/
Thank you, pillowbook!
Congratulations! And what a unique way to let the world know in a charming tale of times gone by.
Thanks Jeannie. It just all seemed to come together, the same week as we were telling people in others way, so I couldn’t resist. And i love how supportive all my Fictioneers friends are.
What a brilliant ending and so not what I would have expected – well done 🙂
Always keep an eye out for the twist, Linda!!
🙂
Congratulations. Looks like you have lots of combination Halloween/Birthday parties in your future.
Thanks for the nice comment on mine too 🙂
Depends on the actual arrival date, but quite possibly, yeah!
Congratulations. Looks like you have lots of combination Halloween/Birthday parties in your future.
Thanks for the nice comment on mine 🙂
Maybe. Although I was born close to Christmas and my parentsalways made sure I got both, separately, so we’ll have to work that one out!
Congrats on your upcoming joyous event. Your story is nicely written with many nicely turned phrases. Thanks for the comment on my story.
Thanks Bridges, I’m glad it worked for you.
Oh how absolutely wonderful, maybe she’he will have a pagan name!
Argh! Don’t talk to me about names!!!
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Dear Jennifer,
I seem to have missed this the first time around. Still relevant and wonderful.
Shalom,
Rochelle