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Saturday, December 21, 2019

Advent Ghosts 2019: And Since We Have No Place to Go

Each year at this time Loren Eaton who writes at his blog I Saw Lightning Fall invites creative writers to challenge themselves with the micro short story called a drabble. One hundred words -- no more, no less. The only other rules are that each story must have a Christmas theme and must be in the ghost story tradition.  Some take the traditional Victorian road paved with eerie frissons and visited by wispy ghosts, others travel down the darker, bloodier pathways of contemporary horror. My contribution is like a quick trip to the world of Rod Serling style nightmares with a suitably old time Christmas music soundtrack. 

"And Since We Have No Place to Go..."

In the past they never saw each other at Christmas time. Such a shame. He claimed he hated winter, that he was afraid of snowstorms inevitably altering his travel plans, fearful of missing his much anticipated return flight. How could a son be so ungrateful? But she fixed that, changed his attitude permanently. And now she can see him anytime of the year. For him it would always be winter. One more furious shaking of the snow globe. She smiled wickedly watching miniature tantrums. These were blizzards worthy of dread. Dean Martin’s singing was the added punishment. "Let it snow…!"





8 comments:

  1. See, this is GREAT. We don't get enough of this Twilight Zone-esque tone during this event. Maybe I'll try one of these next year! Well done.

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    1. This was the fastest one I’ve ever composed! I had 95 words in the first draft. Needed only five select and perfect words to complete it. Thanks for allowing us to experiment every year. This is an excellent lesson in economy of vocabulary and stating a theme quickly.

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  2. Eww the ultimate hellish comeuppance, trapped in a snow globe! And what a great image.
    Happy Solstice.

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne. Found the woodcut in a 19th century newspaper archive. The story is reporting the blizzard of 1888. This poor guy is in the background of a larger illustration focusing on a woman clutching her child in the swirling snow. Is he her husband, brother, relative or a stranger? Overall effect of the picture— chilling.

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  3. Had that been an actual Twilight Zone episode, I would absolutely keep it in DVD or any other format. BRILLIANT!

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  4. Great story and the picture is the perfect accompaniment.

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  5. Wow... what a witch! I dislike her greatly -- well done!

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