For some reason, this year has been busier than usual. I haven’t had a lot of time to work on personal projects, and so this blog as well as my Twitter and Instagram accounts have been dormant for a few months. So I’m not doing that well in the social media/follower departments.
Apart from managing our household and the lives and endless paperwork (overnight diapers still included) of the 3 and 5 year old Jaegerlings, I can’t complain that it was paying contract work from my main client, k12.com, that ate the remainder of my free time! Whatever higher power placed me with K12 14 years ago sure has a sense of humor since, once again, I’ve been working in my worst academic subject -Â math! Trust me, it’s a lot more fun for me to graphic design and code it than it ever was for me to study it. Ah well.
In addition to the craziness of this year, my husband got laid off from his proposal manager position this week. Well then! It’s certainly going to be an interesting next few months as he very well might be joining me in the consulting and contracting world.  For right now, if you need any freelance writing, editing, resume formatting, grant application or proposal work, he’s your guy. If you need graphics I’m your gal. Hmmmm maybe we could work together? That’s so crazy it just might work! What could possibly go wrong? Check back with me in a few months.
In spite of all this, I HAD to make time for my favorite muse, Susanna Hill’s 6th annual Halloweensie competition. This is the 5th piece I have written for Susanna’s competitions. The parameters, restrictions, and deadlines are great for exercising the puzzles of character, plot, and wordcraft for me. So for this, I will make time! And then… back to geometry for the remainder of November.
The Contest:  write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words, children here defined as 12 and under), using the words spider, ghost, and moon.
Read the other entries in the comments beneath Susanna’s contest post. Or on the Linky List Page!
Bon Voyage, Silver Spider!
“Silver Spider’s spinning her web sideways,†burbled Buff. “Why is she so weird?â€
“She thinks she can catch the moon,†scoffed Umber.
“Can she do that?â€
“Of course not, bonehead. She’s dreaming!â€
Silver kept spinning. “I can do this,†she said. “I’ll finally leave this place. Nothing’s impossible on Halloween night!â€
“Your magic moon is rising.†Umber sneered.
Silver spun faster.
Umber snored…
“Umber!†Buff shouted, “The moon is high. Where’s Silver?â€
The spiders looked up.
Silver’s web had bridled the harvest moon! She ghosted across the sky in its wake.
At last she was off to see the world!
Marla Lesage
10/27/2016 @ 7:15 pm
Super cute! I’m glad you found the time.
sue twiggs
10/27/2016 @ 8:44 pm
i like that you use the word ghost as a verb. So original. You are one busy lady.I will send your family positive energy that both you and your hubbie find the work and family time that you both need.
Mishka
10/27/2016 @ 8:58 pm
Thank you Sue!
Johnnell
10/27/2016 @ 10:37 pm
Yay! Nice one. I love the illo! I didn’t have time to do anything more with mine. I was thinking I had ’til tomorrow. Oh well, it’s still so fun.
Gregory E Bray
10/27/2016 @ 11:30 pm
Great story. Good luck!
Wendy Greenley
10/28/2016 @ 11:58 am
Anything’s possible on Halloween . . .Fun story!
Vivian Kirkfield
10/28/2016 @ 9:49 pm
Hello Mishka…so lovely to meet you via Susanna’s contest! And I love your character’s names…so creative! Best of luck.
Gabrielle Snyder
10/29/2016 @ 2:33 pm
Your illustration is adorable! And I like Silver’s inspiring Halloweensie tale. Good luck!
Linda Schueler
10/29/2016 @ 3:44 pm
What a great inspirational story!
Ken Major
10/30/2016 @ 9:08 am
I enjoyed your story. Great illustration too!
Jean James
10/30/2016 @ 3:15 pm
Such a cute story, I love how Silver ghosted across the sky.
Susanna Leonard Hill
11/4/2016 @ 2:51 pm
Hurray for Silver Spider, believing in herself despite the lack of confidence shown by Buff and Umber! And what lovely language! “bridled the harvest moon” and “ghosted across the sky” – beautiful! I’m glad Spider got to see the world! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun for the 5th time, Mishka! Good luck with the math (ugh! 🙂 ) and I hope things work out for your husband!