I love all of the annual writing competitions in the Kidlit community. They’re an excellent opportunity to challenge your writing and explore new ideas for stories. This year’s Fall Writing Frenzy, hosted by Lydia Lukidis, asks writers to pen a 200-word (or less) entry inspired by one of several photos. I saw this skeleton in shock and thought about what could be coming through those shrubs to cause such a fright! The result is below.

Photo #8
Credit: Unsplash via Sabina Music Rich

Thanks for reading! Visit Lydia’s site to view all of the entries!

A Visitor in the Garden

Rebecca W. Chester – 200 words

I gasped as I heard the rustle of leaves–the ghost!

Goosebumps prickled my skin, and I felt a chill far colder than the October night.

I froze as a hand appeared, groping through the hedge. An arm followed, then a head, and eventually, an entire body. 

A boy about my age stood right in front of me, shaking leaves and twigs from his clothing.

“I’ve seen you before,” I said, “outside my window. You disappeared into the roses. Are you a ghost?” I asked, though it seemed clear to me now that he wasn’t. 

The newcomer laughed. “I’m Andrew.”

“Where did you come from?” I demanded, feeling much bolder in the presence of a mere human boy.

Andrew tilted his head toward the wall of foliage as he pulled a small, black rock from the pocket of worn denim overalls.

“Yes, I saw that.” I indicated the brick wall running the length of the garden. “But how?” There was no way around or over it.

Andrew expertly rolled the smooth rock across his knuckles as he cautiously surveyed me. 

“The question is not where I came from, Ada, but when. I’ve been waiting a very long time to meet you.”