At the bottom of the staircase #flashfiction #children
copyright Jennifer Pendergast
“Who’s there?” The nightgown clad girl called down into the chasm.
“No one” was the reply. “This is going to be too easy,” a sinister smile claimed a dark visage.
“Oh, okay then I don’t have to worry about the monsters that usually come out about this time.”
“Monsters? What monsters”?
“The ones trained to protect me while I sleep,” she curled up with her monster pillow falling fast asleep.
“Oh!”
She could not hear the gasp, breaking of bones, or chewing noise at the bottom of the staircase.
This delightful spiral staircase is this week’s photo prompt for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisof-Fields. Friday Fictioneers is a weekly flash fiction meme prompting writers with photography to write fiction in 100 words or less. Give it a try!
Great twist on the usual monster story. I love it that the girl just wasn’t bothered.
Ditto.
I love this! It made me chuckle – it’s perfectly, delicately, deviously deranged! Oh, dear, what have we done to you…
umm I don’t know I have had recent memory loss (could just be an age thing…)
I don’t know, I’m seeing a lot more dark side… even in your brevity! I like it!!
well then I’ll blame you!!!
LOL – I think the word you’re searching for is ‘thank’
Thanks Nina for the inspiration !!!
[...] At the bottom of the staircase #flashfiction #children. [...]
At the bottom of the staircase, by @moondustwriter #flashfiction #children | The Endless Chase said this on March 6, 2013 at 12:46 pm |
Gory, funny, sweet!
AnElephantCant help loving a well-trained monster.
I think elephants and monsters would make a good team
Makes me think of a “Where the Wild Things Are” type story.
janet
I actually thought of that as I put on the last period to the story I wondered how he would have crafted it
Every kid needs a helpful monster. Thanks for the great twist of a tale!
Ha – wish I’d had one as a kid
I simply loved this! Thank you! a pleasure to read.
thanks so for your visit. It was a fun prompt (right up my alley as a children’s writer)
Truly charming response. I loved the little girl’s response.
the little girl is something / thanks Sandra for your kind words
Oh the young and innocent are not as innocent as they seem, breaking of bones and chewing noise… just with that you have conjured up the living dead as I read.
Well I’m glad the monsters were doing the gory stuff
There’s no such thing as monsters, all hairy green and red. There’s no such thing as monsters. They’re only in my head.
Interesting take on the prompt, Moondust. The verse is from a song written by a good friend and your story made me think of it.
shalom
Rochelle
I’d love to hear the entire song. Thanks Rochelle
Oh Moonie…the Damned have ruined you for life now, haven’t we?
Loved it!
Thanks yes I am stamped by the Damned Joseph
Delightful humour there!
Didn’t realize that was a staircase.
‘That’s telling him!’ is what I thought after reading this. That little girl has some confidence on her that I like.
Originally I was going to make the babysitter the heroine / but why not make a brave girl …
I want to know what happens next!
hmm so do I…
The idea of the protector monster is a good one. I am a bit concerned for her monster pillow, however–I feel bad for it, since it didn’t get to eat, too.
I guess you could go many ways with the pillow – it can be symbolic of her desire to be protected by monsters or…
I like the perfect faith and peace of the girl. A great contrast to the monster eating the guy.
I should say so to sleep through all that commotion… thanks for the visit David
Hahaha – Loved this!
Glad / thanks so for the visit
I love the little gir’s bravery!
thank / so do I she’s got some gumption
Great way to look at the monsters in the night. I must remember this when my son’s a bit older.
I never knew what to do with monsters under my little one’s beds so I told them stories (they were the main characters/ heros) to distract them from their fears
A fun take on the prompt …not too scary or gory…just right for the Kids.
Tom
thanks Tom – yes I think it can retain a G rating
Love this! Slightly icky and terrilbly funny, a great combination.
glad you saw the fun in it
Loved this story, great take on the prompt. Loved the reference to the monster pillow, one of my little granddaughters has one of the Gruffalo, she loves him
a cute monster pillow is one thing cant imagine a child cuddled to something really scary
Cute, in a sinister way
Thanks / as always
a good story!
thanks so for your visit
“Who’s there?”
loved the innocence rife in this peice. Great stroy. Crunch, crunh.
Aloha,
Doug
Thanks Doug for the visit
enjoyed your historical piece
Aloha
Protective monsters? Now I have heard of everything. I agree it was a nice derivative of the usual monster tale.