Writing Contest Entry: Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy

This is my entry for Kaitlyn Sanchez’s Kitlit Fall Writing Frenzy. I love these fun writing contests! The prompts get my creative juices flowing, and it’s always good practice to sit and just write whatever pops into your head. Plus, Kaitlyn has lots of fun prizes to give away to the lucky winners! There’s still time to enter if you haven’t already. But the contest closes on Friday night, October 11th, so get your entry in soon!

My entry was inspired by Image #12, and is a YA piece, 197 words:

Game On

I skimmed silently through the water, scanning the shoreline. Lush trees circled most of the lake, but I pulled toward a dead section. 

Resting my oar across my knees, I hesitated in the shadow of the grey shelter. This was the perfect place. But my feet were weighted in the canoe like tombstones. The shack loomed over me, shrouded in dingy old sheets that hung lifeless, even when a cold gust of wind rushed by. I shivered.

“Get a grip, Jamie. It’s just an old tool shed.” 

I pulled my backpack from the bottom of the canoe and double checked my supplies – flashlight, flag, phone, protein bar, water bottle.

Why didn’t I think to bring a jacket?

The sun had hidden behind a churning curtain of clouds. Another gust sent goosebumps crawling down my neck and arms. The naked tree shivered in sympathy. It was like this little patch of land was frozen in the wrong season. I checked my phone. No time to row back to camp now. It was already late afternoon.

I scrambled out of the canoe and staked my team’s flag right in front of the creepy old shack.

Game on.