𝕾𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖚𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖘𝖚𝖑𝖙𝖘

Congratulations to all of the participants in the September Challenge. What incredibly talented and creative writers we have in this Community, and you all really shined in this Challenge!

In August, we had 9 Submissions. For September, we grew to 14 Submissions! (Thanks to all of you for not allowing this to end with 13 entries!)

I have summoned the spirits of all Superstitions to assist with the judging process. All complaints should be directed to Hildegard the Witch!

If you haven’t read the Entries yet, please take a few moments to read and support these Authors’ impressive work!

°º×º°°º×ᑎOᗯ TᕼE ᖇESᑌᒪTS׺°°º×°º

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Dana Crandell knocked it out of the park with this wee salty tale, “From Me Wee Cell”. Any person worth their salt knows that if you spill some salt, the only way to ward off evil spirits is to toss some over your left shoulder, the very place where evil is lurking. Well, that evil took a different form for Dana.

Brilliant verses! $15 is headed your way, so your luck is not all bad, after all! Congratulations, Dana!

🥈 🆂🅴🅲🅾🅽🅳 🅿🅻🅰🅲🅴 🥈

Sara Wilson penned an instant Top Story with her poem, “13”, putting a positive, wholesome spin on a number that has perhaps endured undeserved negative publicity over the years. Luck is what we make it!

This one will bring a smile to your face, and $10 to Sara’s wallet. Congratulations, Sara!

🥉 🆃🅷🅸🆁🅳 🅿🅻🅰🅲🅴 🥉

Kendall Defoe’s “The Seven Whistlers” is a brilliantly creative story. Kendall’s writing is fantastic, and the story-building is even better.

“Ah, well you might like this one. They were a group of seven birds that were considered phantoms, bad luck if heard, especially at night. That meant that death was coming. Even miners refused to work if those birds were around. They’d start wondering how quickly the shafts would collapse.”

The Seven Whistlers by Kendall Defoe

Congratulations, Kendall, $5 is headed your way!

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Mark Gagnon’s incredible narrative “XXI: The thoughts of a dark mind” is sure to give you the spooks! Mark offers rare insight into an evil mind!

Humans, just look at them, each involved in their own little world; oblivious to everything around them, including me. I was human once, but I’ve strengthened into something more, greater, superior to what I once was. Now I look at these creatures as a wolf looks at a rabbit, or a cheetah at a gazelle. They are nothing more than prey. My quarry has unwittingly wandered within the boundaries of my hunting grounds at the end of Canal Street. The elevated railway line casts a perpetual shadow onto the pedestrian walkway below, obscuring sunlight during the day and blocking the glow from the city’s lights at night; it’s a predator’s paradise. Now I must choose my evening’s entertainment.

XXI by Mark Gagnon

Congratulations, Mark, $3 is headed your way!

🏅 🅵🅸🅵🆃🅷 🅿🅻🅰🅲🅴 🏅

This could be a ten-way tie. Fantastic stories, all of them.

Kelli Sheckler-Amsden’s poetic warning, “The Long Way Home”, reminds us that there is a cost for escorting the dead.

This harkens back to ancient mythology. In Greek and Roman mythology, an obol (coin) was placed in the mouth or eyes of the dead to pay the ferryman (Charon) for passage across the river Styx to the underworld. Don’t forget to pay the ferryman, or you’ll pay far more than just an obol!

Brilliant work, Kelli. Two Obols ($2) are headed your way!

Please read all of the entries. Absolutely fascinating stories (and poems)! They are all deserving winners. Here are the rest of the stories, presented in the order they were submitted. Small Tips are headed your way. Thank you all for entering.

Novel Allen has given us a charming and witty warning in her story, “If You See a Wicked Witch”. It was also an instant Top Story! Congratulations! Now, memorize these steps, lest you be turned into a cat:

Brilliant fun, Novel! A $1 tip is headed your way!

Mikeydred was “Born Under a Bad Sign”, and he writes us a bluesy poem to chronicle the events in a way only Mike can do! If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all!

You have just perfectly described my journey, Mike! A small tip is headed your direction! I hope it turns your luck around!

Have you ever wondered why mirrors are covered after a death? In his spooky poem “The Mirror That Must Stay Covered”, Tim Carmichael explores Appalachian folklore about how the souls of the dead may become trapped in the mirror if they see their own reflection. This Warning is incredibly fascinating and written in Tim’s brilliant style.

This is creatively done with perfect rhyme and rhythm. Outstanding work, Tim!

Andrea Corwin gives us a perfectly mysterious tale with a haunted twist in her short story “The Rocking Watchers”.

Did you ever get into some mischief as a kid, just for the sake of mischief? This story chronicles just such an act, with a very spooky twist.

Wonderful story, Andrea! Just the right amount of spookiness! A small tip is coming!

I love this lesson from history by Tina D. Lopez, “Familiar”. Not every haunted tale is based on real truth, and this story about cats chronicles just such a case.

Fascinating poem, Tina! A small tip is headed your way!

Rain Dayze offers us another Black Cat tale in her poem “Black Cat Blasphemy”. I love that Rain’s poem dispels the myth and offers a positive reminder about the real nature of black cats!

I got a bit of a chuckle out of that amazing line! Outstanding work, Rain! A small tip is headed to you and Fenrir!

Have you ever taken notice that bad events always happen in threes? It is a curious pattern that seems to always hold true. Meredith Harmon2 gives us a tale about this Dutch Superstition, with just enough Penna Dutch sayings sprinkled it to give it authenticity, in her tale, “Des Tswet Des Drit Sich”. You daresent disregard Meredith’s warning, even if you are trying to escape Mother’s silly superstitions!

Tremendous writing, Meredith! A small tip is headed your way!

Are you aware that spirits might follow you home from a funeral? Alyson Smith explores this superstition and the belief that taking a detour may throw wandering spirits off your path in her wonderful story, “Pagpag”. This is a fun, clever story rich with cultural tradition and folklore.

In Filipino tradition, stopping at a public place like a store or a restaurant before going home is called pagpag. While Pagpag literally means to shake off dust or dirt is also used as the term to trick or shake off lingering spirits.

Pagpag by Alyson Smith

I loved this, Alyson! A small tip is headed your way!

Clyde E. Dawkins scored an instant, well-deserved Top Story with his fascinating tale, “Haunting Secrets”. Congratulations! This story highlights two superstitions: don’t whistle at night, and don’t go straight home after a funeral. This story is incredibly well written and finishes with a very satisfying twist!

Excellent storytelling, Clyde. A small tip is headed your way!

Outstanding work by all!