Spring Fling Contest

Spring has been riddled with contests and challenges. Each one issuing me a small reminder to create. Each one bringing me closer to the kidlit community. Each one adding its own element of joy.

This week I celebrated an Honorable Mention in Vivian Kirkfield’s #50PreciousWords contest and received some exciting responses from recent showcases. I turned my Fall Frenzy 2020 winning story into a full PB manuscript, and I put the final touches on this cute little story for Ciera O’Neil and Kaitlyn Sanchez’s Spring Fling contest.

The challenge? Take a spring-themed GIF and turn it into a 150-word story.

This cute sleepy bear is my GIF and clocking in at 150 words on the dot I bring you. . .

Hibernation

By Amy Flynn

Knock, knock.

For the first time in their fall-long friendship, Squirrel didn’t hear Bear’s familiar “Who’s there?”

KNOCK, KNOCK

The door creaked open.

“Bear?” whispered Squirrel, peeking.

Nothing.

Stepping inside, Squirrel spotted an occupied bed. He giggled, “Bear! Wake up you lazy furball!”

Nothing.

Squirrel poked Bear, threw nuts, and chittered his loudest chatter.

Nothing.

“He’s DEAD!” wailed Squirrel.

Slowly, his sobs turned to resolve, “I shall host the most wonderful funeral any bear has ever had, in the whole world, ever.”

He drafted invitations with one simple request:
“Please bring flowers. Bear loved flowers.”

Next day, neighbors gathered in Bear’s cave, huddled together against the fresh winter wind.

Bunnies brought Begonias.
Foxes brought Forget-Me-Nots.
Moose brought Marigolds.

Squirrel stood, “We gather today to remember . . . sniffle . . . Bear.”

Rustle.

“Bear was a bear of bearish proportions . . .”

RUSTLE.

“. . . a bear amongst not-bears . . .”

SNIFF.

GASP!

“Bear?!?”

“Do I smell flowers? Is it springtime?”