Erika M Szabo: Author, Artist, Publisher
  • HOME
    • ART
    • PUBLISHING
    • NATURAL HEALING >
      • ASTHMA
      • BIZARRE SYMPTOMS
      • Natural Skin Care
      • Healing crystals
      • Aromatherapy
      • Pets and Fleas
      • Detox Your Body Naturally
      • HIGH CHOLESTEROL
      • Természetgyógyászat
    • Photos
    • Privacy policy
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
    • My Thinking Board
    • JUST FOR FUN
    • Magyar Könyvek
  • CHILDREN'S BOOKS
    • Be Careful What You Wish For
    • Pico, the Pesky Parrot
    • The Chunky, Dumpy, Spunky Monkey
    • Look, I Can Talk With My Fingers
    • A Basketful of Kittens
    • Who Stole Terry's Music Box?
    • Terry and the Number Fairy
    • My Book-My Stories
    • Me Too
    • Creepy Hollow Adventures
    • Mira, ¡puedo hablar con los dedos!
  • FICTION NOVELS
    • 7 COZY SHORTS
    • Evil Will Out
    • The Ancestors' Secrets
    • Restless Heart
    • The Ghost of Prince Akhmose
    • Messenger
    • The Potion
    • Bittersweet Memories
    • The Worthless Painting
    • Alone
    • Unbroken Curse
    • Fake It
    • OMEN
    • Rainbows and Couds
    • The Curse
  • Libros ​españoles
  • MAGAZINES
    • VIDEOS-POSTS
  • AUDIOBOOKS
  • MAGYAR OLDAL
  • STORYTIME

My Thinking Board

Thoughts about this & that...

Halloween Stories #1

10/6/2020

0 Comments

 

The Witch's Body Shop

Picture
Picture credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435230751473723421/?nic_v2=1aRhsJSMH
Picture
I published this short story in my October online magazine.
In this issue:
Spooky stories and poems
Halloween treat recipes
Awesome Halloween decoration ideas
Books for Halloween
My new release book
Honored people in the Hall of Fame
read the magazine
It was the second weekend of October, one of the last opportunities to sit around a camp before winter. After Jack’s father built a firepit in the backyard in the clearing, the group of teenagers huddled around the campfire roasting marshmallows. They burst out in laughter when Jack finished telling the story about the ghost of the spooky house in the woods. He told a new story about the lonely ghost every time they camped.

Claire, a redhead, chubby girl didn’t laugh and was unusually quiet staring into the flames.
What’s with you tonight? You haven’t said a word all evening.” Jack turned to her, with slight worry in his voice. 
 
“I’m just… I overheard my dad talking about the witch who moved to town last month. His friend said that she can raise the dead.” Claire shivered. 

“That’s a load of crap,” Jack chuckled. “It’s one of your stories to scare us, isn’t it?” 

“It’s true!” Claire protested. “I heard him telling my dad that she has the power to breathe life into the dead!”
“It must be true!” Steve exclaimed wide-eyed. “I heard my dad telling the UPS guy that she sells body parts, and she has one eye and wears a black eyepatch.”

“You don’t think…” Jack stopped in mid-sentence.

“I heard about her too!” Martha shouted. “Grandma said she’s a strange woman, lives alone and nobody knows where she came from. She has a creepy black cat and bought the old Smith house. You know, the one on Franklin Street.”

The kids grew quiet as if they ran out of scary stories. They just sat around the fire for a while in deep thoughts, listening to music. Soon, when the full moon cast eerie shadows and they heard the hushed sounds of the owls and bats, they said goodnight and hurried home. 

Jack had a terrible nightmare, he was tossing and turning all night. In his dream, an old woman with wild hair and a black eye patch tied him to a metal table. He looked around and saw that the room was full of pale, dead bodies. Charles was chained to the table and couldn’t move. He was terrified and tried to scream but couldn’t make a sound. The old woman’s bloodshot eye fixed on him as she cackled with her toothless mouth open.

Charles awoke with a jump at dawn, cold sweat covering his forehead and heart pounding in his chest. He heard his dad’s loud snoring and the neighbor’s dog barking. The familiar sounds somewhat calmed him. He called his best friend.  

“You couldn’t sleep well either, huh?” Steve picked up at the first ring and asked his buddy in a hushed voice.

“You wouldn’t believe the nightmare I had,” Jack whispered, still out of breath.
“Me too,” Steve replied, his voice shaking.
*** 
Jack fell into a fitful sleep, and when he heard his parents, stumbled downstairs to the kitchen in his pajamas. He bumped into his dad who was heading toward the backdoor. “Whoa, there!” Jack’s dad laughed. “You’re up early. Is everything okay?” he asked, his expression turning to concern. “You guys didn’t stay outside as late as usual. I went to check on you around ten, but the fire was out already.”

“Yeah, fine… we were just… it was cold,” Jack replied, stepping aside to let his father open the door.

“Yes, it was a bit chilly.” His dad turned and called out to his wife in a hurry, “I’m heading over to the Witch’s Body Shop. Do you want me to pick up something?”

“Yes. Pick up a nice piece of liver for supper.” Jack’s mother smiled.

Jack’s eyes grew wide and the breath got caught in his throat. What kind of liver are we going to eat? What if… he thought, imagining the worst.

“What’s wrong?” his mother asked, worried. “You’re pale as a ghost!” She touched his forehead. “Are you okay, are you feeling sick?”
“I’m fine, mom!” Jack pushed her hand aside.
***    
Later that day, the group gathered in Jack’s room and discussed what they’d found out.

“It must be just gossip or misunderstanding,” Martha probed, feeling skeptical.

“Don’t think so!” Steve replied. “Didn’t you hear what Jack’s dad said?”

“We must see for ourselves.” Martha insisted, firmly. 

They decided to take a ride to the witch’s shop. When they got close to the house, they left their bikes behind a tree and crept closer to the fence. They hid behind a bush and saw a large yard filled with old cars and next to the house a huge garage. Above the garage door, they saw a sign, “The Witch’s Body Shop”.
“Do you think she really sells body parts?” Claire whispered, and stared at the opening garage door, feeling scared out of her mind.

They watched in horror as a middle-aged woman stepped out in greasy overall, dark hair pulled into a tight bun, and a black eyepatch covering her eye.

“Let’s get out of here before she sells our livers too!” Jack shouted, jumped up, and raced to his bike. The others followed and Claire screamed in fright.

“And I’m going to eat carrots for supper, and I’ll be a vegetarian from now on!” Jack huffed as pedaled away in a great hurry.

“What’s with these kids?” the woman asked the stocky man who walked out of the garage behind her.

“Beats me.” He shrugged, looking at the kids racing down the road. “So, you think you’ll get the carburetor today?”

“Yes, my supplier said they’ll deliver it after lunch,” the woman replied wiping her hands on a rag.

“How’s your eye? I hate driving my wife’s car, but I don’t mind waiting until the doctor lets you take the patch off.”
​
“I’m fine, don’t worry. I’ve been fixing cars for a long time, I can change a carburetor with both eyes closed,” she laughed. “I’ll have your car fixed and ready to be picked up around four.”

Read my online magazines

Picture
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Erika M Szabo, author of epic fantasy, romantic suspense, cozy mystery novels, YA and children’s books

    Categories

    All
    10 Self-publishing Tips
    About Free Books
    A Dear Friend Wrote A Poem For Me
    Alone
    Anger Addiction
    Animals Always Find Me
    A Or B?
    A Sweet Christmas Tradition
    Audiobook Recorded By Children
    Best Books For Toddlers
    Blood In The Syringe. Is It Dangerous?
    Book Promo Fees Gone Too High
    Book Review Craziness
    Can You Recognize Narcissistic People?
    Cats Love Stories Too!
    CHILDREN LEARN HATE AND INTOLERANCE FROM US
    Children's Books
    Children's Books For Halloween
    Critique Or Criticism?
    Decades Late Apology
    Did She Deserve It?
    Discrimination
    Dude
    Emotional Stages Of Becoming A Writer
    Empty Promises
    Every Life Is Precious
    Favorite Internet Pastime
    Garage Sale Surprise
    Genderless Characters In Books?
    Good Old Fashioned Romance
    Got Money? Buy Votes!
    Halloween Stories #1
    Have I Been Really Granted A Blessing?
    Hearing Loss
    Hidden Messages
    High Hopes And Deep Disappointments Of A Writer
    How Did I End Up Here?
    I'm A Better Person Today Because...
    I'm Better Than You!
    Inferior Or Equal?
    Is The Lovely Shade Of Romance Turning Dark?
    It's Easier Than You Thought
    It's Monday!
    I Would Love To Have A Shiny Sticker On My Resume!
    I Write Children's Books Because...
    Just 16 Minutes A Day
    Listen!
    Little Tree Walking
    Lucy's Baby
    Makes Sense Or Batshit Crazy?
    Mask Or Muzzle?
    MBR Bookwatch Review
    Message From A Pissed Off Reader
    #metoo
    Mommy
    Mom's Scary Dolls
    My Green Thumb
    MY SHORTS
    Nightmares And Witching Hour
    Oh No!
    Picture This!
    Prejudice
    PRESS RELEASE: AUTHOR ERIKA M SZABO
    Rainbows And Clouds
    READING IS GOOD
    Re-blogged: 5 Reasons Why Authors Should:
    Re-blogged: Full Moon Dare
    Sign Language
    Sneak Peek Into The Ancestors' Secrets
    Social Site Animals
    SPOOKY
    Stuck At Home?
    The Birth Of An Audiobook
    The Danger Of A Quiet Simile
    The Joy Of Getting Old
    The New Kind Of Book Hoarder
    The Quiet Smile Of A Wise Woman!
    There Is So Much More To Communication Than Just Speaking
    The Scammer Swallows His Own Medicine
    The Warning Signs Of Vanity Publishers
    Those Dreaded Negative Reviews
    Uncle Frank Looks At Me Funny
    Uncle Frank Looks At Me Funny 
    Unusual Signs And Symptoms
    What Is Happening To Prince Harry?
    When The Raven Calls
    Why Does Chocolate Make You Happy?
    Why Do I Tell Stories?
    Why Do People Lash Out In Anger At Others?
    Why Should I Write Book Reviews?
    Women Are Not Smart Enough
    Write A Book They Said
    You Make A Hungarian Flinch When...

    Picture
    Picture
    Historical fantasy series, book 1
    Picture
    Historical fantasy series, book 2
    Picture
    Romantic historical fiction
    Picture
    Humorous, heartwarming short story collection
    Picture
    7 novelettes in one
    Picture
    Sweet romance
    Picture
    Historical ghost story
    Picture
    Cozy supernatural mystery
    Picture
    Cozy mystery
    Picture
    Supernatural thriller
    Picture
    Futuristic romance short story
    Picture
    Unconventional family short story

    Children's books

    Picture
    Heroic fantasy for kids 6-14
    Picture
    Bilingual storybook for kids 4-12. Friendship, compassion, acceptance
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-10
    Picture
    Spooky adventure for kids 5-12
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-12. Kitten rescue, dealing with bullies
    Picture
    Storybook for kids 4-12. Compassion toward others with disability
    Picture
    Spanish edition
    Picture
    Fantasy storybook for kids 4-12. Bad elf turns good
    Picture
    Picture book for kids 2-8. Learning numbers
    Picture
    Picture book for kids 2-6. Sibling rivalry and love

    Spanish books

    Picture
    Spanish fantasy
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

Copyright author Erika M Szabo, 2012 Read the privacy policy and disclaimer HERE If you find a picture and you recognize it as your own and not a public domain photo, please let us know ​CONTACT
  • HOME
    • ART
    • PUBLISHING
    • NATURAL HEALING >
      • ASTHMA
      • BIZARRE SYMPTOMS
      • Natural Skin Care
      • Healing crystals
      • Aromatherapy
      • Pets and Fleas
      • Detox Your Body Naturally
      • HIGH CHOLESTEROL
      • Természetgyógyászat
    • Photos
    • Privacy policy
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT ME
  • BLOG
    • My Thinking Board
    • JUST FOR FUN
    • Magyar Könyvek
  • CHILDREN'S BOOKS
    • Be Careful What You Wish For
    • Pico, the Pesky Parrot
    • The Chunky, Dumpy, Spunky Monkey
    • Look, I Can Talk With My Fingers
    • A Basketful of Kittens
    • Who Stole Terry's Music Box?
    • Terry and the Number Fairy
    • My Book-My Stories
    • Me Too
    • Creepy Hollow Adventures
    • Mira, ¡puedo hablar con los dedos!
  • FICTION NOVELS
    • 7 COZY SHORTS
    • Evil Will Out
    • The Ancestors' Secrets
    • Restless Heart
    • The Ghost of Prince Akhmose
    • Messenger
    • The Potion
    • Bittersweet Memories
    • The Worthless Painting
    • Alone
    • Unbroken Curse
    • Fake It
    • OMEN
    • Rainbows and Couds
    • The Curse
  • Libros ​españoles
  • MAGAZINES
    • VIDEOS-POSTS
  • AUDIOBOOKS
  • MAGYAR OLDAL
  • STORYTIME