Photo #10
Credit: Unsplash via Karsten Winegeart
THE BOO AT THE ZOO COSTUME CONTEST is inspired by Photo 10 and Blakely, the nanny and companion dog who cared for many animals, including Walter the Warthog, at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Thank you to Lydia Lukidis and Kaitlyn Sanchez for the time and energy you spend hosting this contest and to the generous prize donors, too.
THE BOO AT THE ZOO COSTUME CONTEST
by Jenn Gaulding
Chuffs and chatter pierce the crisp October air as Xander, the nanny dog, makes his evening rounds. Tomorrow is the annual Boo at the Zoo Costume Contest, and the baby animals rush to get ready.
First, Xander visits Flamingo Cove. “Xander!” flutters Frenchie, seemingly swimming under a sheet of white. “Can you help me cut eyeholes, please?”
Once Frenchie is tickled pink with her costume, Xander zips to Elephant Trek, where he finds Kabeer up to his ears in paste.
“I’m stuck,” Kabeer calls. “Help!”
Xander rinses off the calf and listens as Kabeer shares the bare bones of his idea. Then together, they rebuild it from the bottom up.
When Kabeer and the glue are all set, Xander zooms to Wildlife Canyon, where he finds Walter the Warthog in stitches.
“Come see!” snorts Walter, who is posing proud as a pig in his creation.
“What a monstrosity!” howls Xander.
…
On Halloween night, the baby animals prance and parade through the zoo. Their grown-ups coo and ca-caw at the many clever costumes. And when the votes are tallied, Xander wags proudly as
Frenchie the flaminGHOST,
Kabeer the SKELEphant,
and Walter FRANKENswine
step up to claim their prizes.
Words: 198
+ more...
Halloweensie 2025
Susanna Leonard Hill's 15th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest posed this challenge: write a 100 word story about Halloween that included the words "spell," "fog," and "wing."
Spring Fling 2025
by Jenn Gaulding
Common Ground
Me and Gramps? We got lots in common,
‘specially that we love makin’ people laugh.
Gramps is real good at gettin’ folks to grin and say “Good one!”
But me? I’m still figurin’ it out.
Tomorrow’s April Fools’, and I’m makin’ plans.
Maybe I’ll slip food colorin’ into Gramps’ toothpaste.
Maybe I’ll slide my lizard behind Momma’s shampoo bottle.
Maybe I’ll soak Poppa’s underwear in water and freeze ‘em.
Nah. I’ve got somethin’ even better.
Next mornin’, my sister’s shriekin’ jolts me awake.
Still half-asleep, I rush towards the racket.
Comin’ into the kitchen,
I slip,
slide,
SMACK!,
then soak
in a poolin’ puddle on the ground.
That ol’ sink sprayer I rigged with rubber bands
now rains down on me!
Momma and Poppa shake their heads, not knowin’ what to say.
But Gramps? He lets out a big bellow. “Good one!”
Me and Gramps? We got lots in common.