"Before My School" by Jenn Gaulding
has been selected for publication in Little Thought Press Issue 12 - Better Together: A Celebration of Community and Collective Action
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."
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.
by Jenn Gaulding
My New, Furry Love
I set out this Valentine’s Day
to connect with my pet in some way.
Peeking in from above
at my new, furry love,
I decided he might want to play.
But what if he still isn’t ready?
And what if my hands aren't steady?
But what if he is?
Will he know that I’m his?
So I asked “Can I hold you, sweet Teddy?”
I noticed the twitch of his head
as he stirred and he yawned from his bed.
Oh his teeth are so long!
(No, I need to stay strong.)
I will pick up my little love Ted.
I sat myself down on the floor.
I cautiously opened his door.
His water was low.
Is he thirsty? Oh no!
So I hurried to get him some more.
Now that his bottle was set,
I was ready to pick up my pet.
I extended my hand
hoping he’d understand
that I wasn’t too big of a threat.
Today was our chance to re-start.
I could feel the lub-dub of my heart.
My adorable guy
slowly opened one eye.
We were now merely inches apart.
...
When that hamster went in for the bite,
I discovered my one oversight -
oh nocturnal pet Ted
do you think that instead
I should try again Valentine’s night?
by Jenn Gaulding
Jenn is a current and active member of the following organizations and courses:
Southern Breeze
SCBWI's mission is to "support the creation of an abundance of quality children’s books, so that young people everywhere have the books they need and deserve."
Julie Hedlund's Challenge
"12 x 12 is an inclusive and supportive learning community of picture book authors and illustrators..."
Self-Study Course
"The Lyrical Language Lab teaches children's writers the poetic techniques that will make their writing more powerful and infuse their manuscripts with poetry, music, and magic."