Ginger-Dread House (a #FallWritingFrenzy Entry)

Ginger-Dread House

Seraphina stepped off the train, hearing its chug-a chug-a chug-chug-chug as it vanished into the mist.

Maybe this is a bad idea, she thought as she stood alone at the Hansel and Gretel Memorial Forest Station. But she was determined to redeem herself!

Last year’s Halloween Show-and-Tell was a disaster. Seraphina dressed her bunny as a ghost, and the class just giggled.

They won’t giggle this year, Seraphina thought. But how would she find what she needed in this fog?

She deeply inhaled… and smelled cinnamon, ginger, melting butter… Seraphina followed the scent until—

BAM!

“Ouch!” Seraphina yelped, colliding with a Gingerbread House.

Hearing the ruckus, a witch burst out the door…

Seraphina gasped, “A ginger-dread house!”

The witch sighed, “Oh dear girl, Hansel and Gretel concocted an excuse for being late to supper. Now I’m dreadfully lonely.”

Shocked, Seraphina had a thought: “I can fix this—but first, please, will you take me home?”

The witch flew her back, and the next day they attended Show-and-Tell together.   

Seraphina’s class was spooked as the lights shuddered and a witch’s cackle filled their ears… then delighted to discover the true story— and excited to visit the Gingerbread House bursting with treats!