Here are some pumpkins for the WEP Halloween Flash Fiction Special Challenge 2024, HORRORFEST!
I’ve been missing the bi-monthly WEP-IWSG challenge so I welcome another brain puzzler. Puzzling as I was unsure whether to set the tale in Wales with a case for Sparkle & Kama, or with my Witches in Ukraine, or Skadi in Scandinavia. As some of you may have noticed, I did continue with episodes set against the war in Ukraine even when the Challenges ceased.
But there’s a large gap before 2022, so I give you a 1960 Canadian Halloween with a difference.
Tagline: How should a Canadian-Ukrainian family deal with demonic pumpkins invading their Halloween celebration?
Paranormal Pumpkins
1960
Monday, October 31st – Chayka Air, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada
Eight-year-old Galina Kohut wondered why her father Stepan worked on the hangar roof on Dido Anton’s 60th birthday. She nudged her cousin Alisa. Four years older, she was inquisitive.
“With so much to do before the party, why is my tato mending roofs?”
“Maybe it was something that creepy man told him,” Alisa paused making Galina shiver, then giggle. “You don’t believe me?”
“He was a scruffy man looking for work.”
“Don’t scoff, Gali. He was a magic man. Watch out at midnight when he summons the witch Baba Yaga.”
They ran screaming into the house.
Ivan Bilibin (1876–1942)
In the kitchen, Kalyna and Vasy were preparing the evening’s celebratory meal with Anton’s nieces as they knew the family’s traditional dishes for this occasion. However, the sisters were free to add their touches.
“Sounds like the kids are getting into the Halloween spirit,” said Vasy.
“As long as the Veles rites aren’t forgotten,” added Kalyna.
“Nor Uncle Anton’s birthday surprises,” said his oldest niece, Polina.
Kalyna’s eleven-year-old son Boris wandered into the kitchen with his friend Artem. Both hovered near the food looking hopeful.
“Are you boys after cookies to stay alive?” asked Kalyna. Then hearing other voices next door, added, ”Take that plate on the side. I expect your fathers wanted some too.”
“There’s just one each,” said Polina. “That includes your sisters.”
Denys Kohut and his friend Marko Shevchenko welcomed the cookies having finished decorating the dining room and hallway for the evening.
“Better eat outside,” said Marko as Galina and Alisa homed in on the cookies.
Luckily with one cookie left, Stepan finished on the hangar roof.
“Did you fix the leak?” asked Denys.
“Eventually. What did you think I was doing?”
“Alisa said you were trying to magic a witch,” said Galina.
Her father chuckled.
“I’m not crazy, Gali. If there are any witches, then the pumpkins would fly.”
As they walked inside, Galina whispered to Artem.
“My titka is a witch. Auntie makes people fly.”
*
There was not only enough room in the spacious dining room for all the Kohut family and friends but also empty places for departed loved ones. The table was laden with the fruits of the cooks’ labours.
As the head of the household, Denys greeted everyone.
“On this Veles Night spirits of our ancestors visit their descendants sharing their power and blessing us. Tonight, the border between the worlds becomes thinner letting the ancestral spirits and the spirits of descendants unite into one. It is a family holiday. Departed friends and ancestors come to us, tonight’s meal is for you.”
Kalyna lit a candle in the main window to guide the spirits to the feast.
The family patriarch, Anton made the traditional blessing of the food before everyone helped themselves to savoury delicacies, borscht, meat and fish dishes, stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls, and blood sausage.
Kompot for everyone and alcoholic Kvas were the drinks of choice, though there were a few cries for beer and pop.
The children suppressed their craving for dessert. Soon their wish was granted with pancakes, honey cakes, and chocolate roulade.
Then the special cake.
“As today is Dido Anton’s 60th birthday,” said Polina, “we made his favourite fruit cake with ingredients sourced from the far reaches of the world… well, Canada. So, there are berries from the Arctic.”
Desserts were abandoned for Anton’s cake.
When everyone had a generous slice, he stood.
“I know we are gathered for other reasons, but my daughter-in-law Kalyna flew me here from Canora on this special day. My sons and their wives have always said I can make my home here, which is wonderful. Perhaps it is time to retire here and leave the business in younger hands. I must thank you all for being here and for this delicious feast. Let’s discuss the future tomorrow as I have a vision. Lastly, soon it will be time for children of all ages to don their magical costumes and brave the night.”
He sat down with a mischievous smile and ate his cake.
*
Two Kings and a Queen gathered their band of elves, dwarves, and a faun to venture into the darkness.
A flight of dragons roared into the night ahead of them.
“Never fear,” said Queen Vasy. “Those dragons defend us.”
Her band giggled and charged along the street towards the first door with welcoming kegs piled with fruit.
The owner, a portly ogre greeted them.
“No trickery, please. Pick some fruit and you’ll receive a piece of candy each.”
He noticed the orange ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF’ box around the faun’s neck and slipped a dollar bill in the slot.
“The children will thank you,” said Faun Artem. “King Marko values every cent.”
“UNICEF does a valuable job raising money for vaccines, educational materials and other aid for children,” said the generous ogre. “It’s a clever addition to Trick or Treat.”
The band skipped down the street to the next decorated house, where Elf Alisa wore the orange box.
*
An hour later, a tired and happy band of adventurers, some riding royal steeds, approached home, mission accomplished.
Suddenly a large pumpkin flew into their path. It hovered its jagged teeth leering at them.
The smaller children screamed but Stepan drew his sword and stabbed it. Oozing orange guts, the pumpkin retreated.
When two more appeared, bigger and uglier, Artem and Boris stood their ground. Behind them, Alisa and Galina shielded Danyil.
“We’ll all mash you,” shouted the children brandishing daggers.
Stepan and Marko challenged the demons.
“Never show fear,” said Vasy nearest the door. “I’ll summon help.”
As everyone harassed the demonic pumpkins, Kalyna stepped outside.
Four more orange nightmares appeared.
Kalyna raised her arms.
“Begone puny pumpkins back to your patch. Beware a Night Witch from the forests of Ukraine.”
The pumpkins stopped and then flew over the hangar roof and disappeared.
Artem hugged Galina.
“You said your titka was a powerful witch.”
**
MPA 1,000 words
For other WEP October Horrorfest flash stories visit:
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2024/10/wep-halloween-flash-fiction-special.html
Writing Wings 