They could’ve gone to the right
To the tidy brown cottage in the ring of aspens.
Goat nibbling happily on the turf roof.
It had reminded them of home.
But they went left.
To the gingerbread house with the candy kitchen.
Blood-red door, vanilla frosting dripping from the eaves.
Fencing made of gingerbread children.
They’d been lost in the woods for ever so long.
The crow could tell you how it all came out.
But it’s not what you’d expect.
The children were canny, the witches kind.
They were all from the same family,
So deep within the woods.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2021)
Carrot Ranch Prompt (10/28/2021): In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that features a candy kitchen. You can interpret the phrase creatively or stick to the traditional. Is it sweet? Ironic? Any genre will do. Go where the prompt leads!
Valley of the Trolls 
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What a great twist and final line, Liz. A happy twisted tale.
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Thanks, Charli!
A li’l pretzel logic…
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What a fabulous twist Liz! I love the distinct and eerie change in perspective through the lines “Blood-red door, vanilla frosting dripping from the eaves. Fencing made of gingerbread children.” Great writing!
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Thank you kindly, Rebecca! 🍁❤
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I absolutely love this “sweet” ending. It’s perfectly executed (although the children were not). It’s happy without being too cheery, just…lovely. Beautiful wording throughout, too. Love this: Blood-red door, vanilla frosting dripping from the eaves. 🍭
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Thank you, Sarah!
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This was so nice! I think it works on so many levels….
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Glad you enjoyed!! ❤🍁
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Cool. It is a happier, less gruesome version of the traditional, yet is somehow haunting in tone. (if stories were candy, this is one I’d keep sampling… what exactly is that?)
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I think it may be a metaphor for surviving life as a single parent…?
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That brings more meaning to the blood red door.
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Delightful, Liz!
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Thank you so much!
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Sometimes it is nice to have a happy ending. Thanks.
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Yes, best to have both bitter and sweet!
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I like this kinder version of the fairy tale, and I would hope the children had some good eats at the witch’s house 🙂
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At both houses!
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