The following short story was entered into The Springfield Writers Guild’s 2021 summer writing contest. The prompt for this short story was to write a 750-word (or less) story or a one-page poem of any genre about the image below.
Ben had hunted these woods since before he could remember. First with his father, and now at 17, on his own. The day was bright, sunny, and perfect for hunting, but his heart wasn’t in it. Instead, his mind was focused on three college scholarship offers he had all with approaching deadlines.
Lost in thought he didn’t notice he had walked into a thick unnatural fog. Slowly turning in a circle, he realized nothing looked familiar. The fog seemed clearer to his left, so he focused that way. He was just able to make out a stone path that he had never seen before. The fog seemed to be guiding him along that path, so he followed. Before long he came to an old log cabin covered in moss.
He could think of nothing else but to knock on the door and see if anyone was home. At the very least he could figure out where he was. His knock seemed to echo but there was no sound from within. Ben tried the handle and was surprised that the door was unlocked.
“Hello? Is anyone here?” No answer. He stepped inside calling out again.
He was answered by a loud crash that came from the room beyond making him jump. A plump short woman with wild hair and eyes came in with a big grin reveling several missing teeth.
Ben started to apologize for entering uninvited, but the old woman simply took his hand and tugged him toward the next room exclaiming “Your Late!”
Again, Ben thought he should apologize but stopped when they entered the next room. An unusual green fire flared in the center of the room nearly covered by a huge caldron. In the caldron a purple sludge like mixture boiled and bubbled. The woman led him to the caldron, then dropped his hand. Looking at him she simply said…
Give me your wishes three,
In my way I will grant them you will see,
And in ten years I will come to thee.
For you to choose if I take them back or let them be.
“You want to give me three wishes?”
Her response was to simply repeat the rhyme.
This woman is batty, Ben thought. But any attempt to ask her questions was met with the same response.
“Okay, I get it, I need to make three wishes…” Ben thought for a moment… “I wish I was rich (College is expensive), good looking (so all the girls like me) and smart (for college).”
After making his wishes the old woman threw a vial of bright blue liquid into the caldron, the room filled with dark smoke, that slowly got lighter then faded away. As it cleared, he was back in the field behind his home. Ben shook it off as some kind of crazy dream.
He went off to college, met the girl of his dreams, got married, had two beautiful children, a nice home and a great job.
************
Ten years passed to the day there was a knock on his door. Ben opened it to the same wild looking woman. His memories of that day came flooding back, and he was shocked. “What happened to my wishes?” He asked
“I granted them,” was her reply
“I am not rich; I don’t have great looks and as I remember it, college was not that easy.” Ben said.
Her reply was simple, “There are many ways to be rich, though you may not have an abundance of wealth you have a life full of comfort, love, family and security that many long for. As for good looks what does it matter what the masses think you are the most desirable man to the one woman and two children that really count.”
“I never really thought of it that way, I really am rich and good looking” Ben replied with a smile, “but what about being really smart?”
Ahhh, only now do you truly understand. Your wish of wisdom has finally been granted” Then to Ben’s dismay she once again started to rhyme.
So, now’s the time,
To make up your mind,
To keep that which has been defined,
Or give it up for a fate that’s blind?
Ben closed his eyes and tried to imagine it, but he couldn’t see his life any other way. When he opened his eyes to give his answer the old woman was gone.
Lynn Combs 