The Ghost Pumpkin Fire Brigade
Beware of the ghost of Jack-O'-Lantern!43 total reviews
Comment from K. Lorraine
This was a clever idea to satisfy the contest prompt. I thought the story was fascinating, but I question how old a child should be to understand the dynamics. In the notes, it was written the seed for the story came from an incident in the author's childhood. Was that you? Best wishes in the contest.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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This was a clever idea to satisfy the contest prompt. I thought the story was fascinating, but I question how old a child should be to understand the dynamics. In the notes, it was written the seed for the story came from an incident in the author's childhood. Was that you? Best wishes in the contest.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Yes, that was me. The arsonists set fire to the porch in front of my bedroom. They awoke me when I heard them running alongside my house. I saw an orange glow at the window, looked out, and saw my house on fire. Our neighbors behind us use swimming pool water and hose to put it out. The incident remained buried in my memory for a decade before I published the story in 1985 in a firefighters magazine.
It terms of the dynamics, this is a story that children and adults will have to read over a lifetime to understand more and more of it. I did not understand the dynamics of half of the books and movies I referenced in my notes, but I understand enough to create a new story.
Thank you, K. Lorraine, for your review and for wishing me success in the contest.
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That was some real childhood experience and memory. Thanks for sharing.
Comment from Zue65
Prose stories become relevant when they are backed up by a well researched story and other facts which you did well in your post. The plot is clear and can be easily understood by little children. I enjoyed reading this too. All tyhe best.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Prose stories become relevant when they are backed up by a well researched story and other facts which you did well in your post. The plot is clear and can be easily understood by little children. I enjoyed reading this too. All tyhe best.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, nassus1957, for your encouraging review of my well researched story. I am glad you found my plot clear and easy to understand. Thanks again.
Comment from Serendipity!
threw (off) his blankets
fire captain put a helmet and a slicker,(on Jonathan) and then sent him to carry the emptied buckets to the pool
This is a very interesting story and well written except for the typos that can happen to anyone.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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threw (off) his blankets
fire captain put a helmet and a slicker,(on Jonathan) and then sent him to carry the emptied buckets to the pool
This is a very interesting story and well written except for the typos that can happen to anyone.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, Serendipity!, for your review of my "very interesting story." I omitted "off" purposefully to make a stronger sentence. Thanks for your review.
Comment from doggymad
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Some great descriptions of Jonathan's adventures with the Ghost Firemen.
Nice twist at the end, where he got confirmation of the reality of the night
hugs
Freda
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Some great descriptions of Jonathan's adventures with the Ghost Firemen.
Nice twist at the end, where he got confirmation of the reality of the night
hugs
Freda
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, Freda, for the review and the hugs for my "thoroughly enjoyable read."
Comment from wordspinner314
Awesome! I like the imaginative spin you put on this, bringing such detail and depth to the story and characters. There's something hauntingly beautiful about using firemen in your piece. Well done!
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Awesome! I like the imaginative spin you put on this, bringing such detail and depth to the story and characters. There's something hauntingly beautiful about using firemen in your piece. Well done!
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, wordspinner314, for your enthusiastic review. I am amazed how I spun this "awesome." Thanks.
Comment from Lesley Collier
A wonderful and magical story of a little boy, Jonathan, who gets caught up in a mission of a ghost fire brigade's attempt to put out the dangerous fire of the Jack-O-lantern who causes harm as he is banished from eternal bliss because of his stinginess. Jonathan then becomes in involved in a scary escapade where the ghost firefighters rescue him and he wakes up in bed thinking it was all a dream until he finds a badge proving otherwise. Wonderfully written and imaginative while displaying the courage a firefighter must take on in order to save lives in the spirit of Halloween!
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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A wonderful and magical story of a little boy, Jonathan, who gets caught up in a mission of a ghost fire brigade's attempt to put out the dangerous fire of the Jack-O-lantern who causes harm as he is banished from eternal bliss because of his stinginess. Jonathan then becomes in involved in a scary escapade where the ghost firefighters rescue him and he wakes up in bed thinking it was all a dream until he finds a badge proving otherwise. Wonderfully written and imaginative while displaying the courage a firefighter must take on in order to save lives in the spirit of Halloween!
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, Lesley, for your generous six star review of this "wonderful and magical story." It cheers my heart to read your review. This was the first story I published in 1986 in a firefighters magazine. I am thrilled I shared it with you today. Thanks.
Comment from Lovinia
Hi Mystery Writer
Your story is absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed every minute of it ... and I'm an adult. LOL I love children's stories which can also entertain the parents, baby sitters and others who may be reading the tale. So exciting, I felt I was part of the Ghost Pumpkin Fire Brigade. What a night was had by Jonathan!! "Heigh-ho" WOW! Your story is tremendous and I expect to be a contender for the win. Fast pace, your kept the excitement burning. Love the image you present with. I haven't read a children's story this good for a while. I wish you the best of luck. Warmest Regards - Lovinia xoxo PS I wish I had a six. This deserves ten stars. :)))
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Hi Mystery Writer
Your story is absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed every minute of it ... and I'm an adult. LOL I love children's stories which can also entertain the parents, baby sitters and others who may be reading the tale. So exciting, I felt I was part of the Ghost Pumpkin Fire Brigade. What a night was had by Jonathan!! "Heigh-ho" WOW! Your story is tremendous and I expect to be a contender for the win. Fast pace, your kept the excitement burning. Love the image you present with. I haven't read a children's story this good for a while. I wish you the best of luck. Warmest Regards - Lovinia xoxo PS I wish I had a six. This deserves ten stars. :)))
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Oh, thank you, Lovinia, for your loving review. You are right. If the Ghost Pumpkin Fire Brigade asked for my help, I would fly away with them. Thank you also for your contest well wishes.
Comment from Sambangi
Twist is in the end, it was a dream. I enjoyed the combined fire fighting of ghosts and Jonathan. Though it is a mystery author as per rules of the contest, I can guess who has written it my friend! All the best
Cheers
Sambangi
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Twist is in the end, it was a dream. I enjoyed the combined fire fighting of ghosts and Jonathan. Though it is a mystery author as per rules of the contest, I can guess who has written it my friend! All the best
Cheers
Sambangi
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, Sambangi, for your review of my story with a twist. Thank you also for wishing me all the best in the contest.
Comment from gamay
Hi Friend.
This is amazing.
Its very interesting story .
I really enjoyed it much.
Its good entry in the contest.
Good luck and have a nice day to you.
gamay
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Hi Friend.
This is amazing.
Its very interesting story .
I really enjoyed it much.
Its good entry in the contest.
Good luck and have a nice day to you.
gamay
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, gamay, for your encouraging review of my story. I am glad you found it to be "amazing." Thank you also for your contest well wishes. Cheers.
Comment from mfowler
Normally dream stories are seen as cliché's, but such narrative transgressions are certainly forgiven in this masterly retelling and reimagining of the firefighters' legend. The whole story is beautifully related and your juxtaposition of the human child, Jonathon to the pesky Jack-O-Lantern makes the story skip along excitedly. The fire brigade is wonderfully described and add greatly to the heroics. You'll be hard to beat in this competition.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Normally dream stories are seen as cliché's, but such narrative transgressions are certainly forgiven in this masterly retelling and reimagining of the firefighters' legend. The whole story is beautifully related and your juxtaposition of the human child, Jonathon to the pesky Jack-O-Lantern makes the story skip along excitedly. The fire brigade is wonderfully described and add greatly to the heroics. You'll be hard to beat in this competition.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2015
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2015
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Thank you, mfowler, for your encouraging review. I am amazed that I cooked this story up and published it twenty-nine years ago in a firefighters magazine. I am glad I shared my story with you today. Thanks also for your contest well wishes.
