This is for Sue Vincent’s Thursday photo prompt. I let this one simmer awhile, hoping I would be able to get a more serious story out of the photo, but the original impression wouldn’t go away.
“Look!” David pointed across the valley at the hill beyond. “That looks just like the cave where Smaug lives.”
His mother frowned, but didn’t raise her eyes from her magazine. “Who’s Smaug?”
David sighed. “A dragon. Never mind. Can I go and look? There might be treasure.”
“Why don’t you go down to the stream instead,” his mother suggested and turned the page. “See if you can catch us a nice cod for supper.”
David snorted. “I’d rather have a packet of biscuits.”
“More biscuits? Haven’t you had enough sweet stuff this afternoon?” his mother said and rummaged in the bag with the remnants of their picnic. She handed him a packet of Jaffa Cakes. “Don’t eat them all.”
David took the packet and jumped to his feet. “They’re not for me. They’re for the Cookie Monster.”
His mother’s brow furrowed and she filled another couple of squares in the crossword before stopping. “Damn!” she said. “Doesn’t fit.”
A shadow fell across the page. She looked up. And screamed.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Very nice and unexpected! I got chills at the end. I recently saw another author do a photo writing challenge and it inspired me to do one recently. They are so much fun! ❤
Thank you! I agree, photo prompts are a great way to jog a story. It just needs one detail to capture your imagination and it begins to unfold.
😀 😀
Oh! I love this Jane 😉🤣😵
Once I’d seen the Cookie Monster in those bushes, it was impossible to ignore it!
Yes and I have no idea what to do with this prompt😵😵😵
Can you tell yourself it isn’t really the Cookie Monster, it’s just a tree that looks like the Cookie Monster, and ignore it?
Yes , I shall get there……
You can do it!
Or get eaten trying!
Have a biscuit.
Jaffa cake…mummmmm!
You’ll need those as a distraction.
Thank you 💜🌹💜
Oh dear, it looks like Mom chose a very poor spot to relax and do her crossword puzzle. I hope the “cookie monster” is satisfied with just one packet of biscuits!
If the cookie monster is the size of that tree, I doubt it!
I hope Mom packed more biscuits then!
🙂
You were right Jane, the Cookie Monster just doesn’t go away. Poor mum I say…
She never will get that word now.
You finished there beautifully. Well done, Jane!
Thanks, Eric. Personally I find the Cookie Monster creepy.
Now that you mention it…(K)
🙂
I always had my doubts about that Cookie Monster!
A complete lunatic if you ask me!
Now you got me asking all sorts of questions like was that scream in terror, shock, or one of those screams I do when somebody eats my last Jaffa cake. It’s an interesting ending that allows the reader to fill in the gap you’ve left us.
I suppose, Hugh, it depends very much on your attitude to the Cookie Monster. If, like me, you find the creature a ravenous nutjob, you’d probably be screaming in terror 🙂
I read your story, and then looked at the photo. Yes, definitely Cookie Monster there, but not the lovable Sesame Street one. Fun and creepy story. 🙂
I never liked the Sesame Street monster, too manic for me. To find it/him looming out of a forest would scare the wits out of me!
Haha, Jane, I love this. Well spotted.
It’s all I could see!