The Mushroom House

Our writing group began life when we all wrote a scary story for Halloween in 2005. Every year after that (for a while) we held another "scary" round and would contribute stories to a Halloween themed contest. In 2009, for The Scary Round IV, I contributed this little piece. At the time I was fascinated with the idea of what it would be like to have aliens living among us. Also, I had just re-watched Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with my two young sons - so that influenced me too! The Mushroom Houseby Rusty Keele It was like no other house in the neighborhood... or the city... or the whole world probably. It looked like a giant, pulsating mushroom, and as little Johnny stared at the throbbing swirl of colors he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "C'mon! Are you too chicken?" yelled his older brother Max. Johnny slowly shifted his gaze towards Max and stared pleadingly. The tears were about to spill over his wide eyes, and his lower lip began to quiver. "I knew it!" Max spat…