
Good morning and Happy Thursday! I’m listening to raindrops tap dance on the roof as I type up this post. And I’m delighted to share that Editor, Manuela Timofte at Gobblers by Masticadores is featuring my short story today, “She Sleeps.” I’m always grateful to have my writing published on her esteemed site. So thank you again, Manuela, for your generosity and kindness. ❤️
She Sleeps
An eerie high-pitched note whirls around in young Becky’s mind as she sleeps. The howling is earsplitting, wailing just outside her window, imitating a music score in a horror film. Not that she would know because she isn’t old enough to watch scary movies, but her six-year-old imagination tells her so. The trees fall into a trance like a spell has been cast upon them. Rocking back and forth, their branches bend in unnatural ways, the tips like long, pointed fingernails scratching on the double-paned window. The howling grates on her brain like a fork scraping a plate. Raindrops pound with anger. Becky tosses and turns. She fights to stay asleep. Subconsciously, she remembers Beauty and the Beast on the wall above her headboard, the best musical ever, and how she adores Belle. She’s carried to a happy place, slowing falling back into a deep slumber, but only temporarily…
To read the full story, please click on the link below. And if you’re unfamiliar with Manuela’s site, I hope you’ll take time to peruse the various pieces of wonderful writing.
Thanks so much for your visit, and I wish you a fabulous day! 💖
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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Great write, Lauren. Thanks for the link.
Thanks so much, Violet! ❤️
Congratulations Lauren, Your poetry is peeping through the story. 🥰
Thanks, Balroop, and what a lovely thing to ‘say’. Maybe it’s inevitable whenever I dabble in fiction. 🤗❤️
Congratulations – great story in the present tense. Makes it more immediate and tense.
Thanks so much, Esther, and that is also my thought process about the present tense. ❤️
Congratulations on the publication of your fascinating story, Lauren.
Thanks so much, Mary! I appreciate your good wishes! ❤️
Congratulations on your publication Lauren .
The tension is palpable in this piece..
Love and hugs my friend 🌹❤️🌹
Thanks for your wonderful words, Maggie! They’re very much appreciated! Love and hugs back to you, my friend. 🌷🩷❤️
You are so welcome always dear Lauren ❤️🌹❤️
Happy Friday 🤗
Happy Friday, Maggie! Hugs
🥰❤️🌸🌻🩷
Hugs dear Lauren 🥰❤️💖🍁🌹
Congratulations, Lauren!💕 I enjoyed your short story very much, it seems to capture that “dream-awake” state perfectly, and I loved the contrast between the initial detailed description and the perfect abruptness of the dialogue in the latter part… which is exactly how such a lucid dream “experience” would somehow feel.
Thanks so much, Nicole, for your insightful comment. I appreciate your thoughtful words very much. This story was inspired by my daughter when she was little. She never had nightmares (hence, the fiction part), but she didn’t like the wind. 🙂 💖
Congratulations on the publication, Lauren! 😍
Thanks, Miriam! Greatly appreciated! 🥰
congrats
Thanks, Yvette, and by the way, I just saw your review of Cora’s Quest on Amazon. What a surprise, so thank you again! 🥰
truly my pleasure, I was waiting to try and share an image of me reading with gd, but that oculd take a while and so I thought I just needed to get it submitted…
xxx
xoxo
Congratulations!
Thank you! 🥰
😊
“Carried to a happy place!!” Congratulations Lauren.
Thanks so much, Brian!
Congratulations, Lauren! Clicking over to read the rest.
Thanks so much, Liz! 💖
You’re welcome, Lauren!
That’s awesome! Congratulations, Lauren!
Thanks so much, Wynne! 💖
I can remember our kids piling into our bed for safety in the middle of the night under similar scary conditions. I’ve always been excited to be out in a wind storm and feel the power of that wind pushing at me. As a child my mother was constantly pulling me inside to avoid flying objects propelled by the wind.
I love hearing about your memories, Ian. I’m glad this story inspired you to share. And thanks for visiting Gobblers too.
Congratulations once again, Lauren. Your story is always engaging. Happy Friday!
Thanks for your kind words, Hazel. I always appreciate them. Happy Friday to you! ❤️
Thanks, Lauren and my pleasure!
That’s wonderful, Lauren! You’re on a roll.
Thanks, Deborah! It’s always exciting to be featured on other literary sites. 🙂 🥰
A fun and great scary story and congratulations on the publication.
Thanks so much, Thomas, and I appreciate your support here and on Gobblers too. Have a great weekend!
Thank you and have a great weekend you too
I love the suspense in this one, Lauren!
Thanks, Beth! This was fun to write. And thanks for leaving a comment on Gobblers too. ❤️
Oh my, I didn’t know you had it in you Lauren.. lol.. I’ll head over.. xo
Haha, Cindy! Thanks for leaving a comment on Gobblers! I appreciate it, my friend. Happy Friday! xoxo
Congratulations Lauren
Thanks for your good wishes here and on Gobblers, Sadje. Greatly appreciated! ❤️
My pleasure dear friend
❤️🤗
That’s great, Lauren, congratulations.
Thanks, Binky! Have a good weekend! 🙂
Congratulations, Lauren. Your story is riveting. If I was in six-year old Becky’s place, I would be terrified. Loved the descriptions. I’ll head over to Gobblers to read the rest.
Thanks so much for your lovely words, Smitha. Greatly appreciated! ❤️
Nothing like that CA rain on a roof in November. Scary and comforting at the same time. Like you, I enjoy writing in the presence tense. Works great here!
So true, Pam, and thanks for your kind words! Usually, I prefer the present tense. When I read books in the present tense, I feel more transported into the story. ❤️
That’s it! Happy Gobble Day. xo
Happy Gobble Day, Pam! Enjoy your beautiful family time! xo
A gripping and suspenseful story. Thank you for sharing, Lauren. ✍🏼👏🏻
Thanks for your wonderful words, Michele. I’m glad you enjoyed this story. ❤️
You’re very welcome! ❤️
Congrats on the publication, Lauren! 💞
Thanks so much, Tina! I’m on a blogging break until the beginning of December. So take care and I’ll see you next month. ❤️🙏🏻
My pleasure, Lauren. Have an amazing time, enjoy your break. Happy Holidays to you and yours. ❤️❤️
Wishing you the same, Tina. See you next month!
💞🌸💞🌸💞
Congratulations, Lauren!
Heading over! xoxoxo
Thanks, a bunch, Resa! I’m going to visit your blog too because I think I missed at least one post.
❤️🌻❤️🌻❤️xoxo
Such a sweet story that every parent can relate to. Congratulations, Lauren!
Thanks for your lovely words and support, Dawn! Greatly appreciated! ❤️
Beautiful! I loved it! Congrats on having it published! ❤
Thanks again, Carol Anne! I’m glad you loved this story! xoxo