Happy Spring and happy #SpringFlingKidLit! This annual contest hosted by author Ciara O’Neal and agent Kaitlyn Sanchez challenges authors to create a spring-themed, 150-word kidlit story illustrated only by a singular gif. You can read all the details here.
A Gift for the Spring
By: Katie McEnaney, 150 words
The ice covering the spring groans loudly. Ardith tightens her cloak and adjusts the bronze fibula pin her brother Hollis forged.
Today?
Not yet.
She gathers scrawny twigs, remembering the towering firewood pile Hollis stacked, now long-gone. Ardith shivers. Without Hollis’s wisdom and strength, how will the family hang on?
Another dawn.
Cracks web the ice. Widening. Widening.
Soon?
Yes. But not yet.
Dawn brings bursts of purple irises. Ardith rushes to the spring. Crack. Bubbles burst through the ice: Springtime!
New season. New hope. Now.
Ardith unclasps the pin from Hollis. She has to bring him back. She kneels in the irises and recites her prayer to the gods—her plea for her brother’s safe return.
One last kiss; she flings the pin into the bubbling waters.
A whisper of warmer wind guides her, carrying the sound of a distant flute.
Ardith flies down the path toward home. And hope.
(c) Katie McEnaney 2023
A Few Historical Notes for the Curious
In my mind, the scene is set in ancient Britain or northern Europe, and I had great fun finding the perfect Anglo-Saxon names for my characters to set the mood. I actually have an uncle named Ardith (he went by Art), and when I discovered Ardith is both an Anglo-Saxon name meaning good war and a Hebrew name meaning flowering field, I knew it was the perfect fit for this springtime story. Hollis is an Anglo-Saxon name meaning hero (and the name of both a freshman dorm and the library system in college). Although I couldn’t cram it into the 150 words, canonically in my head Hollis is off fighting against outside invaders or another tribe.
Fibula is the Latin word for a cloak pin, similar to a safety pin in many ways. The leg bone we call a fibula was named for these pins – the tibia and fibula fit together in a similar way. Many ancient cultures believed in leaving votive gifts or offerings to the gods as a way to strengthen the power of your prayers. Let’s hope it worked for Ardith.
Maybe I’ll have to turn this into a full middle grade novel to find out!
Feel free to share your thoughts or a link to your #SpringFlingKidLit entry below.
What an intriguing story. It whisked me back in time.
I love how deftly you worked in the historical details while keeping our attention on the story. Please make this a middle-grade novel — I’d 100% read it.
Wow! An amazing strong story. I want to read more!!!!
I love this story, Katie! Once again you’ve done a beautiful job transporting me back in time. And I agree–I’d love to read this as an MG.
Loved your story! I hope you win. Good luck!
Amazing! Such a beautiful piece! 🥰
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