In today’s blog:

I will be sharing a short story called “Murphy, the Sea Monster”. I wrote this story last year as a work project. Yes, it’s time to share some short stories with you all!

If you have not heard I, Cecilia Freeman, am an Author! I write stories for me and for you.

What type of books do I write?

Children’s books and ya books.

 

Last year in order to take a creative break my team leader at work decided to have us artists play a game.

She made us pick one of the two options: Draw or tell

I picked tell. My team lead told me to wait until the artists who picked “draw” are done with their illustrations.

Once the drawings where done, the ones who choose to “tell” picked a drawing or two to create a story around.

And thus “Murphy, the Sea Monster” was born. Read the story and at the bottom you will find the little creature who inspired it.

***This story is copyrighted by MCF publishing company.***

Murphy, the Sea Monster

Credits

Story by: Mary Cecilia Freeman

Illustration by: Jordain Ratzlaff

The freezing cold water splashed against the rocks. Splattering across the thick wool coat that Marlo wore, as she stood at the edge, where the water and rocks meet. It was the last day of sunlight. Her Mom told her she could watch the sun set for the season, if she wore her warmest clothes and packed her flashlight.

Marlo tried being close to the quickly fading sunbeams without falling into the ocean. The warmth of the sun would be gone for the next 3 months. This was her last chance to feel and see it.

 

“Three long dark months.” Marlo wanted to cry at the thought. The dark season was the worst in her hometown of Jeuno. Even at 9 years old, Marlo was still terrified of the dark. Her parents went the extra mile for her every year by lighting her room up with lamps, decorative twinkle lights and anything that glowed. But even with all these lights, Marlo was still scared of the darkness that swallowed her entire world for three months every year.

 

Marlo shivered, the frigged cold wind beating her hair around her face as she stared at the missing sun. It has begun was all she could think.

 

Her flashlight on, Marlo started on her walk home. Ignoring every thought that bombarded her mind, she gripped her only light tightly. Afraid at any moment it too would go out. While checking the path ahead of her along the coastline, Marlo noticed something drifting onto the shore. It was glowing!

 

“What on earth is this? Some type of sea monster?” Marlo grabbed a piece of driftwood poking gently at the glowing thing. It was glowing soft yellow, wrapped up in green seaweeds.  Untangling the blob, she tried to get a better look at it. The second she moved the blob, a florescent glow flashed. Blinding her for a second as she fell backwards onto the wet rocks, driving her heels deep, backing away quickly. Standing up, once the glow dimmed, Marlo summoned her courage and decided not to run away.

“Lil blob, thing. Whatever you are. I’m sorry I pocked you, but I come in peace.” Marlo’s voice shook from both the cold winter wind and her fear. “What are you lil blob?”

 

To her surprise the blob moved. It not only moved but it seemed to stand up. Tiny, thin legs holding the rather large upper body up. She would have said more but to her terror the little blob turned in her direction, moving slowly toward her.

 

“No please, stay away from me! I’m sorry!!” Marlo accidently dropped her flashlight into the ocean as she stumbled backwards. Falling again. Covering her eyes, holding her breath, she shivered fiercely waiting for something to happen.

 

Warmth penetrated her soaked pants. Marlo looked up slowly, seeing the glowing blob at her feet. It had a face! A weird face…kind of ugly. Marlo wiped her eyes dry and leaned forward, feeling the warmth on her cheeks grow.

 

“What are you?” The glowing blob looked up, their eyes meeting for the first time. “You look like a deep-sea creature or something from space?” As she spoke two spiky webbed wings popped up from the tiny creature. The blob shook itself tossing off any remaining seaweed. Exposing a hole in one of the wings.

 

“Oh no your wings! That’s a big hole.” Marlo unwrapped her scarf. “Don’t worry blob, I’ll see if Mom can help.” Gently picking up the now brightly glowing creature Marlo rushed home. She didn’t need her flashlight with the bright glow piercing through the darkness.

 

Marlo’s Mom nearly fainted when she was handed the wet scarf holding a glowing blob. But after the shock faded and her curiosity grew Marlo’s Mom inspected it. She too noticed the damaged wings and decided to help the weird little creature.

A few hours later Marlo had a large fishbowl set up in her room with the little glowing blob floating happily in the salty sea water. The injured wing safely bandaged with a waterproof band aide.

For the first time in her life Marlo didn’t need to have all her lights on, she unplugged the twinkle lights one at a time and switched off the lamps. Her room would normally be plunged into darkness without all the lights on. But with the help of her new sea friend her room glowed as if she had a mini star.

Marlo laid on her bed admiring the soft glow. She had been thinking about a name for her sea friend. Opening a book of names from her Moms rooms, Marlo closed her eyes, flipped through the pages stopping on one. She blindly picked a random name from the page.

“Murphy?? Really? Out of all the names. What do you think blob?”

Marlo showed the printed name ‘Murphy’ to it. A bright warm glow flashed. The blob splashed around excited. Marlo took that as a sign that the sea creature liked the name.

“OK, Murphy it is. Murphy the sea monster that glows.”

 

The End

***This story is copyrighted by MCF publishing company.***

 

Hope you enjoyed that short story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this creative exercise. The creative juices were bubbling with happiness the entire day as I wrote this.

Shoutout to my boss Megan for giving us artist this creative break.

Shoutout also to the illustrator Jordain for creating such a cute sea monster and allowing me to use the image in this blog.

I’ve had the pleasure of working as a graphic artist for over 6 years and throughout those 6 years I have worked with many great illustrators.

 

In today’s blog:

I will be sharing a short story called “Murphy, the Sea Monster”. I wrote this story last year as a work project. Yes, it’s time to share some short stories with you all!

 

2 books down, and who knows how many more to come.

Thank you for reading until the end. As a self published Author/blogger any and all support is appreciated! Have a comment or thought to share? Type away in the comments. 🙂

Write on~

Cecilia