Already, we’ve reached February and I thought I’d dedicate this short month to short stories. Short fiction, when done well, is amazing. I’m not saying I don’t like to read novels, but sometimes all I want is a story I can read a story from start to finish while I’m having a cup of coffee – that’s all I want. So first out of the stories I want to highlight is Howl by Kelley York.
I don’t normally read YA/NA – to be honest, I tend to avoid it – but many years ago I read Suicide Watch by Kelley York, and it’s a story that still pops up in my mind now and then. If you haven’t read it, do! So, when I saw that this short story also was by Ms York, I figured she’d earned my trust already.
I’m so glad I read it. Howl is an amazing story about Ivan and his little brother Eli. Eli is sick, life is complicated, and they’ve moved in with their grandfather. Things don’t get easier when Eli sneaks out at night. Ivan runs after him and comes face to face with a beautiful boy who lives in the forest with the wolves.
Eli is convinced the boy is a wolf.
Ivan tries to keep his little brother from running into the forest, especially since the men in the village are talking about hunting the wolves. They claim the wolves have taken children before and are too close now.
This story is beautiful, hauntingly so, and it’s about 7.5k long so perfect for a quiet cup.
Ivan and his family moved in with their grandpa in order to rally around his sick little brother, Eli, as he went through treatment. It’s not a bad change; Ivan and Eli love to sit outside and listen to the wolves howling from the woods. It’s calming. At least, until Eli disappears from his bed to go looking for them. Chasing after his brother brings Ivan face-to-face with a strange, wild, beautiful boy living in the forest with the wolves…and nothing will ever be the same.
Part of Take a Chance Anthology.
Ofelia Grand 
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