Every week we post six lines from a work of ours, a work-in-progress or a work of someone else’s that has at least one LGBT character, posted on the Rainbow Snippets page, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets/permalink/7790368677699793 This is another very recent story from my blog, written for the August Flash Fiction Draw Challenge where the prompts were selected by card draw: A Paranormal story, set in an abandoned grade school involving a stuffed toy octopus. https://authorjeffbaker.com/2022/08/14/going-to-school-with-a-paranormal-octopus-results-for-the-august-flash-fiction-draw-challenge-august-15-2022/
And it just hit me; August 20th is the birthday of H. P. Lovecraft. Perfect day for a paranormal tale with an octopoid image…
“I haven’t seen her in years. I was blocked from her perception for a while.” Becky said.
“Damn shame when a toy squid blocks you,” Doug said, leaning against the wall grinning, looking good (Ray thought) in jeans and a t-shirt.
Becky ignored him, holding her hand above the counter where the teacher had kept the terrarium and a set of encyclopedia.
Becky had stopped at the far end of the counter and reached into the top drawer, pulling out a paper bag.
“Sushi.” Becky breathed pulling a small, plush toy octopus out of the bag.
Well, that’s it for this week! Take good care, everybody!
———-jeff
authorjeffbaker 
An intriguing prompt, and the resulting snippet has me hooked. I never was good at remembering birthdays. Lovecraft greatly influenced my work. I ought to light a candle and wish him a Happy Cthulhu Day.
Thanks! I’m lousy at birthdays, I only have H.P.’s on my calendar because it’s also my niece’s birthday. Candle would be nice but I bet he’d be just as happy if you read something!
Heh, Becky seems interesting!
Yes! Don’t know whether to play the theme form “The Twilight Zone” or “One Step Beyond.”