This composition tells a story.  It also contains clue words for working the accompanying Crossword Puzzle.  These clue  words use homonym, rhyming, root word, and familiar usage hints and are in a carnation bold italics.

3 down, homonym:   The story has two parts .  It tells about the nurturing of my imagination as a child, and secondly, it gives a bit of information on my deceased brother, Paschal, who always seemed to challenge my creative side.  The other clues are just as easy ______ .

Glance at the answer. Notice 2 down and 10 across are long unusual words. Their clues are at the end of this story, as should be their solutions. Then, there should be only one missing letter, and my above labeling of the clues as "easy" makes sense.

13 across, rhyming word: As a child, I remember being taken on blindfolded adventures that left me in ________,  I liked these better than playing ball .  Paschal and my other older brothers and sisters orchestrated these.

15 across, homonym: To go along with these journeys, they would always cook up a whale of a story with a wild bunch of stuff in it.  For example, their sound effects might include the snap of a crocodile, or the endless _______ of a ghoul or goblin.
 

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