The lovely and talented Susanna Hill’s Fourth Annual Holiday Contest is under way. The rules are to write a children’s story under 350 words where the wild weather impacts the holiday.
The story idea came to me first and then I tried to work in a weather element … so, I’ll just let you read it while I go revise the peppermint cream recipe I tried yesterday. While I do that, perhaps I can figure out a way to revise this …
How do I fix this?
By Stacy S. Jensen
Dear Santa,
I just saw my name on the naughty list. How do I fix this?
Ella
P.S. I’m dropping this in the mail before the blizzard hits.
Dear Santa,
The mail carrier didn’t stop for two days. It gave me “thinking” time.
I know why I’m on the naughty list.
I hit my brother Jacob when he stole my blocks.
Ella
P.S. Why is he on the nice list?
Dear Santa,
Oops.
I hit Jacob with a snowball.
I told him I was sorry. I meant it too.
Ella
P.S. Mom says I have great aim.
Dear Santa,
I practiced for the church play tonight. I followed direction.
I jumbled my line once.
Here’s my line: When they arrived in Bethlehem, all the inns were open.
Stinkers.
The inns were full. They were FULL.
Ella
P.S. The streets are finally clear after the blizzard. The mail carrier promised she is delivering my letters to the North Pole.
Dear Santa,
A woman at church said I was an angel.
I was a cow.
Mom thanked me for not mooing at the woman.
Ella
P.S. I haven’t hit Jacob all week.
Dear Santa,
Christmas is here!
I hope you missed that frosting incident last night.
Jacob ate one of the reindeer’s carrots.
I left you candy cane cookies.
Merry Christmas!
Ella
P.S. The TV weather woman said no more blizzards. Easy peasy deliveries tonight!
Dear Ella,
Thank you for the letters.
I saw you being nice to your family and friends.
Keep it up all year long.
Merry Christmas!
Santa
P.S. Please eat your vegetables. Your dog Ralph doesn’t like green beans.
Dear Santa,
Thank you. Thank you.
Mom promised to read the “52 Ways to be Nice” book to me.
Jacob thought the baseball glove was his.
Glad you put my name on it.
He liked his coal.
Ella
To read more entries, please visit Susanna’s blog.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. We celebrate Christmas and will keep our fingers crossed that our calf moos at the right time during the church Christmas program and remembers that the inns were full!
P.S. (from Stacy not Ella) If you want to check out which names made the naughty and nice list, here’s one.
This is so much fun! I love the “thinking time” line. 🙂
Oh, it all needs work. Thanks for stopping by Sarah.
This whole story is wonderful & original and the postscripts are hilarious (My mom says I have great aim)!
I struggled Ariel with whether to include she hit her brother between the eyes with the snowball. So, I just left that line in.
What a clever, creative story! I loved it!
Thanks Elaine.
LOL! I adore that spunky Ella!
I’m glad to hear positive feedback on Ms. Ella. I tried to make her spunky!
Those letters really showed Ella’s personality. Nice job. I enjoyed each letter and found the story engaging.
Thanks Alayne.
Laughing so much at he liked his coal. What a super kidcentric story this is and fun to do it in letters too. I was worried the brother would get off for a minute
Brothers are never allowed to get away with it, right? hee hee
What a cute format! And very creative. What kid can’t relate to this??
Love it, Stacy!
Oh Penny… I couldn’t relate. I’m always on the nice list. Thanks.
Really fun idea. Loved the cow v. angel line.
Lots of angels in the Christmas program … or at least that’s what all the grandmas say anyway. 🙂
Very clever. Kids will relate to this one. Good luck in the contest.
Thanks Rosi.
What fun! I love your humor. If I were Ella’s age, I’d moo to the woman at church. Thanks for bringing out the inner child!
Ella wanted to moo, but she resisted!
Very cleverly written. (very clever ‘nice’ girl, too.) 🙂
We must watch out for those nice and naughty ones Lynn.
I like your letter format. A very funny story.
Thanks Linda.
Cute! I like the letter writing technique. Good luck! 🙂
I think I’ve seen several letters this year Christie! It’s fun to write too.
Stacy, this is hilarious! I love it!
Glad you liked it Jilanne.
How creative! I love it, Stacy!
Thanks Kristin for stopping by.
What a hoot!. This is such a great idea for a story — kids would identify with it.
Thanks Patricia.
Great story, Stacy! You had me laughing out loud. I love the angel/cow bit. 🙂
Loved this girl – what a character. Nicely done!
I like this letter-writing style! And you’ve captured Ella’s voice perfectly. Way to go!
I especially love Santa’s P.S. 🙂
Oh my gosh, Stacy. I laughed all the way through your story. Bravo and priceless!
Good luck in the contest. 🙂
And Merry Christmas
Hahaha! This is wonderful, Stacy! Very kid-friendly! I love the letter format which allows Ella’s spunky voice to come through so well! And the post-scripts might be the best part 🙂 “P.S. Why is *he* on the nice list?” and “P.S. Please eat your vegetables. Your dog Ralph doesn’t like green beans” are among my favorite lines 🙂 And really, I think the moment Ella managed to refrain from mooing at the woman was the moment she made it back onto the nice list – what restraint! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!
This really liked the letter format style of your story, Stacy! Fun!
I do like little Ella and her letters. Well done.
Stacy,
This is just too much fun! Great way to convey Ella’s personality.
Creating and engaging format, Stac. Loved the interaction with Santa. Super idea. So glad Ella (who is a terrific character) was able to hold back. Hahaha. You had me giggling. GREAT ONE, PAL.
And did Enzo refrain from mooing at the woman who called him an angel? 🙂 He was an adorable cow. 🙂 Great story, Stacy…love the ‘letter to Santa’ format…very effective and you kept the voice very authentic!
So cute Stacy! Great voice and cute story.
*Stinkers.*
I think that’s a very clever premise for a story!
Hope it was a great Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year!