I learned about the Wrap It Up – Blogfest through Leigh Covington. She planned to celebrate her birthday (Happy Birthday Leigh!) with a blog hop, but decided to join the one by David Powers King and J.A. Bennett — both are reaching 500 followers and wanted to celebrate.
Here’s my entry:
Dear Mr. Bill,
Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know how Santa knew. My new toy wasn’t in my letter and I never asked for it. I never dreamed of asking for such a cool thing.
I rolled my cars over and under it. I cooked food in my plastic pots and pans on it. I built a wall with my blocks around it.
I pushed my baby sister around the floor in it. I stuffed my Blue Bear, Cow Bunny and dog in it. Mom searched for 10 minutes calling my name — downstairs, upstairs and across the living room — as I hid in it.
I kicked my balls — one, two and three — into it. I grabbed my blanket, prairie dog and lovey and took a nap in it. Dad shook his head and said something about my toy kitchen, when he joined me inside it. Santa has great taste, because I use it all the time. I will play with it every day.
I love my box!
Sincerely,
Rick
P.S. Dad doesn’t believe an elf would be named Bill. He said your name would be Jingles. I showed him the paper you left in my box, which had your name Bill printed on it. Well, it had Receipt on there, too, but I told my dad Elf Receipt would be a silly name. Elf Bill makes more sense. Please tell Santa I said thank you, thank you. I loved my surprise. My box is my favorite Christmas present. See you next year.
There is still time to enter the contest today. Have a great weekend!
The rules:
Write a piece of flash fiction, poem, or song (300 words or less) for someone you know (real or imaginary). It may be in any genre, but it must have a holiday theme (real or fictional). Post it on your blog anytime between now and when the linky closes. You will then give it to that someone, sometime before the new year.
Give it in the form of an email, on fancy stationary, or laser-etched onto a solid gold plate. Your choice. Telling us who you’re giving it to is optional.
Every eligible entry will qualify for a chance to win one of a few special gifts. The linky will close at 11:59 PM, Friday the 16th (MST). J.A., Leigh, and David will then read, debate, and decide on five winners for the following:
1st: An Amazon Gift Card for $15
2nd: “Champaginer Challenges 2011” and “Totally Clichéd” E-books
3rd: A 5-page critique from David Powers King
4th: A 5-page critique from J. A. Bennett
5th: A 5-page critique from Leigh Covington
Judging will be based on the effectiveness and quality of your writing. There is no point system, no popularity votes, and you do not have to follow (the organizers) to participate.
What a lovely entry and such good suspense. Boxes are awesome! Enjoy the blogfest. Thank you 😉
Aloha Stacy,
Thank you!
I was like, what is this *thing* and then it’s a box! Of course, and it brought back a flood of old – and new – memories of me (and now, our kids) playing with boxes:)
I think Mr. Bill was real:)
I love it! My little brother and I used to play in huge cardboard boxes when we were kids. I remember falling a long way in one once, and getting winded and crying!
Great entry, Stacy! Nothing is as fun as a box! (Except maybe a stick… or dirt :))
I love Rick’s letter! Great work. Those funny elves…
Mem Fox – a classic – I can’t read her books without hearing her Aussie accent in my head!
Love that letter–so cute. It’s funny when I first opened your post and saw Mr. Bill, I was thinking of that SNL skit and saying, “Oh no Mr. Bill!” in my head. 🙂
@Catherine – Boxes are awesome. So much so that I broke it down and recycled one the other night before it became the toy.
@Mark – Thanks for believing and encouragement. I did it!
@Trisha – Lots of fun memories with boxes. Hopefully there were more happy ones than sad ones.
@Susanna- Thanks. My son prefers those cardboard rolls from the wrapping paper. How do boys just know to make swords from them?
@Cathy – Elves are funny. Mem actually has audio on her site. I should check that out.
@Coleen – I thought about Mr. Bill, too. But the elf’s name came to me first and then the “bill” idea arrived later.
yes! Boxes rule 🙂 Thanks for joining the hop!
This is awesome! I knew exactly what you were talking about from the first paragraph. My hubby and I have considered just wrapping a box for our kids.
Boxes and bugs. That’s what our kids have always played with. What a wonderful entry, Stacy. I truly loved reading it. You are an awesome writer, girlfriend. Never forget that. *waving*
LOL! Stacy this is brilliant! I am still laughing. Isn’t it funny how a box is better than almost anything else? And I love how she knows the elf’s name. Too cool. Thank you so much for participating!
Ha! Awesome! Maybe next year he’ll get bubble wrap. That’s always my kids favorite thing! I LOVED the story and couldn’t stopped smiling because it is SO true! 🙂
This is so funny!
Yay for boxes 🙂
@JA – yes boxes rule!
@Cassie Mae – A wrapped box sounds like a fun treat.
@Robyn – I hope my son doesn’t love bugs too much. You are, as usual, too kind!
@Leigh – Thanks for your help.
@Sara – Bubble Wrap! That’s a brilliant idea.
@Kelly – Thanks.
AWESOME Stacy!!! I loved it 🙂
This is so cute! Thanks Bill!
Love this letter 🙂 Getting a box for Christmas seems so exciting now! I want one 😀
Every child under the age of two should get a box for Christmas. In fact, multiple boxes, all different sizes. Forget the toys until they’re three.
Love this post, Stacy. Every time I’m around a young child this Christmas, I’ll remember this letter. 🙂
I LOVE this Stacy! Such a great voice this child has, and really, who doesn’t love a big box?
This was a great thank you! You captured the essence of my children on every holiday and birthday. And I love Bill’s name – so creative and fun!
Absoutely fantastic! So sweet and magical. I agree with Lara, you truly catprued the essesence of wonder in a child. Love it!!!
Fantastic! Isn’t it so true how kids let their imaginations run wild with a box! What a great piece. Love it Stacy!
Love the story/letter, Stacy. It’s so true. I remember playing in boxes when I was a child, and giving my own kids boxes to play with. Thanks for stirring the memories!
I still don’t know what my kids like best – their toys or the boxes they came in. Thank you for participating! 🙂
Gotta love a box! All little kids get great pleasure out of a good sized box.
Loved your entry. Very nice.
Thank you Angela, Jenny, Nick, Sheila, Julie, Lara, Lillie, Debra, VV, David and Angela for stopping by and reading. I had fun participating in this blogfest.