Susanna Hill’s Holiday Contest 2018

As a writer, I like to try new things in an effort to hone my craft and keep my courage “muscle” in good working order. In that vein, I entered Susanna Hill’s 2018 Holiday Contest.

The rules of the contest are simple:

“Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as age 12 and under) about A Holiday Hero!  Your hero’s act of heroism can be on a grand scale or a small one. Your hero can be obvious or unlikely.  Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 250 words.”

https://susannahill.com/2018/12/06/ho-ho-ho-the-eighth-annual-holiday-contest-is-here/

And now…my story! Wish me luck!

ELFY’S GIFT

(250 WORDS)

Twas the day after Christmas and Elfy knew best,

just who made their holiday such a success.

Sure, Santa worked hard every day of the year,

but somebody else was behind all the cheer.

She lined tiny elf shoes in dozens of rows,

and strung ten-foot trees with gold glitter and bows.

Paired “Dear Santa” letters with missing addresses,

and cleaned up the cookie and candy cane messes.

Sang carols that rang like the chime of a bell,

and filled the whole house with that gingerbread smell.

Elfy decided, for every good deed,

a gift to say, “thank you” is just what he’d need.

With paper and pen, Elfy laid out his plan,

and asked for some help from his toy-making clan.

“I need sugar and flour and cinnamon spice,

and don’t forget ginger, the taste is quite nice!”

But just as they started to measure and mix,

he discovered a problem that no one could fix.

“We’re out of molasses,” he said with a frown,

“She only loves cookies that bubble up brown.

Let’s clean up this mess and get rid of the dough,

my gift is a flop,” he said, turning to go.

But then Mama Claus put a hand on his cap,

“Elfy,” she said, “Have a seat on my lap.

I’ll love any cookie you bake just for me,

it’s better than any gift under the tree!”

Then Efly made Mama a spread so delicious,

she nixed all her lists and “to dos” for next Christmas.