It's time for another fun year of Susanna Hill's Christmas Story Contest. She's come up with a doozy this year.
The Contest: Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) in which wild weather impacts the holidays! 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 350 words. Stories must be posted by Friday December 12 at 11:59 PM EST.
Here is my entry in 348 words. The original idea was ReindeerNado...but then the toys got mixed in, and here's where we ended up. (Note: This story is fictional and any resemblance to persons living or not is purely coincidental!) :D
Jimmy Cantore Steals Christmas
By Lauri Meyers
Jimmy Cantore tightened the last nut on the Weatherstation
2000 Wind Turbine. His plan was simple. The machine would create enough wind to
sweep over the block. All the presents Santa delivered would be blown right to
Jimmy’s porch!
He flipped the switch.
Whirr, whirr.
Fwhoosh!
A remote-controlled racecar! Winner!
Shwoosh!
A telescope – out of this world!
Whoosh!
An X Box! Game on!
Whish, swish, plop!
A dragon! A train! A pee-pee doll?
The toys came faster and faster from every direction and
buried Jimmy. He climbed over a rocking horse and pushed out a bouncy ball.
Fwooth!
“Oh-sugar-cookies!” a voice called.
Thunk.
A fluffy white beard flew right into him.
"Why, hello, Jimmy. I hope you enjoyed the
Understanding Weather Kit I brought last year."
"Um, yes. I've learned a lot," said Jimmy.
"Perhaps too much."
Jimmy's cheeks turned red.
Santa shimmied through the hole and pulled Jimmy out.
“I must be on my way. It’s a busy night for me.”
"But all these presents have to go back," Jimmy cried.
Santa hiked up his red trousers.
"I didn’t mean for so many presents to fly here,” Jimmy said. Santa stroked his beard.
“Maybe if I flip the wind direction the gifts will fly away.
But how will they get back to the right places?"
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(Old Santa Claus by Alcide Nikopol via freeimages) |
“I’ll take care of that,” Santa said.
Jimmy flipped the switch. A tornado of presents lifted into
the air. Santa laid a finger aside of his nose, and the gifts flew down
chimneys and magically snuck through keyholes.
“I’m sorry, Santa,” Jimmy said, but no one was there. “Ho,
ho, ho!” echoed through the sky.
Jimmy was surprised to see a present from Santa Christmas
morning. He opened it slowly knowing it would be coal. His eyes lit up when he
read the box – Deluxe Snow Making Kit.
“Wow, if I hook this up to the wind turbine, I could create a
blizzard!” Just then a jingling bell reminded him to read the card.
Jimmy, I trust you’ll
figure out how to use this, but please use only as directed. - Santa