I can barely contain my excitement because IT’S HERE!!!
I look forward to these contests so much, because everyone who enters is so creative and writes such terrific stories that it’s like Christmas morning – or maybe like each new day of Hanukkah – clicking over to new entries as they go up, full of anticipation for another entertaining read! I literally cannot wait! (It occurs to me that I sound like a five year old :))
For those who are just arriving on the scene and might want to take a crack at it, here are the rules:
So! With prizes like that on offer are you…
…Ready, set, GO!
Here is my pathetic and clearly hurriedly composed sample 🙂 It requires that you sing it to the tune, and even then there are a couple places where I may have taken some liberties with the meter 🙂 The good thing is, I’m sure everyone else’s is way better than this, so you can all take comfort in knowing that and feel brave about posting your entries! 🙂
Flying through the air in a sleigh pulled by eight deer
Santa and his elves were filled with Christmas cheer
When suddenly the sleigh gave an unexpected pitch
“Look out!” warned Comet from the front, “we’re heading for that ditch!”
OH….
Lying in the snow, presents scattered everywhere
The reindeer tangled up, the sleigh needing repair,
Santa’s Right-Hand Elf said, “This will never do!
We’re only halfway ’round the world and it’s quarter to two!”
OH…
Cleaning up the mess, Santa said “I’ve got a plan!
If our sleigh won’t fly, we’ll use this gift for Dan.
Help me load the pack. Everybody climb on quick!”
Soon they were bouncing on their way aboard a pogo stick!
OH…
Hopping through the snow, they got to France’s shore
But then old Santa gasped, “I can’t jump any more!
Let’s find a better way. There’ve got to be a few.”
His Right-Hand Elf said, “How ’bout this? A bicycle-built-for-two!”
OH…
Cycling through the drifts, they reached Saskatchewan
Then Santa said, “That’s it. I simply can’t go on.
What else is in the pack? We need a better choice.”
They took a look and settled on the gift for Jen and Joyce.
OH…
Rowing through the snow, in a fiberglass canoe
Their arms soon tired out. They switched to something new.
But traveling by kite, it’s very hard to steer!
When heading for the USA they landed in Zaire.
Flailing ‘cross the ice in a plastic wading pool…
Sailing o’er the plains in a LEGO pirate ship…
Riding through the hills on a wooden rocking horse…
Santa sighed. “I miss my sleigh. There’s got to be a better way!”
They reached the final stop at three minutes ’til dawn
“We made it!” Santa said, with a gigantic yawn.
Just then the sleigh caught up, hitched to the flying eight.
Comet said, “I fixed the sleigh. Why didn’t you just wait?”
OH!
Jingle bells
Santa’s swell
He will find a way
To get the toys to girls and boys
In time for Christmas Day!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Please remember to check the comments for entries! There are stories there from Linda, Yvonne, Jill, Marci, RJ, and 2 different entries from Bara (also one from Deborah, but hers is on the link list now)!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Oh my goodness, Jill…this is awesome…the ending brought tears to my eyes…and so appropriate with many servicemen and women away from their families at Christmastime. So nice to connect via Susanna's fabulous holiday contest. 😉
I remember bumper cars in Coney Island. 🙂 What a fun poem! Nice to meet you, Yvonne!
I've read them all, Alayne, including #38 which slid in under the wire, and it will be worth your time to come back and finish when you can – so many great stories! But I hope you'll at least be able to get online to vote this weekend once I put the finalists up tomorrow! 🙂 It's going to be a tough competition and we're going to need all the votes we can get! Have a wonderful holiday!
So glad you slid in under the wire with this cute and original entry! I love the different POV of a forgotten ornament – such a great idea! – and I love the message of the story – great for anytime of year but especially for Christmas! Great last line 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the holiday contest fun! 🙂
Great beginning, Deb! One we can totally relate to in our house of wild Christmas morning chaos 🙂 I'll look forward to reading the rest whenever you write it. It's been so great getting to know you, too! I hope 2013 has lots of good in store for you and that we'll get to spend lots of quality time together in this wonderful writing community and maybe even get to meet in person somewhere! 🙂
I can't do it this year, but I've been enjoying all the entries!
Thank you, Vivian.
So, so, so cute. What great rhyme and meter!
Very nice beginning! You sure need to finish it!
So glad you like them, Hannah! Finalists go up tomorrow for voting. It's going to be a tough pick!!! 🙂
Thank you! We'll see if it ever gets finished. Maybe I'll know what happens next in a few days… ; )
I would LOVE to meet in person. If you're ever in the Pacific northwest and need an island get-away… ; )
Thanks, Vivian. We try to keep it orderly, and it starts that way, but then, pretty soon… Well, you know… ; )
POSTED FOR JO at http://thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com
That was such a fun rhyme! Great job, Marci.
POSTED FOR JO at http://thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com
I love the rickety bang bang chorus. And what surprise (and lovely) ending!