WOO HOO!!! Let the joyous news be spread! It’s time for. . .
The 4th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
 |
| Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! |
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
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 (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350! Title not included in word count.) Any kind of weather will do: sun, rain, sleet, heatwave, blizzard, tsunami, monsoon, hurricane, hail, tornado, etc! Weather may be atypical for your setting (rain in Maine, frost in Florida), it may be extreme (blizzard instead of regular snow, drought instead of lush greenery), or it may be unheard of (spring flowers in Antarctica, snow in the Sahara, bathing suit weather at the North Pole), but whatever you choose, make us feel the impact on the holidays! The wild weather may be a hindrance, a wish-come-true, a threat, a pleasant surprise, etc. The field is wide open! Have fun! The wilder and wackier the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you’re competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday December 12 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below. This post will remain up through Sunday December 14 (no WYRI or PPBF this week) so there will be plenty of time for everyone to post their entries and visit each other and enjoy all the other entries. If you don’t have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comment section below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please
email me and I’ll post your entry for you!)
The Judging: My lovely assistant(s) and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 15 or Tuesday December 16 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 18 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 19. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity of weather use in plot, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: In the spirit of the holidays, winners will be named for 1st – 10th place. In addition to the incredible fame of being able to say you won (or placed in) the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest, the following AMAZING prizes will be awarded: (items in color are links for more info!)
– A picture book manuscript read and critique by Shari Dash Greenspan, Editor of the multi-award winning Flashlight Press! I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter HERE!
– A picture book manuscript read and critique by Jennifer Mattson, Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
– Enrollment in Renee LaTulippe‘s highly praised and recommended Lyrical Language Lab Course (in a month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and Renee) ($249 value!)
– Enrollment in Jon Bard and Laura Backes’s fantastic Kindle Kids Mastery Course ($197 value!)
– A website or blog design or redesign by Arturo Alviar. Arturo will design (or redesign if you already have one that needs updating or a new look) a website or blog for the winner of this prize. The site will be built on WordPress so that after he is done designing it, the winner can manage it themselves with ease. Arturo will include a Home/Welcome page, an About Me/Bio page, a Works/Books/Gallery section, and a Contact section (4 pages total), as well as a blog section if the winner would like to have that integrated with the new site. Different organizations can also be made, for example if the winner would like a “Services” section with separate “School Visits” and “Critiques” pages, or a “Works” section divided into “Black and White” and “Color” illustration galleries. The winner can choose any of the WordPress themes (if they choose one that isn’t free, the cost of the theme will be covered by them), or have Arturo choose a theme based on their vision, and Arturo will modify it based on their color and layout preferences (some themes will have more constraints than others). Arturo can also design a personalized banner or header image to customize the website. If you already have a website and/or blog and prefer a redesign to update, refresh, or just redecorate, Arturo is willing to work with Blogger, Wix, Drupal, and WordPress.
– Enrollment in Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class – in March or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
– A picture book manuscript critique by fabulous author Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE and the forthcoming SOPHIE’S ANIMAL PARADE.
– A picture book manuscript critique from
Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including
Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles
Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell. – A picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
– 2015 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, a signed copy of Boy And Poi Poi Puppy by Linda Boyden, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
– a pack of Deb Lund’s amazing Fiction Magic Cards
– another pack of Deb Lund’s amazing Fiction Magic Cards
The Contest Winner will have first choice of the prizes. 2nd place will have next choice of what’s left and so on. (I’m doing it this way in the hopes that no one will get something they already have and also because I think all the prizes are fabulous and I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel less valued by giving them as 6th place as opposed to 1st.)
So let’s get the Holiday Party started! 🙂
I want to warn you in advance that this may actually be the worst story I’ve ever written – embarrassing for me, but very comforting for anyone who is worried about the quality of their story – I can say with complete confidence that ANYTHING you write will be better than this sample! 🙂
Almost Not Christmas
(332 words)
Three days before Christmas a southerly breeze
Heated the earth to one hundred degrees!
“My goodness!” said Santa. “This just isn’t cool!”
And he sent all his reindeer to chill in the pool.
The heat wave refused to let go of its grip
In time for his once-a-year Christmas Eve trip.
So as Santa took off for his round-the-world flight
He clucked to his team and sang into the night:
“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!
Let’s hope we can get all our Christmas chores done
Without melting like popsicles left in the sun!”
But HEAT didn’t trouble St. Nick as he drove.
As his journey continued, the temperature dove.
And YOU know what happens when warm and cold meet –
— Fog tiptoes in on its little cat feet!
At dawn Christmas morning young children stopped short
When they heard this unthinkable Special Report:
“This just in! Here’s the hot-off-the-presses news scoop!
Santa is lost in that murky pea soup!”
Santa lost? When he’d battled that wild weather night
To ensure each child’s Christmas was merry and bright?
From North Pole to South, from New York to Japan
Christmas morn was abandoned to think up a plan.
In pajamas or nightgowns, in socks or bare feet,
Kids spilled from warm houses and met in the street.
“Santa comes through for us year after year.
It’s our turn to give him some Christmastime cheer!”
Puerto Toro* to Nunavuk* in a straight line
They climbed to their roofs with whatever would shine.
They lit up a beacon as bright as could be
With candles and glowsticks and lights from their tree.
An arrow of light that would gleam through the gloam
So Santa could finally find his way home.
“It’s official!” the newsfolk were happy to say.
“St. Nick made it back with his reindeer and sleigh!”
At last, filled with joy, kids began to unwrap
And Santa? He took a long afternoon nap!
*In case you’re wondering, Puerto Toro, Chile is the nearest settlement to the South Pole, and Alert, Nunavuk is the nearest to the North Pole 🙂
I have another equally bad half-finished story in prose that I might swap out for this one at some point during the week if I just can’t stand it any more 🙂
So now! Is everyone filled with confidence about their entries? I certainly hope so after that display! Never let it be said that I’m not willing to make a fool of myself for you guys 🙂 It just proves how much I love you 🙂
I can’t wait to read all of your (much better!) stories! I hope there will be a lot – the more the merrier! And there are still 4+ days to write, so you have time if you haven’t written yet and want to join the fun. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Don’t miss the 37 fabulous entries in the comment section! Click on the names or titles to go to the story. Please note that it takes a minute to load. And please also note that clicking on these links will allow you to read the story and leave your own comment, but not see previous comments left on that story… I don’t know why… so if you want to see all the comments left on the story, you’ll have to scroll through the whole comment section.
Melissa – On Top Of Hot Cocoa
Suzannah – The Christmas Storm
Kimberly – We Knit You A Merry Christmas
Anne – Christmas Eve At Gate 25
Rosa – My Unicorns Fought The Mean Storm
Gina – A Christmas Prayer
Kristen – Maple Syrup Meltdown
Zainab – Abe’s Cloud
Bronwyn – Jack Quits
Julie – Santa’s Satnav
Kristen – Polar Warming
Jim – Snowflake: A Christmas Tail
Laura – Mordecai’s Hanukkah Miracle
Sharon – Boomer’s First White Christmas
Rachel – A Christmas Miracle
Carol – The Best Christmas
Hilary – No Sweat Santa
Amy – Rain, dear
Tracie – The Under The Weather Weatherman
Kirsten – Hurricane Coal
Anne – What Will Santa Do?
Pam – My Snowman Is Sick
Carol Ann – Wish You’d Been Here
Nina – Only Mermaids Can Find A Christmas Tree In The Sea
Sharon – A Little Christmas Miracle
Ruth – Harry And Genie
Marty – Countdown To Midnight
Rene – Best Christmas Ever!
Angela – A Snowy Night
Patricia – The Christmas Miracle
Susan – Libby’s Blizzard Gift
Charlotte – Hanukkah At Gramma Golda’s House
Kim – The Great Sleigh Ride
Heather – Dreaming Of A White Christmas
Summer – The Snow Miracle
Amelia – The Night The Sun Stayed Up
Sally – Just Ice And Snow
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Yeah well, I haven't spent half my life in a barn for nothing. I'm a carrot-dangler from way back 🙂
Thanks to you for bringing so much joy!!!!!!
You're very welcome, Rosi! But it's not just me – it's everyone who takes the time to write a story that others can read and enjoy 🙂
Yes,indeed,,,,thanks to all of your blogers,,,, ;♡)
Hmm, I should try this agave syrup. Cute story!
What a great story, Kristen!
The Gat 25 Choir! What a lovely story, Anne!
What a beautiful story, Gina! I loved it!
I sincerely hope any stranded holiday travelers can take a cue from your story and make the best out of any given situation!
Jack Quits (349 Words)
by Bronwyn Deaver
Dear Santa,
I quit. I'm tired of the complaints about the cold. Forward my mail to Hawaii.
Respectfully,
Jack Frost
Dear Jack,
Christmas is almost here. No snow means no Reindeer Games – it's too muddy and warm. Mrs. Claus says there's a palm tree outside! I'm afraid to
look.
Love,
Santa
Dear Santa,
Aren't palm trees beautiful? I'm diggin' the heat!
Warmly,
Jack
Dear Jack,
Seriously, Christmas is coming and I'm not getting fat! It's a sauna here! I'm sweating out all of my jolly roundness.
Come back,
Santa
Dear Santa,
Eat cookies! They’ll fatten you up! You should see me – I'm eating vegetables from my garden and I feel so good! Have you ever been in the ocean? It's so
refreshing!
Surf's up,
Jack
Dear Jack,
There's no air conditioning here. The elves can't work in these conditions! It's simply too hot in my workshop. They might go on strike.
Please help,
Santa
P.S. I can't make cookies – the butter keeps melting!
Dear Santa,
Tell the elves to take off those warm sweater things. Gotten any funny wish-lists from kids? Good golly some of those are funny!
Ha ha,
Jack
Dear Jack,
You know what kids are wishing for now? Snow, ice and green Christmas trees! I can't make that stuff. They miss you, Jack!
Love,
Santa
Dear Santa,
I’m sure the kids don’t miss me that much. Now they don’t have to find their hats and gloves. It really is a pain to keep track of those things.
Best,
Jack
Dear Jack,
All of the mail I’m getting is really for you, so I am sending it along. All thirty huge bags full. Hope this proves that kids want you back.
Hurry home,
Santa
Dear Santa,
You win. I suppose I need to help the kids. I'll be home on the next cool breeze.
I'm not really cut out for surfing anyway.
On my way,
Jack
Dear Jack,
Merry Christmas. Enjoy your gift!
Love,
Santa
Dear Santa,
Thanks for the palm tree. The Christmas lights and ornaments are a special touch.
Merry Christmas,
Jack
I hear you on the NyQuil! The cold going around is a doozy. This story makes me want hot chocolate. 🙂
Good message about making the best out of bad situation. 🙂 Wonderful!
This story is perfect because we all know that “elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and SYRUP!”
What funny–Buddy the Elf would approve!
Love the idea of a coal storm (well not a real one…but in a story, that was really cool!)
Cute and informative! 🙂
Hello Susanna,
Thanks for organizing this contest. Here is my 350 word submission.
ABE'S CLOUD
by, Zainab Khan
Abe loved how his picnic table table looked. The tree sparkled. The gold menorah twinkled and the crescent moon cookies glimmered in the sun. This was going to be the best Christmas, Hanukkah, and Eid party he thought.
BOOM! CRASH! BOOM!
Abe’s heart thumped. A large black cloud covered the sun.
Flick a fleck! Flick a fleck!
Crash! The tinsel tree tipped to the side, its ornaments falling off.
“Stop raining,” Abe shouted at the cloud.
“WHO DARES TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO?” huffed the cloud.
“M-m-me,” said Abe.
“Fine, I'll stop the rain,” rumbled the cloud.
He huffed and popped open.
TICK! TACK! TICK! TACK! Hail flicked onto the table.
Thump, thump, thump! Candles fell out of the menorah.
“Noooo!” cried Abe.
“You don't like hail? Fine! Then this is what you get!” growled the cloud.
FLISH! FLASH! Lightening zig-zagged across the sky.
Zap! Icing dripped off the cookies.
“You've ruined Christmas, Hanukkah and Eid!” cried Abe.
“I would never ruin Christmas, Eid or Hanukkah!” shouted the cloud. “THEY'RE MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS!”
“Look!” Abe pointed to the mess.
The cloud shrunk back. “You should have told me.”
“I did!” Abe picked up a cookie and tossed it in the trash. “The party is over.”
“Wait!” cried the cloud. “I can fix this!”
“How?” asked Abe.
“Wind! Do your magic!”
Whooooohooooohoooooo!
The wind twirled and whirled all around. The candles blew into the menorah's holders. The tree stood tall with baubles dangling from its branches, but icing dribbled onto the grass.
“You saved my tree and the menorah!” said Abe. “But the cookies are-“
“I'm not done yet,” said the cloud. It puffed its cheeks and blew.
WHOOOOOOOOOOO!
“Blizzard!” cried Abe.
Wind sprinkled snowflakes over the moon shaped cookies. They danced across the Christmas tree and scattered around the menorah.
“You did it! Thank you,” said Abe.
The cloud blushed. “Anything for the holidays!”
“Will you come to my party?” asked Abe.
“I'd love that!”
When Abe's friends came to celebrate, the cloud swooped down.
“This is the best Eid, Christmas and Hanukkah celebration,” said Abe.
ENTRY POSTED FOR ZAINAB
ABE'S CLOUD
by, Zainab Khan
Abe loved how his picnic table table looked. The tree sparkled. The gold menorah twinkled and the crescent moon cookies glimmered in the sun. This was going to be the best Christmas, Hanukkah, and Eid party he thought.
BOOM! CRASH! BOOM!
Abe’s heart thumped. A large black cloud covered the sun.
Flick a fleck! Flick a fleck! Crash! The tinsel tree tipped to the side, its ornaments falling off.
“Stop raining,” Abe shouted at the cloud.
“WHO DARES TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO?” huffed the cloud.
“M-m-me,” said Abe.
“Fine, I'll stop the rain,” rumbled the cloud.
He huffed and popped open.
TICK! TACK! TICK! TACK! Hail flicked onto the table.
Thump, thump, thump! Candles fell out of the menorah.
“Noooo!” cried Abe.
“You don't like hail? Fine! Then this is what you get!” growled the cloud.
FLISH! FLASH! Lightening zig-zagged across the sky.
Zap! Icing dripped off the cookies.
“You've ruined Christmas, Hanukkah and Eid!” cried Abe.
“I would never ruin Christmas, Eid or Hanukkah!” shouted the cloud. “THEY'RE MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS!”
“Look!” Abe pointed to the mess.
The cloud shrunk back. “You should have told me.”
“I did!” Abe picked up a cookie and tossed it in the trash. “The party is over.”
“WAIT!” cried the cloud. “I can fix this!”
“How?” asked Abe.
“Wind! Do your magic!”
Whooooohooooohoooooo! The wind twirled and whirled all around. The candles blew into the menorah's holders. The tree stood tall with baubles dangling from its branches, but icing dribbled onto the grass.
“You saved my tree and the menorah!” said Abe. “But the cookies are-“
“I'm not done yet,” said the cloud. It puffed its cheeks and blew.
WHOOOOOOOOOOO!
“Blizzard!” cried Abe.
Wind sprinkled snowflakes over the moon shaped cookies. They danced across the Christmas tree and scattered around the menorah.
“You did it! Thank you,” said Abe.
The cloud blushed. “Anything for the holidays!”
“Will you come to my party?” asked Abe.
“I'd love that!”
When Abe's friends came to celebrate, the cloud swooped down.
“This is the best Eid, Christmas and Hanukkah celebration,” said Abe.
What a clever, original story, Zainab! I love the personification of the cloud! And I love that you included many holidays, and that Abe stood up to the cloud and the cloud repented and put things to rights! Favorite sentence: “Wind sprinkled snowflakes over the moon shaped cookies. They danced across the Christmas tree and scattered around the menorah.” ~ lovely! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining the holiday fun 🙂
I love how you combined an old, familiar song with your entry. Your story is very original! Good luck. 🙂
What a clever, original story, Zainab! I love the personification of the cloud! And I love that you included many holidays, and that Abe stood up to the cloud and the cloud repented and put things to rights! Favorite sentence: “Wind sprinkled snowflakes over the moon shaped cookies. They danced across the Christmas tree and scattered around the menorah.” ~ lovely! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining the holiday fun 🙂
I wish I had a magic globe! Good luck 🙂
Cute! I can picture reindeer in leg warmers. 🙂 Good luck, Kimberly!
Aw, this reminds me a little of the movie “Unaccompanied Minors”. Have you seen it? I love your Gate 25 Choir idea. Good luck! 🙂
Thank you Susanna! I appreciate all your “backstage” efforts as well.
Oh, Brownwyn! What fun! So clever and funny! Well done 🙂 I love the appropriate signatures – “warmly” etc. 🙂 And what a perfect ending! Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!
I loved unicorns when I was a child. Creative. 🙂
Thanks Christie!
Thanks Elaine!
Thanks Teresa!
🙂
Nice “twist” to the story! HaHa. 🙂 And it's lovely that they got to be together for Christmas.
Thanks Susanna, I worked hard on revising that beginning!
Thank you for having such fun and challenging contests!
You did good 🙂 Glad if you're enjoying the contest 🙂
Cute! Such a creative story. It reminds me of how in the movie “Elf” Buddy says the four main food groups for elves – one of them being syrup. Good luck in the contest!
Oh but I love the imagery in your story, Susanna! It reminds me of when I spent Christmas one time in New Orleans and they lit the bonfires up the mississippi for Papa Noel!
Thank you for all the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you all for your kind comments!
Anne
That ornery cloud! So glad it made everything right in the end. 🙂
I'm with Jack, actually…I'm not so fond of the cold. 🙂 But it was very nice of him to finally listen to Santa!
I love this! It's so cute and funny. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Lot's of fun action, I love the Santa hat ice bag. And the proof at the end that it really happened. Fun story.
So touching, I love it when people join together as kindred spirits – especially, previously grumpy ones. Very nice.
What a surprise – a coal storm – very creative. So glad hope, imagination, and the power of believing saved the day.
I love the hook. Christmas was under threat from an unlikely source. I would have never guessed it would be a drought causing a maple syrup shortage. Very creative, Kristen. Nice solution, too!
What a magical story of faith and Christmas spirit. Very touching. So glad you shared, Gina.
Love that the weather is a character in this!
How cute – the 80's save the day. I can imagine those reindeer – love it!
Phew! I worked all night and got something ready in the flurry of holiday madness 🙂
Polar Warming
By Kristen Foote
The changes were subtle. They started out slow.
Dripping icicle here, 10 less inches of snow.
Then one day in December, when Santa awoke,
he pulled open the curtains, “What is this? A joke?”
Polar Warming, it turned out, was totally true!
Giant palm trees were swaying where evergreens grew.
The sledding hills melted, the snowmen were gone.
A flock of flamingos had pooped on the lawn.
He rushed to the workshop. The elves left a note:
“BE BACK IN 3 HOURS…. WE’RE OUT ON THE BOAT!”
He stomped to the kitchen. No breakfast was made.
He found Mrs. Clause sipping drinks in the shade.
The reindeer were tanning their white furry bums
as the drummer boys banged upon big steel drums.
“Have you ALL lost your minds? There is work to be done!
There is no time for sand-castles, swimming, and sun!”
As the Mrs. reclined in her red-striped bikini,
she scolded ol’ Santa, “Quit being a meanie!”
“I’m sorry. I’m stressed – I’ve had NO relaxation.
In fact, it’s been YEARS since I’ve had a vacation!”
He shed his long-undies, he kicked off each boot,
and he traded them in for a surfboard and suit.
His speedo was snug and his belly was shakin’.
He heard someone shout, “SANTA! Give up the bacon!”
But that didn’t stop him, he splashed on the shore
(where poor Frosty had lived only 2 days before).
Once the sunlight was fading, Clause glanced at the clock,
then he yelled, “Halt the hula and Jingle Bell Rock!
We have TWENTY-TWO MINUTES to build some more toys!
We just can’t disappoint all the good girls and boys!”
The elves started working, renewed, full of cheer,
and they cranked out more toys than they had the whole year.
After wrapping, they vacuumed, and vacuumed some more,
but that sand seemed to stick to each package and floor.
They had run out of time. Santa went on his way.
As he flew, sand poured out every crack in his sleigh.
So on next Christmas morning, you’ll now understand
why your presents are covered in sunscreen and sand.
Snowflake…A Christmas Tail
By Jim Jones
Snowflake the mouse lived in a dark pine forest high in the mountains under a big blue sky. She was a tiny mouse with soft white fur. Her eyes were black as coal and they sparkled when she wiggled her nose.
She lived near a big old house that loomed warm and inviting as the days grew
shorter and colder. The family in the house definitely had no room for a mouse.
One day as a bitter wind brought winter’s first snow, the two boys that lived in
the house ran out the front door to check the mail. The door stood open and the warmth spilled out on the porch. Snowflake ran for the door and vanished into a dark closet. She crawled into the toe of an old cowboy boot lying on its side and there made a cozy home. Outside the snow kept falling.
Nightly journeys were always fun. One night she even found a beautiful tree covered with shiny things and softly glowing lights in the living room. She nibbled a seed under the tree listening to the wind rumble. Just then a little man dressed in red stepped out of the fireplace. He pulled brightly wrapped gifts from his bag, smiled, and in a flash was gone.
A sheet of paper from his belt fluttered to the floor. It was outlined in gold and covered with names. Grabbing it she scrambled up the chimney trying to catch the man. On top of the chimney the wind carried her into the darkness.
Freezing in the snow, she longed for her warm boot. Just then a gloved hand dropped her into a warm pocket. In a flash Santa, a mouse, and the reindeer shot into the snowy night sky to finish delivering toys to all of the good children around the world.
To this day, Snowflake sleeps in a cozy boot at the foot of Santa’s bed. On Christmas Eve children put out goodies for Santa, the reindeer, along with a seed for a special mouse. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!