Susanna Hill’s 3rd Annual Holiday Contest: Write a children’s story about a Holiday Mishap, mix-up, miscommunication, mistake, or potential disaster in 350 words or less. I managed 344.
Ah, Christmas! Finding a fitting tree, decking it out with ornaments we made ourselves, caroling in the freezing cold, stockings, stuffings, baking cookies – lots of cookies! Always a plate for Santa, his reindeer and this year, extra for my sister, Candy.
Candy loved wrapping presents. She was good at it. An artist! A master of folding and taping – any shape, any size. You name it, she could wrap it. We’ve always left it to her, and why not? It made her happy!
What she enjoyed most of all? Embellishment! Ribbons, bows, bells and gift tags galore! She made them herself, believe it or not, and you almost couldn’t tell, if it weren’t for the incident with my remote control car last year, but that’s another story.
The thing is, she got carried away. Literally. But I knew Candy didn’t want to wrap just our presents. And why let her talent go to waste? It wasn’t easy for my parents, but it made her happy! And they still had me. So we let her go. We didn’t try to save her as she flew up the chimney. Okay, I was the only one there.
But it wasn’t anyone’s fault. She was wrapping merrily away, maybe sitting a bit close to the tree, which was really close to the fireplace, and it takes a lot of ribbon to create a work of art, and who was I to ruin her fun? I got more ribbon when she asked. I was really helpful, she said. But there was a lot of ribbon! Candy could hardly see. And maybe Santa couldn’t see her.
And all that gum on Santa’s shoe? Who knows where he picked that up?
So, although I am looking forward to my presents this year, the ones from Santa addressed to me? Well, I might just leave them wrapped – a reminder of my dear sister, who probably wrapped them herself. At least until I’m sure she’s settled. Settled down, that is. The extra cookies I’m sending with Santa should help.
Cookie anyone?
Do go to Susanna’s blog to read the other entries – HERE
Now THERE’S a twist in a story!!! Carried away… Cool story, Julie! (And thanks for the cookie. It was delicious!)
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Haha! Thanks, Beth!
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A fabulously fanciful tale! Who knew wrapping gifts could be a little bit hazardous? 😉 Good luck, Julie!
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Careful!
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The cookie looks real… Good thing we have a jar full of them… *drools* Mmph. Dis ith a veal gud tory y’know. Y’ write veal well, y’know. *swallows* Sorry. I know I shouldn’t talk/type with my mouth full. 😦 Great story! I ‘lurv’ it! 😉
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You’ve just reminded me of the stash my son and I hid,; we have a cookie monster in the house!
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Well, be glad there aren’t TWO cookie monsters in the house! Now, where is it hidden? I’m trustable! C’mon, tell me! 😉
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Behind the chocolate chips. Risky, but he’ll stop there!
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Very cute, Julie. Looks like Candy got “carried away” on two accounts! Clever.
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Thanks, Jarm. I had fun writing it.
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WHAT? Santa stole your sister too? So clever, Julie. Super fun.
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Thanks for popping in!
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Great story Julie! Love the ending 🙂
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Thanks, Kristen!
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What a fun story! Nice work!
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Thanks!
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Haha! So he got what he REALLY wanted for Christmas. Wish fulfillment at this finest. 🙂
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Tja, so macht man das!
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Oh my. I’m into embellishments this year. Perhaps, I should cool it. Don’t want to go missing like Candy. I’ll just work on that cookie while I think about this. Great story Julie. Like the voice.
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Be more aware of siblings seeking revenge!
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Ha! What a fabulously fun story! Love the twist.
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Thanks, Yvone!
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Wow – guess I’m grateful that the worst thing that ever happened to me while wrapping gifts was just a paper cut! Fun!
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Must have been a more careful sister!
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What a wonderful twist on a story. I loved your story.
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Curling ribbons is one of the skills I was so proud of as a kid!
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HAHAHA! This is priceless, Julie – and I LOVE your narrator’s voice. Perfect!
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Thanks, Carrie!
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Candy sure seems like a lot of fun!
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An ocd crafter!
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Ahahahahahaha. 🙂 Pal, this is a winner. Made me giggle and you KNOW how much I love to giggle. You rocked it! I always wanna wrap all the presents. I’m afraid someone else won’t do the job like moi. I MUST BE CANDY! OH NOOOOOOOOOOOO…
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So you’re one of those people too, huh? I have a thing for correct laundry hanging!
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Teeheehee. My sister was also the gift-wrapper in my family… but never got THIS carried away 🙂
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Thanks for popping in, Jennifer.
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Note to self: Wrap presents in a room with NO FIREPLACE or FLUE. 😀
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Or sibling out for revenge!
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Julie, great story. I liked the tone of your writing. 🙂
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Thanks, Tracy.
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Clever story. Gift wrapping is not my specialty. I could use someone like Candy every now and then. 🙂
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I use material squares now. Saves on clean-up – fold and reuse next year!
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Loved the gum on the shoe….too funny! Very creative, Julie!
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Helps to collect your wads, eh? Yuk!
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Clever, fun, terrific voice, and I think a little pinch of evil in the left-behind sibling 🙂 I think the word I’m looking for is twisted 🙂 Thanks for a great entry, Julie, and for joining in the holiday contest high jinx and shenanigans! 🙂
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There are few shenanigans as doubly-delicious yours, Joanna! Fun and good exercise!
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Santa giveth AND he taketh too! Glad I’m a very low-key wrapper. 🙂
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Haha! Another good title idea! I started with Candy the Wrapper!
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This is great, Julie! Love the humor. Terrific job! 🙂
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Thanks, Cheryl.
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I loved it! What an original story.
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Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
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Oh my, what a great story! So fresh and different, and I love the first person narration.
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Thanks for popping in, Michelle.
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I love the word “Embellishment”–it’s just fun to say! Great job. And I love your site’s piney background–how do you get the snowflakes to fall?
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The plant is in my garden, an artemesia, but it does have a piney look! The snowflakes are a wordpress feature.
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Love your POV and the excuse-type story. So kid-like!
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Thanks, Laura.
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sending your sister to live with santa is a great idea. 🙂 cute very cute
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Thanks!
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Such a cute story….and one more reason for me to use gift bags!
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Haha! Thanks for stopping by!
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Oh you’re a naughty girl! But you have perfectly written in 344 words what every little sister wants fro Christmas.
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Thank, Lauri!
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Wow! What a talent you are, fab illustrator and great storyteller as well!
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Thanks, Linda. Do you write too?
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