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Happy Everything!

It’s that time of year again! Susanna Hill’s fabulous Holiday Story Contest!  Shopping? Nope. Wrapping? Nope.  Slashing words? Why, yes. Read on to see why I must slice and dice all those pesky little extraneous words.

Here’s Susanna’s challenge: Write a children’s holiday story  using the basic format/concept of The Twelve Days Of Christmas!
But here’s the bigger challenge: It can be no longer than 300 words. 

But I’m game, so I held my breath, jumped into the deep end, and came up with this. At exactly 300 words. (Whew!)

 

HAPPY EVERYTHING

 

On the first day of Hanukkah, a truck drove up to my house, slammed on its brakes, and out came a

shiny bright Menorah.

I didn’t know who sent it, but I brought it inside, put it on the mantel, and lit the candles.

On the second day of Hanukkah another truck appeared. The driver hauled out a

brightly decorated Christmas Tree

Must be a mistake, I thought.

I sent it back.

On the fourth day of Hanukkah, the mailman lugged his bag up the front steps and dropped off a

 beautiful Diwali lamp.

I looked at it, admired it, but sent that back too.

On the fifth day of Hanukkah, there was a knock at my door.

I opened it.  I couldn’t see anyone.

But I did spy a

Kwanza Kinara with seven candles.

Again, wrong house, but who dropped it off?

I left it on my porch with a note.

Beautiful Kinara, but probably not for me.

On the sixth day of Hanukkah,

I heard beeps and bangs and a pounding on my door.

I flew to the window and peered outside.

I’m not sure how it happened, but sitting on my porch was a

 fully decorated Christmas tree,

a brightly shining Diwali lamp,

and a Kinara filled with red, green, and black candles.

I shrugged my shoulders and dragged everything inside.

On the seventh day of Hanukkah,

I scratched my head, looked around, and got an idea.

I grabbed my phone and dialed. This would work.

On the eighth day of Hanukkah (which happened to coincide with the twelfth day of Christmas),

my house was filled with music, light, food and tradition.

But most of all, friendship.

As the night was winding down, I heard a voice shout,

“Happy Everything, y’all! It’s late now. I’m out!”

 

 

17 Comments
  • Vivian Kirkfield
    Posted at 21:55h, 10 December

    I love this, Ellen…I was thinking about how to get all the holidays into my entry for Susanna’s contest…but I couldn’t figure out how. YOU DID IT! Beautiful message and lots of fun.

  • David McMullin
    Posted at 00:17h, 11 December

    This is a wonderful mix of holidays. Very fun.

  • Kathy Halsey
    Posted at 14:34h, 11 December

    Ellen, love how inclusive this is and the subtle humor in it. BRAVO. Happy Everything! I agree.

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:57h, 02 January

      Thanks, my friend! I just saw this comment. 🙂

  • Gregory E. Bray
    Posted at 16:59h, 12 December

    Great way to incorporate all the holidays. Good luck and happy everything to you.

  • Linda Schueler
    Posted at 19:25h, 12 December

    That would be a very inclusive holiday. I’d love to celebrate a similar one.

  • Cathey N.
    Posted at 22:48h, 12 December

    How adorable! Great job, I hope you win a top spot in the contest, my friend! Happy everything!

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:56h, 02 January

      Thanks, Cathey! See you soon.

  • Patricia Nozell
    Posted at 04:03h, 13 December

    I love that you’ve included so many traditions in your story, Ellen. Happy holidays!

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:56h, 02 January

      Thanks so much! I’m sorry I just saw this. Happy Everything, Patricia!

  • Jean James
    Posted at 20:29h, 13 December

    Happy Everything y’all to you too! Good luck in the contest!

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:54h, 02 January

      Thanks, Jean! I just saw this. I hope YOU had a Happy Everything!

  • Gabi Snyder
    Posted at 00:46h, 14 December

    This is fantastic, Ellen! I love the many-traditions celebration with friends. Well done!

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:53h, 02 January

      Thanks, Gabi! Nice meeting you!

  • Susanna Leonard Hill
    Posted at 00:59h, 15 December

    Love this, Ellen! So clever how you worked all those holidays into the 12 Days format along with an MC whose personality comes through nicely! Thanks so much for joining in the fun, and Happy Holidays – all of them! – to you 🙂

    • Ellen Leventhal
      Posted at 01:54h, 02 January

      Ha! Just saw this, Susanna! Thanks. I hope you had WONDERFUL holidays!