'Twas The Stormy Night Before Christmas...

12/7/2014

It's time for Susanna Leonard Hill's 4th Annual Holiday Contest!

**** Update- my entry snagged 2nd place***

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.

Intrigued? Susanna has a great blog and everyone who writes picture books MUST visit! Go here to get in on all the fun---> www.susannaleonardhill.com
Here is my entry!

'TWAS THE STORMY NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas and out on the street,

the snow was still piling and mixing with sleet.

My siblings all blubbered and cried in despair,

“How can Saint Nicholas fly through this air?"

The wind was so wicked, the rain turned to ice,

Dad struggled to shovel the walk and failed twice.

Mom bundled inside her wool mittens and cap

and yelled at poor Dad for attempting to nap.

The fire had dwindled, the power was out,

I walked around saying, “Don’t cry and don’t pout”

Life is too grueling without any power-

the water's so cold that we can’t even shower!

Then all of a sudden we heard a small noise --

had Santa arrived with all of our toys?

I ran to the window and threw up the sash,

(secretly hoping he brought me some cash)

but what to my wondering eyes should appear?

This was no Santa, no magic reindeer!`

Just a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew right away, it was Snow-Plow guy, Nick.

Faster than sleigh rides, he plowed all the snow,

and just as he turned and got ready to go,

we heard a small ding, then a buzz and a beep!

The power came on- I wanted to weep!

On laptop! On lights! On Christmas tree, too!

On microwave -- please now, let's warm up that stew!

Now Santa could land his red sleigh in our road,

and without any trouble, go in our abode.

And as I turned into my bed for the night,

“Merry Christmas,” I whispered. “Thank goodness for light!”

272 Words

69 Comments

Tracey M. Cox link

12/8/2014 03:45:57 am

Elaine,
I love your play on this classic story!
You had me laughing with all the turning on of things!!!!

Elaine Kiely Kearns link

12/8/2014 03:55:56 am

Thanks, Tracey! You should see how I react when MY power comes back on! :)

melissa

12/8/2014 04:58:43 am

Love this! Thank goodness for snow plow guy, Nick!

12/8/2014 07:10:48 am

Thanks, Melissa! Thanks goodness for Nick, indeed! :)

Kathy Halsey

12/8/2014 07:17:26 am

So appropriate for what the East has been through already. Love the spin-off and the happy ending. Fun to read and great rhymes. Good luck, Elaine.

12/8/2014 07:34:18 am

Thanks. Kathy! There is more bad weather is on the way! Boo!

Teresa Robeson link

12/8/2014 07:38:50 am

Well, you already know I adore this and had a great time reading it, hon! *mwah* xoxo

12/8/2014 08:05:46 am

Awww, I just love you to bits! xo

Patricia Tilton link

12/8/2014 09:05:47 am

I like the snow plow twist and your high tech images. Clever and adorable.

12/8/2014 12:59:24 pm

Thank you for your kind words, Patricia!

Kristi Veitenheimer link

12/8/2014 09:06:31 am

Oh, I absolutely love this!

12/8/2014 01:02:47 pm

Aww, thanks, Kristi!

Ariel link

12/8/2014 09:27:17 am

Such a wonderful story! I loved reading it :) There will probably be a lot of families relating to it this December!

12/8/2014 01:01:52 pm

Thanks, Ariel! I know we will be dreading "the power outage!"

Cheryl link

12/8/2014 12:47:03 pm

This was wonderful, Elaine! Love the twist on the original poem. Very clever. I really enjoyed it. Well done!

12/8/2014 01:00:48 pm

Thank you so much Cheryl!

Linda Schueler link

12/8/2014 01:20:22 pm

What a great, modern twist on a classic. Hilarious!

12/8/2014 01:25:29 pm

Thanks so much, Linda!

Pamela Courtney

12/8/2014 01:32:34 pm

Oh boy I am so glad I stopped by to read your story. It was so funny and so well done. An amazingly original idea on an old classic favorite. I marvel at folks like you that have the gift to write like this. Well done. Well done indeed.

12/8/2014 11:37:30 pm

Pamela, thank you so much for your kind words! You're so sweet! :)

Robyn Campbell link

12/8/2014 01:43:34 pm

LOVE IT, Elaine. What a fantastical read. I love "I walked around saying, “Don’t cry and don’t pout” hehehe, made me giggle. The twist is the best I've seen. You're a genius, you know that right? :-) XOXOXOXOXOXO

12/8/2014 11:38:49 pm

You're so great for my confidence! I love you so much, Robyn. Best. Friend. Ever! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Tina Cho link

12/8/2014 04:09:32 pm

Awesome story, Elaine. So funny!

12/8/2014 11:39:34 pm

Thank you, Tina! Thanks for stopping by! :)

Sylvia Liu link

12/9/2014 12:33:00 am

So fun and so topical. Our house would be in a panic too if we weren't plugged into the grid.

12/9/2014 01:06:33 am

We go crazy, Sylvia! What did we ever do before electricity?

Johnell link

12/9/2014 01:40:09 am

Oh very cute. Love the Snow-plow guy.

12/9/2014 06:59:53 am

Thanks, Johnell!

Linda Boyden link

12/9/2014 03:18:56 am

Clement Moore would be delighted with your play on his classic! Well done.

12/9/2014 07:01:58 am

Thanks, Linda!

Teresa MI Schaefer link

12/9/2014 09:29:48 am

Terrific rendition, Elaine. I totally heard the power come on -- a small ding, then a buzz, then a beep -- made me laugh!

12/9/2014 10:29:15 am

Thank you so much, Teresa!

Alayne Kay Christian link

12/9/2014 11:18:51 am

As you know, I love this story. What a fun retelling. What kid doesn't love the adventure of a blackout, and then throw in the tension of waiting for Santa to arrive . . . maybe - perfect! Nice job, E.

12/9/2014 12:30:09 pm

Love you. You're the sweetest. xo

Shannon Marrs link

12/9/2014 02:18:04 pm

Great rhyming - loved it :)

12/9/2014 10:38:45 pm

Thanks you, Shannon!

Christie Allred link

12/10/2014 03:20:25 am

Snow-plow guy, Nick! Ha! What a creative, modern take on a traditional poem. Good luck in the contest. :D

Elaine Kiely Kearns

12/10/2014 09:01:44 am

Thank for your kind words, Christie! Thanks for stopping by!

Catherine Johnson link

12/10/2014 05:05:55 am

I love the realistic setting and snow plow Nick - genius!

12/10/2014 09:02:54 am

Thank you , Catherine! I LOVED your poem! (Truly, truly!) beautiful rhyme and clever text! It was fabulous! :)

Kimberly

12/10/2014 06:24:52 am

Very well done! I've always wanted to attempt to do a story like this but have never been brave enough to try. Great job!

12/10/2014 09:04:08 am

Thanks, Kimberly! That is the beauty of Susanna's contests, right? They get us out of our comfort zone! Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments!

Rachel Hamby link

12/10/2014 09:45:28 am

This is really cute! Good luck!

12/13/2014 10:43:10 am

Thank you, Rachel!

Susanna Leonard Hill link

12/10/2014 01:22:49 pm

Hahaha! What a wonderful modern twist on the old tale, Elaine! You paint a very believable family picture of everyone's desperate need to always be powered up and ensuing grumpiness when the power is out :) And the line about Snow Plow guy Nick made me laugh out loud! :) Great job! Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!

12/10/2014 01:36:04 pm

Thank you so much, Susanna! I just couldn't resist entering your Holiday contest again this year! It's my annual challenge! Thanks for all that you do- it was fun!

Vivian Kirkfield link

12/10/2014 03:59:11 pm

Oh Elaine...you had me the moment they lost power...we lost ours the night before Thanksgiving...fortunately, we have a generator. 'On laptop, on microwave'...this was hilarious! Your rhyme was very well done...I truly enjoyed it. :) And I loved the snow plow guy, Nick. :)

12/13/2014 10:35:31 am

Oh, Vivian, thank you! You are a rhyme master, so I am flattered by the compliment! Susanna's contests are always so much fun, aren't they?

Stacy S. Jensen link

12/11/2014 03:55:49 am

Oh Elaine! I read this one out loud. I couldn't just read it to myself. The dogs enjoyed it too! Good luck with this one. Very fun. Very weather-y. Very twisty with Nick the snow plow guy!

12/13/2014 10:36:54 am

Thanks, Stacy! I'm glad your dogs enjoyed it, because mine has heard it so many times, she howls! Thanks for stopping by! ;)

Lynn A. Davidson link

12/11/2014 06:13:48 am

This is so funny, Elaine! Great rhythmic little story. :)

12/15/2014 12:10:39 am

Thank you, Lynn!!

saranyan link

12/11/2014 11:17:45 pm

Nick, the snow plough guy! Nice. He could have been St. Nick himself. :)

12/13/2014 10:41:26 am

Thanks, Saranyan, oh, but maybe he is! Merry Christmas! ;)

Margaret Greanias link

12/12/2014 09:06:52 am

Great take on 'Twas the Night before Christmas! Spot on rhyme, loved Snow Plow Guy Nick and on laptop! On lights! On Christmas tree! So funny!

12/13/2014 10:40:27 am

Thank you so much, Margaret!

Carrie Charley Brown link

12/12/2014 03:16:20 pm

What a fun version of "Twas the Night Before...!" I think Snow Plow Guy Nick needs a story of his very own, too! Sequel! Sequel! Sequel! :) I'm impressed with your rhyme and meter! Go Elaine!

12/13/2014 10:39:32 am

Thank you so much, Carrie! I owe the meter and rhyme to Renee's LaTulippe's class- it's amazing! I've learned so much!

Lauri Meyers link

12/13/2014 06:53:16 am

gotta love the snow plow driver Nick!

12/13/2014 10:38:07 am

Thank you, Lauri!

12/13/2014 10:37:33 am

Thank you, Lynn!

Cecilia Clark link

12/13/2014 07:42:28 pm

fabulous telling of that favourite old nut, modernised brilliantly

12/14/2014 09:06:09 am

Thank you so much! You've just made my day, Cecilia!

Suzannah Hekel

12/14/2014 11:39:07 am

This story was really awesome, loved the rhyming!! :)

12/14/2014 11:32:35 pm

Thanks, Suzannah!

Jilanne Hoffmann link

12/14/2014 06:28:45 pm

I love snow plow guy, Nick! Hilarious! Thank goodness for light! This is a terrific story. Good luck in the competition!

12/14/2014 11:33:27 pm

Thanks, Jilanne!

Penny Parker Klostermann link

12/15/2014 12:04:32 am

Delightful with a capital D! Cute and funny and rhythmic! Loved this: Snow-Plow guy, Nick." Ha!

12/15/2014 12:11:27 am

Thank you, Penny! That means a lot coming from a superstar author like you! :)

'Twas The Stormy Night Before Christmas...

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