It’s time for the First Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest! Be sure to stop by Susanna’s blog and read all the other fabulous entries.
Here are the contest rules: Write a Valentine’s story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is grumpy! Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone grumpy (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 🙂 You can go under the word count but not over! Title is not included in the word count.) No illustration notes please!
So here is my entry for the 2016 Valentiny Writing Contest. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted February 8, 2016 by Cheryl Secomb
JASPER AND ABIGAIL
Jasper Turtle wanted to look dashing.
He would be escorting his best friend, Abigail Mink, to the Village Valentine Bash. She always looked so sleek in her soft furry coat.
He pulled his tuxedo shell from the closet and tried it on.
SQUEEEEEEZE
“It’s a little snug,” he squeaked.
Perhaps he should shed a few pounds before the bash. He glanced at the calendar. And soon!
Jasper nibbled on greens.
His tummy rumbled.
He jogged through the park.
He tripped and tumbled.
Jasper stepped on the scale,
and grumpily grumbled!
Grrrrr! Jasper wasn’t a snapping turtle, but…
He SNAPPED at the mailman.
He SNAPPED at his cat…fish.
He SNAPPED at Abigail.
Oops.
Abigail huffed. “Well!” She stormed off.
Jasper felt too grumpy to say he was sorry.
So he didn’t.
The night of the bash, Jasper slipped into his tuxedo shell.
It fit. He was a dashing sight.
“But what good is it without my best friend?” He sighed.
Jasper knew what he had to do.
He knocked on Abigail’s door.
He brought flowers.
And chocolates.
Lots of chocolates.
He apologized.
And explained.
Abigail smiled. “Silly, Turtle. I like you just the way you are. You’ve always looked dashing to me.”
Jasper’s heart swelled so big, he almost burst his tuxedo shell.
Almost.
