Each year, The Enterprise sponsors a Creative Writing Contest that is open to school-aged youngsters throughout the county.
The winners and their entries are featured below.
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade:
First Place:
Letter from Rudolph
Greetings! This is Rudolph. So last year the elves wrote about what we do. So, this year we’re returning the favor by writing about what they do. Exciting right? Let’s get started!!!
Every year on Thanksgiving Santa sends a handful of elves to their temporary homes. No idea what I’m talking about? I’ll explain.
At a very young age, Santa picks a bunch of elves for a special job. They watch over a certain family from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Still confused? Ok, go on Google and search “Elf on The Shelf.” Maybe they can explain it better. Anyway, an elf almost always has a candy burger (burger made of candy), candy Coke (Coke made of melted chocolate), and candy cane fries (fries made of candy canes) from their favorite restaurant, Snowey’s. Confused? Ok, simple explanation. That’s the happy meal you get at the North Pole’s version of Wendy’s.
The reason they always get Snowey’s is because when they aren’t making toys and watching over children (which is not that often), they’re working at Snowey’s. Because you get paid 15 candy canes an hour. Which for you might sound foolish and just not worth working for, but here in the North Pole, that’s a bargain!!!
So, Christmas Eve comes along and the elves say their final goodbyes and then, off with Santa they fly!
Once they were flying home in the sleigh and guess what? The elves saved up their candy canes and each elf got a total of 115 candy canes!!! So, they were just munching away and having a good time. Well then, they got super–duper sticky and completely ruined the sleigh!!!
Santa was not very happy, but he knew what to do. He and Tim Allen are best friends, so Santa called him and Tim let him use the real sleigh that was used in all three Santa Clause movies. So, to be honest Tim saved Christmas! That is what elves do.
Savannah Fain, 3rd grade
Stuart Elementary School
Second Place:
ABC’s of Christmas
Angel
Ball
Christmas tree
Doll
Eve
Family
Grinch
Home
Icicle
Jolly
Kind
Love
Magical
Nicholas
Ornaments
Presents
Quick
Reindeer
Santa
Tinsel
Under the tree
Vacation
Winter
X-mas
Yo-yo
Zip your jacket
By Zachary Seay, 2nd grade
Patrick Springs Primary School
Third Place:
Happy birthday, Jesus!
Christmas is about Jesus. He was born in a manger. Mary was His mother. God was His dad. I love Christmas because Jesus was born on that day. Jesus died on the cross to let us go to heaven. I love Jesus, and I love to sing happy birthday to Him.
By Job Barone, Kindergarten
Homeschool
Grades 4-7
1st Place:
“A Special Christmas Wish”
It was two days before Christmas and everyone in the little town was rushing around to buy Christmas presents. There was one special girl who lived in an orphanage and all she wanted for Christmas was to find a home. Her name was Sky and she was twelve years old and her parents had a car accident when she was three years old and she had nowhere to go. She snuck out of the terrible orphanage at times and she went to look at all the new toys and bikes sitting in the windows of shops and all of the families together before Christmas and she felt alone.
After she wandered around the town for a little while, she started to get cold and she didn’t have nice clothes. All she wanted was to sit by the fire, around the Christmas tree with her parents. She started to go back to the orphanage and the lady who owned it was waiting for her, she had been caught. The lady was mean and had terrible punishments for girls who didn’t listen. The lady said since she snuck out, she would have to stay in her room for the rest of the day. She was so sad and disappointed in herself, she wanted to be out of trouble, and she had gotten into more.
That night, the lady was nice enough to bring her dinner. She ate and then she laid in her bed and started to cry. It had been nine years since she had been in a warm house with parents who
loved her. She knew that new parents could never replace her parents, but it would be nice to have a place that felt like home. The only thing she had left of her parents was a picture of them beside her bed. Two other girls stayed in the same room with her and they were mean, they made fun of her and called her names. The girls were the owner’s daughters. She wanted to leave so bad, but she had nowhere else to go.
It was early Christmas Eve morning, and she was hoping that her Christmas wish would come true. She had decided not to sneak out because she didn’t want to be punished. She went downstairs to eat breakfast and there was a man and a woman. She started to get really excited, but they were not looking to adopt a twelve–year–old girl, they wanted a baby. She ran back to her room because she had gotten her hopes up too high. After the couple left, she went to go eat and this time no one was around. After she finished eating, she asked the lady if she could go on a little walk the lady agreed because she had some other people coming over, but she had to be back by lunch.
She walked around the town and all the stores were closed because it was Christmas Eve, so she just looked around at all the emptiness. As she walked all she could think about was her parents and how she hoped her wish would come true. It was getting close to noon and she had to get back to her “home.” She got back just in time for lunch, so she ate. She started back to her room when the lady said, “I know I’m not the nicest person, but I know how hard it is to be without your parents around the holidays. I was once like you Sky.”
Sky didn’t bother saying anything because she couldn’t possibly see how the lady was once like her. She got to her room and the girls were bragging about how many gifts they had under the Christmas tree and how Sky had none. It made Sky a little sad, but she didn’t care about presents. She just wanted to feel like she had a family again.
It was Christmas morning and the lady hurried up the stairs because a lovely young couple was there to meet Sky. Sky felt like a miracle had just happened and she was overjoyed. They were very nice, and they wanted to take her home right away because they said she had some presents to open. The lady wanted to tell her something before she left, she said “My parents passed away when I was young too, but always know that I’m here for you if you need me.”
Sky gave her a hug, smiled and walked away. The couple had two dogs and a baby boy. She was so happy to not only have two amazing parents, but two dogs and a little brother. She had found her home again. When Sky grew up, she had a wonderful husband and two little girls. Every year on Christmas since she was adopted, her and her family would donate toys to the same orphanage.
By Kylei Blevins, 7th grade
Hardin Reynolds Memorial School
2nd Place:
Christmas
Christmas lights all aglow
Will it snow?
Nobody knows.
Christmas presents
Topped with bows.
What’s inside, do you suppose?
Christmas cookies
Smell so sweet.
They are my favorite treat.
Christmas music
Cheerfully plays.
I can’t wait ‘til Christmas Day!
Christmas stockings
Hung by the fire.
It’s late and I am tired.
Christmas Day
Comes and goes so fast.
I wish it could last and last!
When Christmas days are over and done.
I can’t wait ‘til next Christmas for more fun!
By Kaylee Holt, 6th grade
Woolwine Elementary School
3rd Place:
The Christmas Miracle
There was a little boy named Sheldon. He was a mischievous 4–years-old and he could never sit still. One night, he went to a Christmas play at church and it was called “Why the Chimes Rang.” It was about miracles. At the end, the regular Christmas story was told. There was a nativity set with angels, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Then the preacher asked people in the congregation to bring gifts to the manger. Gifts of canned foods like beans, corn, ham, peanut butter, and money.
And all of the sudden, Sheldon got quiet. Sheldon looked at the manger and stood up in the pew and he saw the light shone down on the baby Jesus. Sheldon turned to his mommy and said in a very quiet voice, “wow, I think I just saw Jesus.” His mom turned to him and said, “I think you maybe just did.” And then the church bells rang.
By Gracie Caldwell, 4th grade
Woolwine Elementary School
8-12
PCHS
Strands of Hope
Oscar fiddled with the purple and orange twisted strands of yarn tied to his hand in the backseat of the car as he heard the muffles of his parents’ conversation. Their cheery tones did nothing for Oscar’s overthinking mind. He glanced at the mirror that held his reflection. Red hair and dark brown eyes stared back at him. As he looked away, the Christmas lights nearly blinded him as they passed by the vibrant decorations. Despite the joyful time of the year, he couldn’t help
but wonder what would happen if his new relatives saw him as an outsider to their family. Would he be sent back to the orphanage?
Oscar’s lip faintly trembled at the terrible thought. Throughout all the years he spent there, he’d only been able to make one friend. The last week Oscar remembered staying at the orphanage was considerably dreary. Other kids bombarded Oscar and his friend, Gus, about their decreasing chances of being adopted as they grew older. Gus, being the more optimistic of the pair, shook off their comments, but Oscar couldn’t stop himself from losing a bit of hope because of the harsh words. The next day, Gus had come to Oscar, more happy than he’d ever been. “I’m being adopted!” Seeing Oscar’s lousy attempt at a smile, Gus untied a very ugly bracelet from his wrist. Oscar had never seen him without it on. Gus took Oscar’s wrist and put it on him instead. “It’s my good luck bracelet. I want you to have it.”
Oscar didn’t believe in good luck anymore, so he only nodded to Gus with a forced smile. A few lonely days later, a couple entered the orphanage with excited smiles. Oscar found himself wondering what they could possibly find to smile about while entering the sorrowful building. He was surprised when he learned they were there for him. They were adopting him.
The car pulled into the driveway of a big house with a yard littered by blow-up reindeer, oversized candy canes, and fluffy snow. He stepped out of the car onto the icy pavement. His mother’s eyebrows furrowed at the sight of Oscar’s wide eyes. “You don’t need to be scared, Oscar. They’ll love you just as much as we do.” She held his hand and led him to the porch. The door quickly swung open before they could even knock. The warmth of the fireplace inside the house slightly touched Oscar’s cold skin, and a boy was left standing beside the door. His hazel eyes widened at Oscar, and a wide smile took over his face. “Hi, Oscar!”
“Peter, what did we say about opening the door by yourself?” a tall woman who shared the same blonde hair as the boy questioned.
“Sorry, Mom, but look who’s here!”
The woman’s attention shifted. “Oh, my goodness! It’s freezing out there! Come inside.” She gently nudged Peter out of the way and gestured inside the house.
Once inside, she smiled at Oscar’s parents. “Good to see you two!” Then, kneeling down to the ground, she said, “You, young man, must be Oscar.”
Oscar only nodded.
“Well, I’m your Aunt Julia. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Oscar nodded again, feeling shy.
Aunt Julia turned her head towards Peter. “Peter, why don’t you take Oscar up to the toy room?”
“Okay!” Peter replied without hesitating to take hold of Oscar’s hand and drag him up the stairs. Oscar glanced back to his parents in worry, but they only gave him encouraging smiles. Before he could blink, he was already being led through a different doorway. Peter finally let go of Oscar and rushed over to a slightly younger girl with the same hazel eyes. They sat in front of a big dollhouse speaking in hushed tones. “Did you finish setting it up?”
“Almost, but where do I put Grandpa?”
Peter snatched the doll out her hand and carefully placed it in the house. “That’s good enough.”
The girl looked behind her to look at her new cousin. She briskly stood from the ground, marched up to Oscar, and held her hand out. “My name is Devin Anne Finley. Your name is Oscar, right?”
Oscar tentatively shook her hand. “Yes.”
“Has Peter even introduced himself yet?” she asked, giving her brother an annoyed look.
“No,” Oscar said in a confused tone.
Devin grabbed Peter by the sleeve and pulled him up to his feet. “Introduce yourself, Peter. Don’t be rude.”
He rolled her eyes at the younger girl. “My name is Peter-”
“No, Peter! You’re doing it wrong!” Devin cut off his sentence. “Hold your hand out for a handshake first. Then say your full name.”
He let out a sharp sigh. “Fine.” His hand extended, and he began his speech. “My name is Peter Finley.”
Devin held a mischievous smirk. “Why don’t you tell Oscar your middle name, Pete?”
Peter gave Devin a warning frown. “You know why.”
Devin burst out laughing, barely being able to speak through the giggles. “Peter hates his middle name!” She cupped her hand around her mouth, shielding Peter from seeing she was whispering his secret name to Oscar. Her laughs filled the room again, accompanied by Oscar’s quiet snickers.
Peter’s cheeks turned bright red, and he stomped his foot on the ground. “Well, at least I’m not a girl with a boy name like you, Devin!”
She gasped in surprise and embarrassment, and Peter walked back over to the dollhouse victorious. Devin shook herself out of her stupor, sitting down in front of the dollhouse too. Oscar finally took his seat in the middle of the siblings.
“We have dolls for everyone in the family. Pick one!” Devin encouraged.
Oscar grabbed a doll with dark brown hair.
“That’s Uncle Tommy, your dad!”
Devin picked up the blonde woman doll. “This is our mom! Did you know, she owns her business? I want to be just like her!”
Peter chose the only doll with gray hair. “This is Grandpa Chuck. He is the coolest person in our entire family!”
Devin scoffed at his claim. “We all know Mommy is the coolest.”
“No way, Devin!”
They began bickering, but it didn’t last long before Aunt Julia’s voice called them, “Come on, kids! It’s time to eat!”
Devin and Peter froze for a second then went sprinting out the doorway and down the stairs with Oscar trailing behind. Aunt Julia sighed as the rambunctious siblings flopped down in their chairs at the dining table. “How many times do I need to tell you two to stop running in the house?”
Grandpa Chuck walked behind Devin, Peter, and Oscar’s seats and rustled their hair. When he spoke his voice wasn’t thundering, but still filled up the room. “How are you three?”
“We’re great, Grandpa!” Peter replied enthusiastically.
“Grandpa Chuck, you forgot!” Devin exclaimed.
He gave her a confused look, so she trotted up to the man and whispered something to him. His face lit up in remembrance, and he nodded to Devin. He held his hand out, and Oscar shook it. “My name is Chuck Finley, but you just call me Grandpa.”
Devin, satisfied with the introduction, took her seat again. Once everybody sat at the table covered with food, Oscar looked around from person to person. He saw the blonde haired heads and hazel eyes scattered around the family. He saw the freckles that Devin shared with Grandpa Chuck. He saw the crooked nose Peter got from Aunt Julia. He noticed the mole both his mother and Aunt Julia had. Then he looked at himself. On the outside, he looked nothing like the others. However, he knew that didn’t make him an outsider. He felt like he was needed for once when Peter expressed his excitement to have someone new to play with. He felt accounted for when Devin forced introductions between everyone, so he’d know who everyone was. He felt like what he wanted mattered when Aunt Julia took special care to fix his plate exactly right. He felt like a part of the family when Grandpa Chuck strung him into every conversation. He felt loved for once in his life.
With the biggest smile on his face that he’d ever worn, he glanced back down to the ugly bracelet on his wrist. He remembered his first friend who stuck with him throughout everything. Oscar didn’t know where he was, but he hoped Gus’ optimism and happiness would never leave him. Oscar hoped Gus had a family who loved him, and even though he would never see his selfless friend again, he would never forget him. How could he? Oscar still didn’t believe in good luck, but because of Gus, he learned to have faith in his future. The purple and orange strands reminded him every day.
By Maria Turner, 9th grade
Patrick County High School
(Parents/guardians of winners are asked to contact The Enterprise at (276) 694-3101, or email dhall@theenterprise.net or trisha@theenterprise.net to claim your child’s prize.)
