The Night After Christmas
by Abby N. Wooldridge
241 words
‘Twas the night after Christmas when Santa returned
to a mess of a kitchen and cookies that burned.
The dishes were piled sky high in the sink,
and the milk on the counter was starting to stink.
The backyard was covered with peppermint sticks
and gumdrops and chocolates and gingerbread bricks.
Then what to his wondering eyes should appear
but a handwritten sign that made it all clear:
CONTESTS! it said. CAN WE COUNT YOU IN?
MANY WILL ENTER, BUT FEW WILL WIN!
So that’s what elves do while I fly all around?
Santa heard shouting and followed the sound.
“For our next contest, we’ll race down the ice!”
“Hold it!” said Santa. “That sounds rather nice!”
The elves stopped their cheering and froze in the snow.
“Santa! You’re early! Uh… How’d your night go?”
“Don’t change the subject–I’m lively and quick–
a jolly old elf! You can’t beat Saint Nick!”
The contestants all shook like bowls full of jelly,
when Santa dashed down the hill on his belly.
He chuckled and made his way home toward his bed,
but the sight on the lawn made him turn back his head.
Rudolph was chomping the huge candy canes
with a sign on his antlers that said: REINDEER GAMES!
Santa stood laughing in spite of himself
at this CLEANUP CONTEST designed by the elves.
Before they could spot him, he slipped out of sight.
“Merry Christmas to all of you winners tonight!”
This is my 241 word entry to Susanna Hill's Holiday Contest. The rules? Write a 250 word holiday story for kids 12 and under about a holiday contest. So meta! 🙂 Many thanks to Susanna for creating such a fun contest and to all the judges and prize donors for their time and generosity!
