Dust off the decorations. Strike up the band. Bake, bake, bake and bake some more (especially if it’s chocolate). It’s time for
Susanna Hill’s 8th Annual Holiday Contest!
The Contest: Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as age 12 and under) about A Holiday Hero! Your hero’s act of heroism can be on a grand scale or a small one – from saving Christmas to leaving a fresh-baked loaf of Challah bread for a homeless person to something like Gift Of The Magi where two people give up the thing most important to them to be sure someone they love has a good holiday. Your hero can be obvious or unlikely. 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 250 words. Entries are posted, or linked to, Susanna’s post. Grab some cocoa, scurry over & enjoy some wonderful holiday stories! You’ll be glad you did (and so will the writers, if you leave comments).
And now, for my 246-word entry…
Hester Saves Christmas
Hester loved jingling bells, the scent of sparkling pine trees, and the promise of present-filled stockings hung by Farmer O’Neill’s chimney. She especially loved stories of Santa and his reindeer.
“Mama, can I can pull Santa’s sleigh next year?” Hester asked.
“Flying reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh, Hester. And everyone knows Highland Cows can’t fly.”
But I can dream, thought Hester. And practice.
She hopped over heather and thistles.
“Ouch!”
She jumped across rocky streams…almost.
SPLASH!
She trotted uphill, leapt, and…
tumbled down a steep slope.
Moooo…
Hester kept trying…
and trying…
and trying…
but not quite succeeding.
As Christmas drew near, Hester turned her nose from pine trees and looked away from the chimney. She hung her shaggy head. Large tears fell, freezing like a glistening beard.
“A blizzard,” sighed Farmer O’Neill on Christmas Eve. “No presents tomorrow. Santa’s reindeer can’t fly through this mess. Into the barn, girls.”
All but one shuffled into the warm barn.
Hester trudged through deep snowdrifts. She shivered in the blustery wind and slipped on icy paths until…
She heard a faint jingle-jingle. She scrambled and spied…
Santa in his sleigh with eight grounded reindeer stuck in a snow pile.
Hester pulled, tugged and led the reindeer, sleigh and Santa along the snowy trail.
The next morning, presents filled stockings. Laughter rang like jingling bells across the farm.
“Merry Christmas, Hester,” Farmer O’Neill said. “Wake up! Somehow Santa came!”
Hester yawned and wondered,
Can a cow hide Easter eggs?
Wander, Ponder, Write 
Huzzah for Hester!
Thanks!
Thanks Katie. Glad you liked her story.
Whoa, I did not see that ending coming. Can’t wait to see what Hester does for Easter. Mayhaps she tries to sit on the eggs? Yipes!!
Great idea! Thanks!
Oh my goodness…Hester is a clever and very determined cow! Hurray for her! She knew what she wanted to do and she did it! What a fun unique hero story, Patricia…and your surprise ending is great!
Thanks Vivian. The idea for this character has been around awhile – since we lived in London & visited Scotland years ago. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to writer her story.
I love it! Way to go, hero Hester and her hero cows! 🙂
Thanks, Sarah! I love Christmas cows!
Love Hester’s optimism in this Christmas story, Patricia!
Thanks Dee. Persistence is definitely a theme.
Very nicely done! I think this is the first story I have ever read of a Christmas cow. 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
Thanks Colleen. Our hooves are crossed that we get points for originality!
Hester is so determined. What a hero! I love the cute ending, too!
Thanks Judy. Maybe a sequel for the next contest!
Hester’s true identity was the cow that jumped over the moon, so I am not surprised that she could fly in a pinch too! Cheers to Hester for saving Christmas!
Love that idea! I think this story has some revision in its future.
I am happy to read the revision, Patricia!
Wonderful story, Patricia. I enjoyed Hester’s display of determination while practicing and rescuing Santa’s team. Love the surprise ending!
Thanks for stopping by & reading Hester’s story. So glad you enjoyed it!
What a fun story! I love Hester the hero … and her thoughts towards expanding her hero shenanigans – I mean help – to other holidays in need.
Thanks Sue! I feel a “sequel” in Hester’s future.
Super cute story, Patricia! Hooray for Hester! Love her name too.
I love Hester! The illustrations would be so hilarious.
Thanks so much! She is a spunky cow!
Hooray for Hester! And way to go, crossing holidays off the bovine bucket list. Very cute story!
A “bovine bucket list” – I like that idea. Thanks for reading & commenting – it means so much to me, and Hester!
Bovine bucket list – what a terrific idea! Thank you, Mishka.
Can a cow hide Easter eggs? Awesome. So original. So sweet. Get this published somehow. I can picture the scenes with the cow trying to fly.
Thanks so much Eleanor. I’m so happy you enjoyed meeting Hester & reading her story!
The “steaks” were high and Hester pulled through. A very aMOOsing story. Good luck!
Ha ha! No barbecue in this story, but I’ll warn Hester to avoid any 4th of July feasts!
Patricia, this is SO cute and what an unlikely hero! Well-written, fun, and you STUCK the ending. I’m ready for “Here Comes Easter Cow.” Merry Christmas, friend.
Thanks so much, Kathy. I’m so glad you met, and liked, Hester. Merry Christmas to you, too, and happy writing in 2019!
Great humor, great ending. I love how visual the story is. Terrific, Patricia!
Thanks David! I had fun writing this – Susanna’s contests are the best!
Great story Patricia. The twist at the end added even more delight!
Thanks Lauri! I had fun with this & am so glad you liked it.
Very fun! I love Scottish highland cattle and so glad Hester brought Christmas to the farm!
Thanks Nancy. I’m so happy you enjoyed Hester’s tale.
Oh my goodness, Patricia! I LOVE Hester! She’s my kind of gal – plucky, determined, and not to be beat! I love how hard she tries, and how her determination to help pays off. Hurray for Hester, a hero of a highland cow 🙂 And love the last line… I guess I’m going to have to run an Easter contest now! 🙂 Thanks for joining in the Holiday fun!
Thanks Susanna! Hester & I think an Easter (or Spring holiday) contest is a super idea🙂