Susanna Leonard Hill’s holiday writing contest is underway! Here is my entry:
HOLIDAY NEIGHBORS
In November my email DINGS! It reads:
“Sam, I can’t deliver Christmas this year. I broke my back! All the doctors at the North Pole say I have to stay in bed for six weeks! I don’t know what to do. The elves stopped making toys and Mrs. Claus went on vacation. This is a total disaster! Please write back.”
Santa needs my help? Doesn’t he have a lawyer, psychologist or dermatologist or someone else to ask?
Mom says Santa knows I’m organized and that is why he asks me for my help.
I ask the social worker at my school what to do. She looks at me funny and then says she’ll be seeing me quite a bit in the new year.
I ask the lunch lady what to do, she says, “Lay off the sugar, kid.”
The nurse checks my temperature. “Normal, kind of,” she replies under her breath.
Oh, no! Christmas is in big trouble!
I remember there are other holidays around this time, so I call up Hanukkah and Kwanza.
Hanukkah says, “Happy to help! We don’t start lighting candles until January this year. We’ll bring the gifts, one for each child.”
Kwanza says, “One of our main principles is to create unity in the world. We’ll bring the food as it brings us all together around the table.”
Hurrah! It’s all coming together. Presents and food arrive at homes everywhere.
Christmas day is a huge success—thanks to our holiday neighbors.
A couple of months later, Cupid texts me…
Lori Himmel 
I love this! Funny, clever, and uniting. May all families, everywhere, come together around the table for gifts of love, and food! Great ending! 🙂
Thank you so much Jill!
So glad Sam could save Christmas and hope Santa is back up soon. Wonderful pulling of all the holiday’s together, Lori. Good luck in the contest 🙂
Oh, thank you so much!
Well auto correct did a number on my comment above…love the crazy words and phrases it creates 🙂
I love how you combine holidays in such a creative way! And you’ve got some hilarious lines in there, too. Good luck!
I’m loving these contests, aren’t you? Thank you!!!
Yes! I think it also makes me feel like I’m moving forward in some way. Even if my other work is being rejected….
Love the surprise ending and the way you brought all the holidays together. Clever!
Thank you so much! It was fun to write!
Very thoughtful and cute. Thanks.
Fun, and wonderfully inclusive. I love it!
Thank you! We celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah so it felt right. 🙂
Cute story. “Lay off the sugar kid” loved that line. Good luck.
I always say that to my kids, so it fit perfectly here! Thanks so much! You too!
Very creative, Lori, and a nice surprise ending. Good luck!
Thank you Delfina! These have been fun!
I love how you personify Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. What a clever idea. And now you have a great idea for her Valentine contest. (She has one right?!)
Thanks Stephanie!
Ah, didn’t know she did a Valentine’s one…perfect! 🙂
You have the perfect segue into Susanna’s Valentiny contest. =) Good luck!
Thanks Gregory!
You sure do!!! 🙂
What a fun story, Lori! I love that somehow everyone knows that Sam is the go-to for help in organizational crises! 🙂 What a reputation to have 🙂 Love how you personified Hanukkah and Kwanza and wove them all together into a unified celebration! Wouldn’t it be great if the world could be so accepting?! Thanks so much for a wonderful entry!
You’re so sweet Susanna! Thank you for your kind words. Looking forward to the results. 🙂