SUSANNA LEONARD HILL’S 8TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONTEST!!!

If you’re up to it, post your entry on your blog between 12:01 AM EST Thursday December 6 and Saturday December 8 at 11:59 PM EST.

Write a children’s holiday story about a Holiday Hero! WC 250.

For further instructions click here.

The important thing is not to win but to take part.

Here’s my entry.

A retelling of The Fir Tree – Hans Christian Andersen

Out in the nursery stood a little fir tree. It wasn’t the best place to be.

Surrounded by tall and strong spruces and pines, he wished he’d be taller like the ones that lived where the sun shines.

The children would stop and say, “Oh, what a nice little fir tree.”

Fir sighed, “Oh! If only I were as tall as the others are, then I could spread my branches and give a home to the animals, or be someones Christmas tree.”

The next day Fir trembled at the sight of big machinery with steel claws hovering over the trees.  They grabbed the tallest trees in the nursery while a big chain cut them down and lopped off their branches. The bare trees dangled in midair and were then piled up on a truck. And off they went.

“But where to?” said Fir to Owl perched on a spruce tree.

“Don’t be in a rush to grow-up little Fir, enjoy your youth.”

Owl flew away as a child approached the little fir tree. Luckily for Fir, Owl thought, she chose another.

Fir sighed and fell asleep as darkness fell upon the nursery.

The next morning Fir woke up in a beautiful forest. His roots weren’t cramped up in a pot but spread out on the soil. He slowly dug his roots into the moist ground.

“It’s a miracle!” he whooped.

Then he heard his friend’s loud cheers, “Merry Christmas Fir!”