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Monday, December 9, 2013

The Real Santa...A True Story

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The fabulous Susanna L. Hill is holding  
 The 3rd Annual Holiday Contest!!!
and I decided to enter!  Here is Susanna's contest info.  My submission is below. 
If you have the time, you are welcome to vote beginning Monday, December 16 and running through
Wednesday, December 18


The Contest: Write a children's story about a Holiday Mishap, mix-up, miscommunication, mistake, or potential disaster (a la Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer :)). 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 350 words not counting the title (aren't I being generous?! :) It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350!) Did the dog knock over the Christmas Tree? Did little Johnny's costume get grape juice all over it moments before the holiday pageant? Did the menorah go missing? Did travel arrangements get snarled or miscommunicated? Did Santa's sleigh have to make an emergency landing? The field is wide open! Have fun! (And because so many people have mentioned this, the story does not have to be funny! You can have a holiday mishap that is serious or sweet or mysterious... Please don't feel that you have to go the humor route! Also, because a number of people have mentioned it this time, no art notes please.)

Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between now and Friday December 13 at 11:59 PM EST and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below which will remain up through Sunday December 15. (There will be no WYRI or PPBF this week.) If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you!)

The Judging: My lovely assistant(s) and I will narrow down the entrants to 6-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on Monday December 16 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Wednesday December 18 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Thursday December 19. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to sixth place. Remember, judging criteria will be kid appeal/friendliness, originality/suitability of mishap, quality of story, and quality of writing.
 
 
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The Real Santa...A True Story
by
Sharon P. Stanley
341 words
 
The year I turned 10, it snowed on Christmas Eve… a lot.  We rarely have a white Christmas, so when we do, things come to a screeching halt.  It was l966, and my mother happily wrapped gifts secure in the knowledge all was ready for Santa.  Daddy decorated the tree.  My brother and I were tucked in bed, dreaming of sugar plums…or in my case, a Kissy Doll.
 
Kissy was the doll that year.  Dressed in red gingham, she stood, arms outstretched ready to “kiss” anyone who squeezed them together.   Kissy was all I asked for, so when Ma took her from the box for a test kiss, she almost cried when Kissy would not oblige.  It was late and snow was flying, already several inches deep.  Kissy had been purchased at Miller & Rhodes downtown, 20 miles from home.
 
Ever the optimist, Ma called the store hoping someone would answer.  The gentleman who did was obviously enjoying a last minute party, jovial spirit sounding in his voice.
 
“Madam,” he said, “you have my solemn promise, your daughter will wake up with a Kissy doll under the tree tomorrow morning.”
 
Ma gave him our address, more hopeful than certain this would be the case.  She assumed by the time he removed the lampshade from his head, he would not remember it was Christmas, let alone locate a Kissy doll in the six story department store, and deliver it in a raging snowstorm.
 
 The snow fell hard and fast.  Soon after 11pm, a yellow cab rounded the corner and slid to a stop barely missing our lamp post.    A well dressed gentleman knocked on the door, red-faced from the cold, the office celebration, or both.  When he handed her the Kissy doll, bowed deeply and wished her all the joy of the season, Ma did not see a tipsy executive, she saw the real Santa.  Needless to say, we shopped at Miller & Rhodes until they closed their doors many years later, and I, that little girl,  had the merriest of Christmases.
 
 
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I hope you enjoyed my entry.  Click the link to Susanna's blog above and read some other fun fun holiday submissions, and peek at her blog beginning December 16 to vote for your fave from the finalists!  In the mean time, complete your Christmas shopping with.....
LITTLE DOG!! (who else!?)
 
 
 
 
 

49 comments:

  1. FANTASTIC! A real life Miracle on 34th Street.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment. I went back and added the contest information in case you are interested in reading more...such technicalities always throw me off!!

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  2. What a lovely story... and memory. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. How sweet Cindy! I edited the original post and added the contest instructions in case you want to peek at those...just took me a while!

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  3. I assume that is a true story from your life? How heartwarming and marvelous! I loved it.

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    1. It is a true story and yes, it happened to me...thanks for reading. I edited and added the contest instructions if you are interested in voting....it just took me a little while to figure out how!

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  4. What a sweet story, and what a kind man.

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  5. Thank you Carrie. I still remember that Christmas, so obviously it made an impression, though it was years before I knew the whole story! I added the contest rules to the post if you are interested.

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  6. That's a lovely story Sharon! I couldn't resist checking out Kissy on Google, as my older cousin had many dolls and I always thought hers were wonderful. She didn't own Kissy, but here is a fun link with more information: http://blippee.com/blog/all-toys/kissy-doll

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    1. Thanks for the link Cathy! My Kissy is no longer with me, but I loved her!

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  7. Great story, Sharon! We must be contemporaries because while your story was about a Kissy Doll, it made me remember my coveted Krissy Doll of 1968 (I looked up the year-geez, I feel old). She grew long red hair...hmm, I wonder if that had an effect on my being a redhead for ahem, plenty-nine years. Happy Holidays to you and yours! - Donna Sadd:0)

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  8. What a lovely story and a lovely memory. Well done!

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  9. How wonderful. Gives me chills to think that such kindness existed at one time.

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    1. Thanks Michelle...Kindness certainly exists today, but THIS was real customer service!

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  10. Thanks for sharing that story. That's the definition of true customer service. :D Loved the story.

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  11. What a beautiful story, Sharon--even more beautiful because it's true! :) Happy holidays!

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  12. I love true stories and that is a great one. Unfortunately, don't think anyone from a store these days would do such a thing but hope I'm wrong ;-) Loved it! Btw: I'm Kim - using "Anonymous" was the only way I could comment on your story :-)

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    1. Kim, I love a true story too...and this one was fun to write!

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  13. Yes, this is a very special story, Sharon. It's the true spirit of Christmas!

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  14. I have never stopped believing in Santa!

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    1. I was always told he comes as long as you believe....I still believe!

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  15. Oh, what a wonderful story! all the better because it's true! I can just imagine your mother's dismay when she found the doll didn't work! And isn't it wonderful that there are people like the Santa-like gentleman in the world? That's what the spirit of Christmas is all about! Thanks for joining in the holiday fun with such a heart-warming tale! :)

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    1. Thanks Susanna, and thanks for the excuse to write it!

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  16. Heartfelt and true...those are the best stories! And you told it so very well, Sharon. Have you sent this in to Reader's Digest or Chicken Soup for the Soul...this is exactly the kind of story they are looking for!

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    1. I've never thought of that Vivian...hmmm, I see a submission in my future...thanks for the suggestion!

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  17. Sharon, I think true stories are the best. Yours reminded me of my Chatty Cathy doll I received from an anut because my parents didn't have the money. Beautiful story. :-)

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    1. I had Chatty Cathy! Loved that doll...I was a doll fan! Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. What a wonderful story! It communicates how the spirit of the season seems to bring about magic.

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    1. Thank you Penny. There is magic in the air this time of year!

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  19. Awwww...what a beautiful story! I really enjoyed reading it - great job! :)

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  20. Aw, SO cute! I like the happy ending. :)

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    1. Thanks so much! I don't think I can write a story without a happy ending..it's not in my nature!

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  21. I wrote a story, quite different from yours, about my childhood , too. I like yours better. It has a better sense of humor. LOVE it actually. :)

    Merry Christmas!

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  22. Your story made me feel all warm and happy!

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  23. how wonderful. Many of the best stories are true. I still have my Chrissy doll from the late sixties. I totally enjoyed your story. thank you for sharing it.

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    1. Thanks so much. Dolls were such a part of childhood...very special!

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  24. Now that's customer service--lovely story!

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    1. Thank you Buffy. Good customer service is memorable...Merry Christmas!

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