Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2020 Holiday Contest

Pulling out my coziest socks, admiring the lights around the neighborhood, making little people-shaped ginger cookies to devour… ah yes, it must be time for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Holiday Contest!

Are you tired of me raving about her contests yet? There’s something so freeing and FUN about having a limited amount of time and a limited number of words and playing with ideas until you slap one out there just in the nick of time. I am always surprised by the stories that come out under these deadlines. And I find so much JOY in writing them and in reading the amazing heartfelt, clever, and hilarious entries.

With no more howls about it, here’s my holiday story about a helper, in 250 words or less:

Winona the Wolf Spreads Holiday Cheer 
By Nicole Loos Miller
(248 words)

It had been a rough year for Winona’s pack, and she wanted to spread some holiday cheer. 

But the other wolves didn’t make it easy. They turned their snouts at knitting for cold villagers, shook their heads at harmonizing howls for a holiday concert, and refused to even try Winona’s Meatless Mince Pies. 

“Maybe Grandmama would like a new scarf,” thought Winona. “Plus, walks help me think.” She tucked a scarf into her basket and set off into the woods. 

Inspiration struck when she spotted some delicious mushrooms. 

“I could make soup for Grandmama!” 

But, when she came across a hungry rabbit family, Winona offered them her mushrooms instead. 

Wolves weren’t really fungi fans anyway. 

At least she still had the scarf for Grandmama. 

But, she couldn’t turn a cold shoulder to a shivering possum family. 

And Grandmama already had a fur coat.

Winona sighed. Did she know how to make anyone in her family happy?  

She’d almost reached Grandmama’s cottage when she heard – CAROLERS! 

A herd of sheep warbled. Their pitch was off, but Winona clapped politely. 

“Our lead singer has lamb-ingitis,” said one of the sheep.

“We sound baaaaaaaad!”

“Pssst, Winona,” Grandmama whispered. “Can you get these sheep out of here! They’re giving me a headache.”

“I can do that.” Winona grinned.

She could make Grandmama happy and spread holiday cheer in her favorite way.

“Need an extra singer?” asked Winona. 

Her heart was filled with joy as Winona led the harmonious herd through the forest.