Holiday Contest!

Once again a contest dragged me away from my “actual job” and inspired me to write a story. This year’s Holiday Contest from Susanna Leonard Hill is themed around Holiday Helpers.

I am especially pleased with the title…

Post = another word for pole
Post = assigned job
Post = mail

And now, I’m going to POST my submission for your enjoyment.

Hehe.

North Post

By Amy Flynn
249 words

“Jinx! You’re Elf Helper for…”

“Not the mailroom…not the mailroom,” Jinx muttered, his fingers crossed.

“...the mailroom!” boomed Santa cheerfully.

Jinx’s hopes shattered like a fallen ornament.

Each day, for 363 days, Jinx was doomed to

open the mail,
sort the mail, and
record entries in the cheersheet.

Day in and day out, his mind wandered.

His fingers fumbled.
His spirits grumbled.
He didn’t care about the cheersheet. No one did.

On day 364, Christmas Eve, Jinx slunk to the mailroom, to find...

“Santa!?”

“Jinx, it’s you and me today. Let’s check the list!”

‘List?...THE list?” marveled Jinx.

“Of course! My naughty and nice list comes directly from YOUR cheersheet! So, what have we got?” Santa said.

Carly Clark, Age 3 - coffee maker
Jimmy Buttons, Age 19 - pacifier
Lonnie Issac, Age 8 - broccoli

Jinx’s cheeks blushed crimson.

“A coffee maker?” Santa asked, pulling his beard.

Jinx looked down at his mistletoes.

“Well, if that’s what she wants,” Santa mumbled.

Jinx’s heart crumbled.

“Oh, Santa...I’m sorry! I messed up the whole list!”

“You don’t say...” Santa mused, a twinkle in his eye.

Teardrops dashed down Jinx’s face. “I’ve ruined Christmas!”

“Ho, ho, NO,” said Santa, “We just have some work to do.”

And indeed they did.

All day, Jinx and Santa sorted mail. Piece by piece.

Checking once.

Checking twice.

Later, amidst the celebratory swirl of a successful Christmas, Santa boomed, “Quiet! Quiet! Who’s ready for Elf Helper Assignments?!”

“The mailroom! The mailroom!” Jinx muttered, his fingers crossed.