Each year the Westerly News holds a holiday story contest in early December, open to writers of all ages. Prizes are awarded to first and second place winners chosen in four different categories.
For 2024, we challenged writers to include three items in their stories: star, snowman and storm. Here is one of the winning entries.
Lily Vanderbeek never understood a tropical Christmas. Her favourite part of Christmas was making a snowman.
This year, unfortunately, her mom surprised her with a trip to Mexico.
Mom, I can't leave my masterpiece Frosty behind!”
Frosty was three days old and he was very disappointed to be a snowman. Frosty’s buttons went all the way up to his eyes. He had a wilted carrot for a nose. He was offended by his second-hand top hat.
The worst part was that he had to stare longingly at the beautiful snow woman across the street. She had an organic carrot nose and a beautiful designer hat. Her eyes were gemstones and sparkled like a star. He wished to be transported across the street but he couldn't move.
The day that Lily left, a huge snowstorm came and toppled Frosty over. It blew him into a big ball. He rolled down the driveway and across the street and to the neighbour’s door.
The next day, the neighbours put him back together. He was thrilled to see that he was right next to his snow woman. He looked way better on this side of the street. They replaced his droopy carrot with a beautiful organic one. His hat was brand new. This is what Frosty would call, "Living the life."
Life on this side of the street was amazing. The kids brought him cookies and sang to him — not off-key like Lily did. If his carrot wilted, it would be replaced.
But the day Christmas came, the kids were too absorbed in gifts to care about him. Now he actually missed Lily. Lily always loved him.
As they say, "the snow is always whiter on the other side."
Well, I guess they don't really say that, but Frosty does.
Hannah Dennison,
Grade 5,
Wickaninnish Community School
Grade 5–7 WINNER
