STEINBACH, MAN. THE CARILLON n C5
www.thecarillon.com n
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
C hristmas W riting C ontest WINNERS
THIRD PLACE - JUNIOR POETRY AND STORIES
Christmas Eve
by Kara Graham GRUNTHAL, MB
I t was Christmas Eve, and all the kids were singing Christmas carols, the smell of fresh baked pie ringing in their noses. Mom had hot chocolate in one hand a candy cane in the other. I had just finished setting up the Christmas tree, the last thing needed was the star on the top. I reached out my hand to put the star on until my mom said, “time for bed!” She marched us to our rooms and tucked us in. I looked at the time. “11:59” I muttered to myself. It’s almost midnight I thought. I looked into the pitch-black sky and closed my eyes. For some reason I had a hard time sleeping tonight. I shifted in my bed uncom- fortably. I shut my eyes real hard, but then… I heard a twinkling sound outside my room. “W-who’s there?” I shouted. “Twinkler twinkle,” it responded. “This isn’t funny! Come out from your hid- ing spot!” I was pretty scared of the dark, so it took me around five minutes to build up the cour- age to go check out the noise. I didn’t really believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy or Elfs on the Shelf. I didn’t believe any of that tuff, until… this very night. I looked down the hallway; nothing. I looked in the bathroom; nothing. I looked in the kitchen; nothing. I looked in the living room and there, standing right in front of me was an Elf. “What are you doing here buddy, you were on the windowsill yesterday, how did you get here?” I was thinking of all the possibilities of how he could have gotten here and the best ex- planation I had was that my brother put him here. I turned around and started away, but I heard that twinkling again. “I know you’re messing with me Caleb!” I shouted, no response. Caleb was my six- year-old brother, he always messed around with me. This is stupid I thought. I turned around and to my surprise the elf was flying. “What the… I must be dreaming!” I pinched myself to make sure I was dreaming. “Ouch!” I was definitely not dreaming. Wait, if I’m not dreaming then why is the elf flying? “Mom! Dad!” I shouted. “Shhh, you’re going to wake them up!” a tiny voice said. “What do you want from me?” I said as I turned around.
“Nothing, I’m just hiding my- self,” the elf said. “Wait, why are you hiding yourself?” I said in a con- fused voice. and your brother were going to wake up, I’d be hidden you would have to find me, but now it’s all ruined. You’re sup- posed to be asleep! No one is supposed to catch me in the act of hiding,” the elf said. “Because it’s the first of December! When you I was still processing all of this. I was half awake, half asleep. “What? None of this makes sense. I thought you were just a fake toy that my mom and dad hid around the house.” The elf was just about to talk but then we heard loud footsteps coming rom up- stairs. “Uh oh, this isn’t good! Hide me!” I rushed around the house trying to find a hiding spot, but it was too late, my dad already came down. “Shoot,” I whispered. “What’s all the noise Jake?” my dad said in a tired voice. “I-it’s nothing dad! Just go back to sleep,” I said. “Kids these days,” my dad re- sponded. When my dad left, I talked with the elf til it was al- most sunrise. “Shoot! I gotta go! Calebe and your parents are gonna wake up any minute now!” the elf said with caution. “Oh OK, I hope we meet again!” We said our goodbyes as he left the living room to hide himself, then I went to sleep in my room. That was the best night ever!
Pyrogie Heaven FOURTH PLACE - ADULT POETRY
Joyeux Noël WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!
by Terry Serediuk PARADISE VILLAGE, MB
T he laughter of my youth and Mom’s joy. Making pyrogies and holubtsi. The warmth and smells of the stove, ushered in the sprit of Christmas. Just yesterday the house was full: presents, family and the sounds. Horses pulling a sled to the church nearby. The crunch of the snow and the holiness of the Christmas carols echoing from within. The smell of incense permeating the air and the rosy cheeks of the young; glowing against the room of candles. Such blessings of yesteryear’s memories still resonate as the herald angels sing. It’s time to open up the presents of good health, good friends, wonderful family, and our faith in the joys of Christmas.
Dear Santa... JUNIOR POETRY AND STORIES
by Presley Goertzen GRUNTHAL, MB D ear Santa.
I would ask for my two front teeth, but I already have them. My mom already said I couldn’t have a hip- popotamus, so what am I supposed to want for Christmas? Maybe a yoyo, maybe a doll. No, all I want for Christmas is you! I’m kidding. I want to have joy, to be loved, and I want everyone to be happy! Merry Christmas!
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