WELLINGTON COUNTY – The winners of the inaugural Olive and Fred Robins Junior Short Story Contest have been announced by the Wellington County Library.
The contest was made possible thanks to a bequest from the estate of the late Frederick Hardy Robins, a strong supporter of library services.
It is open to Wellington County students in Grades 4 to 6, who were invited to submit original short stories between 500 and 750 words.
There were two winners, two runner-ups, and one prize for a name drawn randomly from all entrants.
The Advertiser is publishing one winning story, Home for Christmas by Heidi Smits, in this issue. The other winning story, The Craziest Farm Day Ever by Gavin Smith, was published previously.
Home for Christmas
By Heidi Smits
Noel laid in bed thinking about Christmas trees covered with twinkling ornaments, the snow sparkling in the moonlight, hot chocolate and egg nog.
Normally these things would have filled her with joy, but this year Noel knew Christmas would be very different.
It was 1942 in the small town in Canada where Noel and her mother lived. Her dad was away fighting in the war. Noel’s mother was constantly checking the radio and looking through the papers.
Noel did share in Christmas games and events, but she wasn’t as happy as the other kids. There was one huge question that Noel couldn’t shake from her head. Would her dad be home for Christmas? She had never spent a Christmas without him.
December 25 was growing closer each day and yet there had been no news about the soldiers being able to return home. Her mother had tried everything to cheer Noel up, but all her attempts failed.
One day when Noel was getting the mail, a letter fluttered out of a package that a man was carrying out the door. The man had a long white beard, and long silver hair. He had a twinkle in his blue eyes and rosy cheeks. Noel picked up the letter and ran outside, but the man was gone. Not knowing what to do, she went to the counter where a woman was standing.
“Hello miss, a man dropped this letter. I was wondering if you could put it in his mail box?”
The woman took the letter and said, “Is your name Noel Georgeson?”
Noel was surprised and said, “Yes! How did you know?”
The woman smiled. “This letter is for you then.”
She gave the letter back to a shocked Noel. Noel looked at the letter again and saw that indeed it was addressed to her! She grabbed the rest of their mail and hurried home.
When she burst through the door, Noel’s mom was making lunch.
“Mom!” Noel cried “I got a letter!”
“Hmm, you did?”
Noel nodded enthusiastically. Her mom took the letter and said, “How about you open it?”
Noel ran to the kitchen table. She had never gotten a letter before! She tore open the delicate paper and found a white sheet folded in half. She unfolded the paper and anxiously scanned the words. It said:
Dear Noel,
We got the news today that we’ll be sent out a week before Christmas. Though I’ll try my very best to be home for Christmas, I probably won’t make it home in time. Remember I love you and here is two dollars to spend on whatever you choose. Have a merry, magical Christmas.
With love,
Daddy
Noel looked in the envelope and saw two crisp one-dollar bills. She had never had so much money to spend on whatever she wanted. Though it was comforting to know he was alright, realizing her dad wasn’t going to be home for Christmas brought tears to her eyes.
Finally, the night of December 24 had arrived. While other kids on her street were admiring their Christmas trees, playing, or just enjoying Christmas Eve, Noel was inside, sitting in her room, looking outside at the falling snow.
Her mom came up and said, “C’mon hon. You can’t stay locked up in your room for all of Christmas. Mrs. Pete said that we could come to her house for Christmas Eve.”
Noel knew her mom was right and was just trying to help but, she didn’t feel like going.
“I’m not feeling the best mom.”
Her mom sat down beside her and said, “I know you miss your father. I miss him too, but he wouldn’t want us sulking on Christmas Eve.”
Seeing that nothing would make Noel less miserable, she left and closed the door. Christmas Eve passed with no singing carols or roasting chestnuts or Christmas cake. Noel and her mother went to bed.
Noel awoke in the middle of the night to a strange noise. She tiptoed downstairs and saw a sight that made her smile so wide it hurt her cheeks.
Her dad was standing beside a Christmas tree full of glittering ornaments! Noel ran down the stairs and hugged him.
“Merry Christmas!” he said, squeezing her back.
Noel’s mom was soon downstairs to see what all the commotion was about. When she saw her husband and daughter hugging, she joined in.
And there in a small living room was the happiest Christmas Noel could have dreamed.
