Contest, Just for fun

Dashing Through the School

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To wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year (I’m getting in early as I know I’ll be super busy once school finishes tomorrow) I’ve got a present for you all! Here’s a little story I cooked up to the tune of Jingle Bells.

dashingthroughthechool sig

Dashing Through the School

Dashing through the school,

The bell’s about to ring,

I can’t be late again,

And disappoint Miss Sing.

I’ve got the leading role,

The play’s about to start,

Through the doors and up on stage,

I’m born to play this part!

Oh,

There’s the bell, there’s the bell,

I’m in the nick of time,

The auditorium is packed,

And the curtains start to climb.

Oh,

“Jingle bells, jingle bells,”

The chorus sings in tune,

My tummy’s feeling funny,

‘Cause I know it’s my turn soon.

I take a big deep breath,

Step forward on the stage,

Look out at the crowd,

Is that my Aunty Paige?

The lights shine in my face,

This costume’s far too hot,

The words catch in my throat,

An actor, I am not.

Oh,

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

They’re ringing in my head,

At practice I was doing fine,

But now I’m filled with dread!

Oh,

I’m not well, I’m not well,

I’m really feeling ill,

I wonder if it’s not too late,

To swap my part with Bill.

I take another breath,

Deliver my first line,

The butterflies are gone,

Suddenly, I’m fine.

When the play is done,

Applause rings ‘round the hall,

I take my final bow,

I’m an actor after all!

Oh,

I did well, I did well,

My heart is beating fast,

I never thought I’d feel this way,

The day that I was cast.

Oh,

“Jingle bells, jingle bells,”

I’ll sing it loud and clear,

I wonder if they’ll let me play,

This part again next year.

Word count: 257

I’m linking up to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog as part of her annual holiday contest. Be sure to pop over and read some of the other fabulous entries.

UPDATE: Dashing Through the School is a finalist! Head over to Susanna’s blog to read the other finalists and vote for your favourite (I warn you now there are some REALLY great entries and it will be hard to pick just one!)

*NEW UPDATE*: A new extended version of ‘Dashing Through the School’ is now available in the anthology Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit from Around the World. Pick up the Kindle version for $0.99 and discover a wide selection of family-friendly Christmas tales from a variety of talented authors.

Have a wonderful Christmas/holiday season!

41 thoughts on “Dashing Through the School”

  2. WONDERFUL Jo! Really super! Love the idea, and you executed it so well! Any child can relate to those stage fright jitters! So glad you found time to post your entry before school let out 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the holiday fun!

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    1. Writing short can be just as difficult, if not more difficult, than writing longer works, I think! It’s good practice for writing concisely in longer works, that’s for sure. I adore writing in rhyme 🙂

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  7. Love this! What a great idea to do it in first person and I love your changing verses. Happy Christmas to you and yours Jo!

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    1. Thanks, Laura! It’s certainly something I can remember feeling as a kid (and still feel sometimes as an adult, too!)

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  13. Jo, this is so good! I love the stage fright (we’ve all had that, right)…and how she perseveres and not only gets through it, but enjoys it and wants to do it next year. 🙂 Great rhyme also!

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    1. Thanks, Vivian! At this time of year with lots of kids in school Christmas plays, I thought it would be something most kids could relate to.

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne! I can still remember the nervous butterflies of going on stage in school plays and the feelings of relief and elation afterwards.

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  15. You did a great job with this, Jo. This is such a fun story. As a child, I was always running to school because I was late. As an adult I am constantly challenged with not falling back into the “late” habit. Your first lines hooked me immediately. You have painted every scene so clearly that I really felt the girl’s fears and concerns. I related so much, I figure it has to be a girl 🙂 I am happy that she got over her stage fright and is ready to do it again next year.

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    1. I can remember running to catch the school bus in time (and sometimes being just in the nick of time as it was about to leave). Now as a mum it’s all about making sure my son is at school before the bell.

      I didn’t really have a gender in mind as I wrote it. I wrote it more with the intention that any child would be able to relate, whether a boy or girl. I think in the beginning I was writing with a boy’s voice in my head, but on rereads I read it with more of a girl’s voice.

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  18. Jo, that was splendid! A school play is a wonderful idea. Love the emotions your character was going through- from I am not an actor to declaring, “I am an actor.” And Your rhyme flowed very well. Great job!

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  21. Pingback: More Christmas presents for my readers! | Jo Hart – Author

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