The 6th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!

 

Valentines Day is all about emotion. The lovely and talented Susanna Leonard Hill challenged us to write a Valentines story appropriate for children with a maximum of 214 words in which someone feels brave! Details here.

 

Untangled  Valentines  

by Janie Reinart  179 words

 

This Valentine’s day is

tangled

like my hair…

like

my

thoughts.

 

One last time,

I brush

my bangs.

 

Put on

the gift

from my sister—

a new red

headband.

 

She’s been

in the hospital

a lot.

 

My sister

worries…

no one

will want

to be her

valentine.

 

My sister

worries…

no one

will think

she is

pretty

anymore.

 

Clumps

of her hair

fall out—

rest

on her pillow.

 

Today,

we leave for

another

appointment.

 

I promise her

—cross my heart—

I will hold

her hand

the whole time…

 

First,

they tie her hair

into ponytails.

 

Scissors

snip,

snip.

 

Then clippers

buzz,

buzz.

 

My heart beats

ba-boom,

ba-boom,

ba-boom.

 

What’s left

of her soft curls

fall

to

the

floor.

 

I clutch her hand.

 

In minutes

her little head is …

bald.

 

I blink fast.

Squeeze

my eyes

closed.

And swallow

hard.

 

Her small mouth

quivers

into a half smile.

“Want to rub my head for good luck?”

 

I exhale.

 

Slowly,

I take off

my new headband.

 

The words

untangle

on

my

tongue.

 

“Better than that,” I say softly.

“I’m next.”

 

7 thoughts on “The 6th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!”

  1. This is beautiful Janie. There is so much of your heart in this lovely poem. Good luck to my amazing CP!

  2. What a wonderfully unique way of presenting bravery in a Valentine themed story. There is such active, visual engagement in your story, Janie. I just love it. Well done.

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