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:
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!)
Happy Christmas and I love this Prima Donna first person POV!
Thanks, Joanna. Merry Christmas to you, too!
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!
Thanks, Susanna! I had such fun writing it. Thanks for hosting the contest and giving me the inspiration!
I am always amazed by what a complete story can be told in rhyme in so few words!
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
A Christmas play — very original. Loved the stage fright and the resolution, something all kids must learn. Great rhyming!
Thanks, Patricia!
Dealing with stage fright — what a great basis for a super poem! Thanks!
Thank you, Beth!
Ha – love it!
I hope you have an absolutely fabulous Christmas.
xxx
Thanks, Michelle! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, too. xxx
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!
Thank you, Catherine! Happy Christmas to you and your family, too.
What a great idea and you did a wonderful job with the rhyme. Well done!
Thanks, Carrie!
What a unique version of Jingle Bells. It is so accessible and most kids can relate to performance jitters. Great job!
Thanks, Laura! It’s certainly something I can remember feeling as a kid (and still feel sometimes as an adult, too!)
Nice job! You got the rhyme and rhythm spot on. Love how you caught the feelings.
Thanks, Margaret! I love writing in rhyme
Impressively done! You took us from nerves, to performance, to relief, and all in rhyme! Well done
Thanks, Maria!
Excellent! I wrote a poem called “Opening Night” recently – so many great emotions to mine in that experience, and you really nailed it. Brava!
Thank you, Renee!
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!
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.
Your story flows so well and tells a story we all know, stage fright at the school play, and that exhilaration afterwards!
Thanks, Yvonne! I can still remember the nervous butterflies of going on stage in school plays and the feelings of relief and elation afterwards.
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.
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.
Love it! It’s fun and cute and really pulls the reader into the story and the emotions the narrator is feeling.
Thank you!
wonderful story. you captured the experience well.
Thanks, Darshana.
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!
Thank you, Romelle!
This is FABULOUS! Crazy Good. So glad you made the finals (so I could vote for you).
Thank you! And thanks so much for your vote!
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! You did such a great job, Jo. You nailed the rhyme and the story was so appealing!
Congrats on the finals!
Thanks so much, Penny! I’m biting my nails waiting for the results to go up now!