2008 Holiday Writing Contest
2008 Holiday Writing Contest
2008 Holiday Writing Contest
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The winners: Holiday Writing ContestThe New Mexican's Holiday Writing Contest garnered 226 entries this year — a wonderfully varied (and, sometimes, wildly imaginative) collection of stories, essays, and poetry by adults, teens, and children in our readership area. The Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences was well-represented in the winners' circle again this year, as were the Academy for Technology and the Classics, and Carlos Gilbert and Piñon Elementary Schools. We've given awards to the 25 pieces published here — and an additional 11 honorable mentions can be found at www.santafenewmexican.com/writingcontest/ — but we think of everyone who entered the contest as a winner. For putting pen to paper — or fingers to keyboard — we thank you, one and all, for challenging our minds, tickling our funny bones, and most of all, for warming our hearts in this holiday season. Read the full story |
The Evil Tree That Almost Ruined ChristmasFirst Place, children's storiesVal JacksonOnce upon a time, a boy named Eustace, who was a very mischievous boy, got himself into the worst kind of trouble ever — even worse than the time he tried to steal a plasma TV out of a store. Because of all the bad things he did, he had no presents at Christmas, and his parents made him wash floors. This enraged Eustace so much that he decided to get back at Santa. So he downloaded a magic spell off the Internet and used it to enchant a metal tree. He programmed the tree to grow 10 times bigger and to acquire evil powers like breathing fire. Then it was supposed to attack Santa's workshop so no one would get any toys this year. Read the full story | |
A Trap for SantaFirst Place, teens' storiesWilliam FongTen-year-old Ross J. Moore finished wrapping the bright golden, green, and red gift wrap around a reasonably sized box. To finish he placed the silver satin ribbon around the decorated box. Ross grabbed a musical card that played All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth and placed it gently on the cherry-tree table. Next he grabbed a fully filled gold fountain pen and began to scribble smoothly and gently. He finished the last stroke and then taped the card to the top of the present. Read the full story | |
SkiingFirst Place, teens' essaysKiana Keleher JupiterI sped down the icy slope, the chill wind biting my nose. All too soon, I reached the bottom and collapsed into the soft snow. My mother and I were skiing with friends in Colorado. We planned to ski to a cabin on top of a mountain and spend the last two days of the year there. Read the full story | |
TocayosFirst Place, adults' essaysCharles Padilla"I want to go to Monte Aplanado," my barber said as he began to trim my hair. "My wife is going to Albuquerque tomorrow, and I have a day when I can go there." My barber and I have many things in common. I was from Mora, as was his first wife, and my father also was a barber. Since my father's death, my barber visits were like a homecoming for me. The barbershop smells, the talk, laughter, and the rhythmic noises of both shears and clippers reminded me of my father and his shop. Read the full story | |
The Winter's BeautyFirst Place, teens' poetryLoris VolkleShe enters your life once a year, and many are glad when she appears Because she bring great gifts that shine and glow, among these gifts is the silky snow Read the full story | |
The Perfect TreeFirst Place, children's essaysMerit WilleyOne year, a week before Christmas, two trucks overturned on their way from Colorado to Santa Fe. They had been carrying hundreds of Christmas trees — all of which were lost. What that meant was that there would be a Christmas tree shortage in Santa Fe that year. My father was coming home from a business trip on the 21st of December, and we were waiting for him so we could all buy a Christmas tree together like we did every year. The minute Dad arrived on our small farm in the desert, we helped him unpack his bags, and then he, my mother, my brother and I piled into our white Toyota Landcruiser and headed toward downtown Santa Fe. Read the full story | |
The Blue Banana BanditFirst Place, adults's storiesMichael J. ChavezThere was a crowd for breakfast at the Pantry. Today was Christmas Eve. I was having my regular, huevos with bacon, beans, and a side of green chile. I looked up and saw a friend, Waldo, and his wife, Corrine, walk in. They walked over, and Waldo and I did our chicano handshake. "Hey man, how's it going?" I asked. Read the full story | |
Home by Another RouteFirst Place, adults' poetryMary Ann WamhoffWe were just doing our job: stargazing. Read the full story | |
Why I CrySecond Place, teens' essaysCasey CasiasMy mother is an avid crier. You name it, she'll cry over it. Oprah, the Dog Whisperer, a good book, a sunset, a sincere paper written by one of her students. This used to perplex me. I'd see her tearing up and chide her, roll my eyes, and smile indulgently at her emotional vulnerability. Read the full story | |
The Night Before Christmas EveSecond Place, children's storiesReina NelsonOne Will and his sister Jane lived in the woods in a place called Elventeen. It got its name from the elves, fairies, and nymphs that people "claimed" to see. Will didn't think much of these sightings until the day before Christmas Eve.
The two were going outside to play in the new fallen snow. They were going sledding to a place called the Fairy Circle. Once there, Jane said, "I want to see if I can identify those tracks. You go and sled." A while later, Jane shouted, "Will, can you come here and help me with something? I want to identify this track. I've never seen it before." Read the full story | |
The Miraculous ChangeSecond Place, children's essaysElliot HieldI wake up on a morning close to the holiday break. I groggily rub my tired eyes until I can see more clearly. I lift the shade and look out the window. It is snowing hard! I grab my glasses and whip them on. The needles on the trees are dressed like differently shaped fluffy hats of frozen water, and the ground looks like a vast bowl of ice cream with brown and green sprinkles that are rocks and trees. I love this time of year, because the most normal day can be transformed, and everyone is happy to accept the change. Most people are so joyful around this time, and already I can see our neighbor out on his lawn taking in the majestic sight. Read the full story | |
Snow-KuSecond Place, adults' poetryPatricia Lee SharpeClouds having a pillow fight. Feathers. Feathers. Read the full story | |
Rat's TailSecond Place, teens' storiesAndres-ArzateAs Puck, a little mouse who lives in a Bananabees restaurant, finished tucking in his six little mice, he realized the holidays were coming, and he had nothing to give his children. He had been storing things in an old, empty tuna can, but figured they didn't express how much he loved his mice. As Puck realized he was running out of time, he desperately looked up and down the restaurant for things that people dropped on the floor. He found a couple things, such as a fork, a couple of marbles, a cellphone, and some change — but he knew they weren't good presents. What Puck had in mind was finding some cheese. He knew his little mice loved it, and that a big cheese feast would be a great gift for the whole family. Read the full story | |
Christmas in the Oil PatchSecond Place (tie), adults' essaysJ. Paul HaleI had spent the entire first six years of my life living beside my grandparents in one of the numerous small camps that were spread throughout the oil fields of the Southwest during the 1940s and 50s. There might be two or three families living in each camp. The big oil-processing plant on the north mesa was like a small village with eight families in one place, but ours was the only one where any kid lived so close to his grandparents. Read the full story | |
Smiles & DivinitySecond Place (tie), adults' essaysCamille MoserI guess I celebrate the holidays because my mom did, and she celebrated because she was a Christian. I celebrate because I am fascinated with the celebration itself. I celebrate because we humans have done this very thing every year during this time of year for thousands of years. That's pretty compelling. Read the full story | |
Santa: Too Big to FailSecond Place, adults' storiesEric ChurchSanti awoke on the morning of a day in early December 2009 with a mixed delight in his status as retired philanthropist-bachelor-slash-sports-talk radio host. Mrs. Claus wanted to reconcile. Yet life in the San Luis Valley continued to suit him. He had no desire to return to the North Pole. Santi's early 1960's model F-150 pickup sat parked out adjacent to the trailer. It still purred like a kitten, thanks to the many hours he spent under the hood on warm autumn afternoons. He'd had a few flames painted on the wheel wells and on the truck's doors at the Alamosa auto detailer. The metallic gold finish glinted. Heads turned and hands waved when he drove his truck the 25 mph speed limit down the three-block Antonito strip. Read the full story | |
Winter Solstice 2008Third Place, adults' poetryEdith PowersThe world is upside down, shaken to its core. Read the full story | |
The Wacky Family's Christmas PartyThird Place (tie), children's storiesShaun HarrisonThe Burgereapers are a family that is crazy, because last year they hid in a barn and did nothing on Christmas. My name is I Spy Harris, and this year I am going to see what they are doing. I am going to be disguised as a berry bush in front of the arroyo where they are having their party. I am going to use a recorder, binoculars, and a microphone — a recorder to record, binoculars to see closer, and a microphone for listening. Read the full story | |
The Little Bear's Christmas Gone BadThird Place (tie), children's storiesRyan ValdezOne winter day, a little bear was walking home from picking berries in the middle of the forest, but the trail that led to his cave was completely gone. Baby Bear was confused, so he asked the only bird in the forest if he could help him find his way home. The bird said, "Are you talking to me, little bear?" Read the full story | |
Winter's DawnThird Place, children's essaysLucas WeissI rushed down the stairs, my heart racing with glee after being awakened by my internal clock, to find the presents that I receive each year under the sweet-smelling tree dappled in golden light. My sister Caitlin had come to visit for the holidays. I didn't get to see her much after she went to college, so this was special. My whole family would get to be with me, but most of all I could unwrap presents as far as I could see. I readied myself to pounce onto a present, fearing it would somehow vanish in the excitement. Read the full story | |
Treasured TimesThird Place, children's essaysDakota HaradenThe year 2007 was a very sad and difficult year for my family and me. My uncle Randy passed away in June. He was only 46 years old. Then, in September, my grandfather Gus died. Soon after, my grandmother Grey passed away in November. Losing all of these important people has been very hard, especially since we lost our dad in 2002. Because of this, my mom has become both my mom and my dad. She is always there when we need her, and she is very, very special! My mom and her family all stepped up when our dad died, and now that they are not here, our lives have changed a lot. We were very close and did everything together. They were all so important to us. Because of this, nothing is the same. Everything is so different, and this includes the holidays. To keep their memories alive, traditions are very important, old and new. Read the full story | |
The Christmas TreeThird Place, teens' essaysSara HartseThe sky is an opaque mass of whitish, gray clouds — a color foreshadowing snow, but somehow reminiscent of goose feathers and fleece. The sky seems to cover the world like a quilt, sealing itself off at the top of the mountains. Every year in December my family and I pick a Christmas tree. This in itself is a sacred act. The tree must be perfect in height, shape, and in Christmas-ornament-hanging capacity. It must be at least as good as last year's tree, though it never seems to be. Read the full story | |
Quarantined for ChristmasThird Place, adults' storiesLinda GonzalesThe trees stood naked against a quiet sunset. Streaks of brilliant orange, pink, and violet layered peacefully on the horizon. Helen watched from the back porch as the sun disappeared from the cold December sky. It was 5 o'clock, and night had set in. Yet it was so hot inside the house. The furnace was stoked up in high gear. Vaporizers spewed out streams of steam. Soup boiling on the stove wafted the sweet smell of chicken intermingled with the pungent odor of camphor. She had to escape for a few minutes — take some deep breaths and say a little prayer to God. It was Christmas week, 1939, and the house had been quarantined for chicken pox. Her husband, Joe, wouldn't be home on Christmas. He had to stay away, or he couldn't go to work. She envied the fact that he had escaped the whole ordeal while she endured all the sickness with her children alone. He stayed at his sister's house and was putting in lots of overtime, working in place of other men who wanted to be with their families for the holidays. There was no other choice. With 10 children and little income, this is how it had to be. Read the full story | |
Hanukkah Behind BarsThird Place, adults' essaysJudith FeinChristmas lights fringed the adobe walls in downtown Santa Fe, and I was feeling gloomy. In a few days I'd be leaving the country for a work assignment, and I wouldn't be able to celebrate the holidays with the kids behind bars. For several years, I had volunteered to teach them creative writing, and I'd become very attached to them. In spite of their crimes, I loved them because they were just kids. Their life stories were punctuated with abuse, abandonment, and pain, and I knew their young hearts would ache with loneliness during the holiday season. Read the full story | |
An Empty BoxThird Place, teens' storiesTashi SwierkoszIn a small, suburban area near Moscow, Russia, a little girl gazed out of her bedroom window. She watched the snow roll over the hilltops and caress the air as it fell from the cotton-ball-shaped clouds drifting in the sky. Apart from the little white flakes blowing in the wind, the sky was gray. Second by second, the sky began to darken. The sun was soon to go to rest, and the moon would rise to watch over the Earth on this Christmas Eve. Read the full story | |
The Flying Christmas DogsHonorable Mention, children's storiesMegan VarnumOn the first day of winter, four Bernese Mountain Dogs were born. Their names were Missy, Bubble, Noel and Peppermint. The dogs lived in the North Pole and had a wonderful family. They were fed well, were very happy, and were very curious about the world. They asked questions about everything! At last, Christmas Eve came. The dogs were really excited about Christmas Day. Soon after the dogs calmed down, there was a loud knock on the door. The family opened the door, and peered into the light to see who it was. Standing right in front of them was Santa Claus himself. Read the full story | |
The GiftHonorable Mention, teens' essaysAlysha B. SalazarEvery Christmas, presents are given and received by many. To some this is such a crucial part of the Christmas season. To others it is seen as a time for family and quality time with the ones that are dearest to them. This is the way that my family has always perceived this joyous holiday. We see it as the time of year that brings all of our family back home to us from all over the world. The memories that are made during these few hours are the ones that I have always cherished the most. They are the memories that have added onto one another each and every Christmas, as far back as I can recall. I just could not imagine my holiday season playing out any other way. The moments that are shared between me and my family are the ones that I will forever hold close to me. Read the full story | |
Secret SantaHonorable Mention, adults' storiesCathy Weber ColvinMarcella leaned over her son's bed to kiss him goodnight. He wrapped his small hands around her neck and pulled her toward him. "Mama, guess what?" Read the full story | |
What Turkey?Honorable Mention, adults' storiesPamela ChristieIt was December 24th and the baby was 10 days past due. Kyra's whole family had come for the holidays, figuring there'd be a baby already. There wasn't, but Kyra wanted her family to have fun on Christmas Eve anyway, to stroll through Santa Fe when it becomes a beautiful village. So she and her husband Jacob led us through the snowy streets toward Canyon Road. We'd barely found the first luminarias, near the corner of Acequia Madre and Delgado, when Kyra let out a quiet cry. The grandmothers-in-waiting gave each other a knowing look. Kyra whimpered and Jacob held her close, but she soon unwound from his hug and continued along the candle-lit streets. Maryanne and I followed behind, doubting this Christmas outing would last very long. Read the full story | |
Mischief By Mistletoe at the Cougar Claw CafeHonorable Mention: adults' storiesDouglas BullisAx, the Honorable State Representative from Hatch, entered the "Legislators Only" lounge in the Roundhouse. He observed a wastebasket next to his favorite chair. It was filled with paper. He looked more closely. "Grrr," he growled from his bulldog jowls, "that's the Christmas Reclamation Bill I proposed just yesterday!" Read the full story | |
Amazing GraceHonorable Mention, adults' essaysA.J. GilmanGrace comes in the most unlikely places. It was January 2000, just after the turn of the millennium. I walked along the dry Santa Fe riverbed with my friend Susan and ever-faithful dog Emma. Together, we strolled enjoying the sun-filled January morning. A burst of gold flashed in my peripheral vision. Was that a dog? Indeed. A stray dog took flight from across the riverbed, a sight I'd seen many times before. I ran a block home to gather some food. Returning with a large serving of chow, the dog had vanished. Read the full story | |
A Christmas ShowHonorable Mention, teens' essaysElle JansenI sat staring at my reflection in the clear glass mirror. It was illuminated by what seemed like millions of bright, luminescent lights. I turned my head to watch as the other girls filed in one-by-one with their trunks of make-up and duffel bags of clothes and costumes. "Oh my goodness, I am so excited!" I could hear my friend, Cali, in the hallway, her voice overwhelmed with excitement. Read the full story | |
Snowflake Kisses on Her First ChristmasHonorable Mention, children's storiesAme KurotsukiChristania's feet crunched rhythmically on the snow as she walked along the sidewalk, dodging people as she went. A shy sun peeked from behind angry gray clouds, almost like a child behind its mother's legs. Every now and then, it would dip back behind its dark bodyguards, stripping the world of light. It was very cold, wind biting at her bare hands and cheeks. She nuzzled her nose further under her scarf, attempting to bring it back from feeling like a glacier. The smell of spiced cider and hot chocolate wafted through the air, accompanied by the sugary sweet scent of cookies. People laughed and bustled about, young ones hanging onto their parents, sweethearts walking hand-in-hand. Salesmen yelled out about their wares, their faces illuminated by the lights from the windows of high-end shops. "Sale!" signs hung in just about every window, incorporated into the already lavish displays. Read the full story | |
Mr. ClausHonorable Mention, teens' essaysJesse B. KoehlerI was lying awake in bed. The sound of the silence and my Dad's breathing just kept on reminding me, "You're not falling asleep, you're not falling asleep." Usually, I wouldn't be traumatized because I was the last one up, and I couldn't get to sleep. It's just that this night was a special night; it was Christmas Eve. No kid wanted to be tired on the morning of Christmas, and I was nervous that I was well on my way to being an unfortunate kid. I also didn't want to ruin the effect of the night — going to sleep and not knowing what's going to happen, if Santa's going to come or not. I was scared I'd be awake when he came. Read the full story | |
Abnormal ChristmasHonorable Mention, children's essaysDebbie JarzembaI always go to Ohio for Christmas to visit my family. One year, it was supposed to be a happy Christmas, but it wasn't. We go to visit my dad's sister. We only see our family once a year. Read the full story | |
Home for the HolidaysHonorable Mention, teens' storiesChance C. R. Willey"I'm sorry, kitty, but with the country being what it is today, we can't afford to keep you," said the woman with tears starting to fill her eyes as she looked down at the fluffy white cat she had set at her feet on the snowy sidewalk. The cat looked up at the woman's pale, thin face from where he sat, his eyes wide and sad, not understanding what she was saying to him. Why was she — the woman who had loved and cared for him for months before — setting him outside in the cold when she had once offered him warmth in her bed with her? Read the full story | |
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