It's time again for Susanna Leonard Hill's Annual Valentiny Contest. The rules were to create a story in which someone is hopeful, using a maximum of 214 word. Below is my entry.
Cluck-A-Doodle Valentine
(214 words)
(214 words)
Quack, Oink,
Moo, cluck a-doodle-doo. Animals in an uproar. Barnyard friends love Cora’s Valentine
cupcakes but, Cora has a broken wing. And a bad squawk.
Who will
bake cupcakes for the Valentine festival?
Pig dumped
flour into a bowl.
“Mooove
over, let me add the milk.”
“Too much
milk,” said Pig.
“How do you
know? No one can read Cora’s chicken scratch.”
Duck waddled
over to help. She flapped to the table, “Sugar is what we need.”
“Squawk,”
Cora wailed.
“Don’t get
your feathers ruffled,” Pig snorted. Tap, tap, crunch. Pig cracked eggs…
…a little too
hard.
“We must prepare
the Cluck-a-doodle cupcakes for the festival or everyone will be heartbroken,”
said Duck.
“I hope we
can follow Cora’s recipe,” said Pig.
“Mmmm, more
eggs,” Cow moaned.
Eggs were
beaten, milk poured and batter stirred.
“Red drops,”
Pig bellowed.
“Squawk,”
Cora wailed.
“Hush Cora,
we’re almost done,” said Pig.
Cow slowly opened
the oven and slid the mixture inside.
Everybody
waited. Cow grazed, Duck went for a swim and Pig took a mud bath.
As the sun began
to hide, it was time.
Hot from the
oven, the cupcakes were… flat. Tiny.
The festival
must go on.
Quack, Oink,
Moo, cluck-a-doodle-doo. Valen-tiny cookies for all of you.
“Cluck-a-doodle
yum,” said Duck.
“Squawk,”
wailed Cora.
What a fun entry! But poor Cora - if only she could have shared that they forgot the baking powder.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed (-:
DeleteWell, they tried. :) Very cute. I wish you well with this story.
ReplyDelete...try and try again. Thanks
DeleteSo cute! Good luck with this story!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry.
DeleteCookies are as good as cupcakes, sometimes better. =) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYes, they're both yummy. Thanks.
DeleteSo cute! Love the ending.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteAh, well. Baking can be like that. But sharing failures with friends is important, too. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've heard when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And when life gives you crumbs, feed the birds. I love this new twist on turning a negative to a positive. When life gives you flat cupcakes, call them cookies and enjoy! Fun barn and Valentine's story, Angela. Best of luck with the contest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alayne (-:
DeleteI like how all the animals share in the baking. Squawk! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy!
DeleteI enjoyed how you got the contest title in the story! Poor Cora. But at least all her friends chipped in to help. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteHi Angela - oh no ... and they all worked so hard. Such a fun read ... good luck with the story - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeletehttp://positiveletters.blogspot.ca/2018/02/the-robin-who-hedges-her-choices.html
Thanks Hilary.
DeleteHaha, very clever ending! Loved hearing all the different perspectives/animal characters and how they turned something that could have been a disappointment into a delight! :D Loved this cute story, good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie for stopping by.
DeleteCute story, Angela! Love how all the animals pitch in trying to be helpful :) Maybe the cupcakes weren't quite right, but everyone loves cookies :) Thanks so much for joining in the contest fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susanna for keeping us writing and honing our skills.
Delete