Ready to escape the winter blues? Then join in on Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2nd annual Valentiny Writing Contest. Don’t know how…click here to learn all about it. Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love. It’s also that time of the year that brings a little light to our dark and dreary winters (especially if you live in the Northeast like me). What better way to share a little love and light than in this fun, creative, and inspiring writing contest. If you don’t write, then I would highly recommend you go here to view all of the creative story entries…and don’t worry each story is 214 words or less so you’ll have plenty of time to read them all!
Thanks again to Susanna and her helpers for hosting all of these amazing writing challenges, and all their time and effort sorting, reading, and deciding on all the fabulous entries.
Here is my entry at exactly 214 words!
The Tattle-Tale Heart
It was late; I worked secretly in my room making a special Valentine. At breakfast the next morning I felt secure my Valentine was the best-kept secret until my little brother Edgar came running into the room holding something heart shaped.
“Allan has a girlfriend…” Edgar sang.
“Give that back you little tattle-tale!” I screamed.
“What’s this I hear about a girlfriend?” Mom asked.
My cheeks burned hot.
I grabbed the Valentine from Edgar and ran to my room. I tossed it under the loose floorboards in my closet. At school I could feel my heart pounding in my chest…lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub…
After school I ran to pull up the floorboards to fix the broken Valentine but it was gone. “Huh?” Where could it be?
On Valentine’s Day I sat alone. I reached inside my desk for my book, but hit something crunchy. What is that? I pulled out my Valentine, perfectly put back together. Confused, I looked around the room when I spied a little head peeking in the classroom door window. It was Edgar! He smiled; I couldn’t believe it.
I walked up to Poenelope and gave her my special Valentine. Now it was her turn to burn.
Edgar gave me the thumbs-up and disappeared.
This was the best Valentine’s Day ever!
Loved the play on words: Allen, Edgar, Poenelope! Very clever!! Good luck 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, and yes I couldn’t resist the word play!
LikeLike
Lub-dub, lub-dub… oh, that Telltale Heart! Well done!
LikeLike
Lub-dub, lub-dub is how I feel when I have to think of something to write for one of Susanna’s contests. So glad you stopped by Jilanne!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very great references to Poe – clever and fun. Good luck and great way to make your story unique.
LikeLike
I just love Poe, but he isn’t really kid friendly now is he with all that murder and mayhem lol. It was fun to mix it up. Thanks so much for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a way to make Poe kid friendly. Good luck
LikeLike
Thanks so much Maria!
LikeLike
I love the Poe references, including the clever title! I’m glad that this story has a happy ending and I love the sibling relationship here.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Gabi. I like when siblings work it out in the end!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great way to introduce children to Poe. I always love a clever title. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thanks Greg, I was looking for a friendly way to bring in Poe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, child-friendly version of The Tell-Tale Heart, one of my faves. Love the wordplay too!
LikeLike
Tell-Tale is one of my favorites too. Thanks Linda!
LikeLike
Awww. Heart pounding love! Great word play.
LikeLike
Thank you Janie!
LikeLike
Fun story with a great ending. I wish you well with it.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by Lynn!
LikeLike
Great fun! Love the Lub-dub too. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christine.
LikeLike
A Valentine’s Day story with a cryptic twist. Love it! And yes, I got the Edgar Allan Poe connection. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Traci, I just love Valentiny, and the Poe connection was fun to write.
LikeLike
Little brothers can be really sweet when they want to. Cute story, Jean!
LikeLike
Yes they can Jill! Thanks so much for stopping by.
LikeLike
Oh my daughter is a huge Poe fan – she will love this! Well done.
LikeLike
Thanks Cathy I hope she enjoys it!
LikeLike
Love Edgar Allen Poe and I loved your Valentine take off, Jean. There was a lot of authentic emotion here…I really felt for your mc. Well done!
LikeLike
Thank you Vivian, I too am a big Poe fan. It was fun to take a macabre tale and put a playful twist on it.
LikeLike
Wow! An Edgar Allen Poe Valentiny is a level of creative I wouldn’t have thought of! Nicely done! And I loved the “lub-dub, lub-dub” description of the heartbeat – EXACTLY the way my 9th grade biology teacher described it! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Valentiny fun, Jean!
LikeLike
Thanks Susanna! While I was brainstorming for ideas I kept hearing the Tell-tale Heart in my head (lub-dub,lub-dub), of course it’s so gruesome, it got me thinking…I love Poe, and I love your writing contests, what a perfect combination. Thanks again for all you do!
LikeLike
How clever! You really did a good job combining Poe and Valentines. Never could have seen that coming. What fun.
LikeLike
Thanks Joanne, I appreciate your comment, and stopping by to read my story!
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Such a clever entry.
LikeLike