Author: Daniella Kaufman

Convincing Cupid

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2023 Valentiny Contest.
Rules: Write a 214 word valentine story appropriate for children themed around “skeptical”.

Convincing Cupid
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 208

When Cupid first chose Valentine’s
to be his holiday,
he hummed, “I’d love some extra help–
like Santa has his sleigh.”

Then poof within his hands appeared
an arrow and a bow.
“For me?” He asked bewildered
as the bow began to glow.

A voice from nowhere spoke aloud,
PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS NOW.
Then Cupid thought, I need to prove
these tools are safe. But how?

“Are these for extra help?” he starts.
THEY ARE. IT’S NOT A TRICK.
“Don’t arrows seem a little mean?”
THEY’RE STEALTHY AND THEY’RE QUICK.

“Will people notice they’ve been struck?”
THEY WON’T DETECT THAT PART.
“And where am I supposed to aim?”
The voice replies, THE HEART.

Then Cupid gasped dramatically.
“The heart?! Oh no, no, no!
I’m meant to help, not risk or hurt,
the place where love can grow!”

“There is no question,” he declared,
“I know what I must do.
I’ll test the arrow on myself
to tell me what is true!”

He watched the arrow tap his heart.
It made a gleaming mark.
Though Cupid did not sense its touch,
he felt a sudden spark!

“Of course!” He blushed and sang, “I love
this arrow and this bow!!!”
And on that Valentine’s became
the Cupid people know.

Bah! HumBUG!

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for Susanna Leonard Hill’s 12th annual 2022 Holiday Contest.
Rules: Write a 250 word story appropriate for children with a holiday bad guy.

Bah! HumBUG!
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 236

Young Mae holds Christmas stockings by
the fireplace aglow.
“Why do we hang these up each year?
Hey, Daddy, do you know?”

“I do,” he whispers through a grin
while pulling Mae aside.
“These stockings are protection from
the greed of Christmas Clyde.”

“The what of who?” She’d never heard
of such a festive foe.
“The giant centipede,” says Dad,
“who lives below the snow!

He sneaks and eats the Christmas sweets!”
Dad pauses for effect.
“Our cookies, yes, but presents too
and pine trees flocked and decked.”

“He’ll gobble gifts?! He’ll chomp our tree?!”
Mae hides a box and bow.
“Don’t fret!” says Dad. “Without his socks–
he hates to crawl through snow.

Each Christmas season grown-ups swipe
the stockings from his den.
So, bah! that humbug, Clyde, will stay
inside his burrow then.”

“We hang them up so Santa sees
he’s safe to roam the night.”
Dad winks at Mae whose eyes go wide
and twinkle extra bright!

“So cool and brave!” says Mae. “You took
his mistle-toesie wear!
Next year, I’m coming too and we’ll
save Christmas as a pair!”

“You will?” asks Dad, impressed. “You’d face
this villain centipede?”
“Of course!” says Mae. “Can’t turn away
when Christmas is in need.”

“You’re right. . . except. . . I made him up. . .”
Mae gives her Dad a hug.
“I guessed! Did you forget?” She laughs.
“You run from every bug!”

October Pumpkin

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for the 2022 Fall Writing Frenzy Contest hosted by Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis.

The Challenge: Write a piece (in 200 words or less) inspired by one of the fourteen fall-themed pictures provided by the contest hosts.

Credit: Selina Wing for Bing

Credit:: karlamunster (tenor.com)

Credit: Dan Barham (youtube.com)

OCTOBER PUMPKIN
By Daniella Kaufman
WC: 169

A pumpkin perched upon a porch
presents a flashy grin,
illuminating doors to draw
the trick-or-treaters in.

As they arrive, its gleaming eyes
invite each one in sight
to laugh and shriek and play pretend
as creatures of the night.

But when the dawn ignites the dark
and daylight shines again,
October pumpkin’s job is done.
What happens to it then?

Will it become a critter’s snack?
Or shrivel up and shrink?
November’s here! It disappears. . .
Or so the children think.

When stars begin to leave the sky,
the pumpkin leaves its post.
It tumbles down the street as if
directed by a ghost.

More pumpkins join from near and far
to find a secret place.
They pack and stack and pose in rows
so each can show its face.

Then, one by one, they take a turn
to share what they have seen –
“A skeleton that plays guitar!”
“An icy, winter queen!”

As stories flow, the pumpkins glow
with everlasting light,
so memories of Halloween
continue burning bright.

UNDER THE WEATHER

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for Vivian Kirkfield’s 2022 50 Precious Words Competition.

Rules: Must be 50 words or less, have a full plot arc, and be appropriate for ages 12 and under

UNDER THE WEATHER
By Daniella Kaufman
WC: 49

“Can I play?”
My brothers chase raindrops and puddles.
“Catching a cold means staying warm,” Mom says.
“I feel alone,” I pout.
Mom scoops up blankets, an umbrella, and me.
Outside, snuggled together, we watch.
Rain pitter-patters above.
“You’re not alone,” Mom says.
“Now we’re both under the weather.”

Sweet Valentine

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for Susanna Leonard Hill’s 7th annual 2022 Valentiny Contest

Rules: Must be 214 words or less, have a full plot arc, include the feeling of pride, and be appropriate for ages 12 and under.

SWEET VALENTINE
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 208

The third-grade class all write their names
and doodle heart designs
on baggies colored red and pink
which hold their valentines.

They peek into each other’s bags
and chat about the treats.
Today they’ll exchange cards, but more
importantly eat sweets.

Millie glances nervously
at snacks her classmates bought.
She made cute cards with special notes,
but cards were ALL she brought.

Twenty unique valentines
specifically addressed,
she’d worked so hard creating them
she’d missed what kids like best.

One by one, the class delivers
mail to each other.
Candy wrappers crinkle as they
swap with one another.

Millie’s cards are tossed aside
for lacking sugar loot,
and her (once beaming) confidence
dwindles…dims… goes mute.

But then a nearby classmate shouts,
“Oops! This card fell behind.
No candy? Hmm… this one is from…
Millie!! You’re so kind!”

The whole third-grade then drops their treats
to shuffle through their piles,
and as they read what Millie wrote,
the room fills with sweet smiles.

“She likes the way I heart my i’s.”
“She noticed when I shared.”
“Millie saw I learned to draw!
I thought nobody cared.”

Millie shines as her friends say
they never would have guessed,
that candy’s nice, but feeling proud
is what they all like best.

A Christmas Pickle Story

| Daniella Kaufman

Entry for Susanna Leonard Hill’s 11th annual 2021 Holiday Story Contest.
Rules: Must be 250 words or less, have a full plot arc that centers on a holiday contest, and be appropriate for ages 12 and under.

A CHRISTMAS PICKLE STORY
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 249

Sentimental ornaments
trim our tree high to low,
but Christmas Eve tradition calls
for one to steal the show.

Dad dons a scruffy Santa hat
and gathers us around.
“I’ve picked the pickle’s hiding spot!
It’s waiting to be found.”

“Dance! Prance! Blitz and dash!
All may search until
the finder claims the first gift and
the title of ‘Big Dill’.”

Grammy prods each shimmery bough.
Mom browses round and through.
Baby pulls off ornaments
(to get a better view).

I snug myself beneath a branch
to peer up from the bottom.
A glint of green. A clumpy curve.
Yes! I think. I got ’em.

I pluck the pickle from its place,
eager to claim my prize,
then notice Dad off to the side
with sparkle in his eyes.

His festive fuss for all of us
makes everybody grin.
It doesn’t seem to bother him
that he will never win.

I put the pickle back, but shift
it where no one will see.
Then grumble, “Oh by golly, there’s
no pickle on this tree!”

“Ho ho, oh? Check near the stump–”
That’s when Dad’s eyes meet mine.
I toss a wink and, in a blink,
Dad’s rummaging through pine.

He tugs back on a tree skirt bump
revealing what I’d done.
The pickle found, I quickly cheer,
“Gosh, Dad, looks like you’ve won!”

He wraps us all up in a hug
and whispers in my ear,
“You can have the first gift because
I’ve got mine right here.”