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My interest in writing began at a young age, back then it was poetry. I have completed a childrens fairy story. (20,500 Word Count Approx). which I am very proud of and have began to write a follow up.
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MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- I have had numerous poetry published.in anthologies.
- I will be published in a book of short stories for children due to be released 31st january 2006.The book is entitled Then I'll begin. Copies will be availabele for £4.95 plus post and packeging.
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MY NEWS:
I would like to get my book published, at no cost to myself.Therefore I am looking for a publisher or literary agent to read my work. Below is an example of a childrens short story word count 2500 Approx.
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MY RESIDENCE INFO:
City: Merseyside
State/Country: United Kingdom
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BOOKS PUBLISHED:
Thirty Six Frederick Street
In the yard snow lay on the ground, dirty, from the previous day’s snowball fight. A cold frost lingered in the air. Barely visible tracks headed from the back door to the outside toilet. In the fresh light of day, a snowman glistened. His enormous blue eyes were buttons, pulled from an old overcoat. A stumpy carrot was his nose. His sunny smile was thin slivers of black coal.
A moderate sized turkey hung on the kitchen door. Inside, a fire burned heartily in the grate. Beside the fire guard, three pair’s of slippers stood neatly in a row.
Mum and six year old Jessica returned from the shops, bringing provisions for Jane’s tenth Birthday tea.
Removing Jessica’s Wellingtons, she reached for the smallest pair of slippers and put them on her. She plugged in the black and white television set, and switched it on. Saying “Now, you be a good girl and watch telly. I’ve got to do the jellies, for tonight.” She took the wet and grimy boots into the kitchen.
Jessica made her self comfortable on the mat, and warmed her hands in front of the fire. As she did this, she remembered something her Father had told her? If the soot stayed red at the back of the fire, it was the Christmas fairies watching her. This left her feeling a little scared at first; her Father reassured her. The fairies are a kindly folk. Their task is to check that all children are being good. Then he went on to say. If the red hot ash floated up the chimney, they were on their way to tell Father Christmas.
She plucked up the courage, and gazed through the fire guard. She fixed her eyes on the wall, behind the fire. To her amazement there they were, clusters of tiny red dots glowing. Suddenly there was a crackle and two or three fairies began to float up the chimney. She shouted to her Mother “If I am a good girl, will the fairies tell Father Christmas?” She waited eagerly for her to reply. “Let’s hope they do shall we.” It was just what she was hoping to hear.
Jane came in shortly after; Mum had left her with a neighbour. “Have we got anything to eat I‘m starving.” she said. “Put your slippers on first, and then you can have a biscuit, and a glass of milk.” Jane went into the living room. The Christmas tree stood next to the sideboard, behind the settee. The lights were on, and it seemed to welcome her. Red net pouches contained chocolate money, wrapped in gold foil. There were chocolate balls and bells, and angels filled with crème. Each one glittered one after another. The temptation was too much. She glanced at Jessica, who had fallen asleep in front of the fire, and Mum was busy in the kitchen. No one will notice if I take one? Jane thought to herself. She pulled a novelty from the tree, and ran upstairs.
There were two bedrooms. The three girls shared the front one. She went in and sat on the edge of their large double bed. Then she opened the chocolate umbrella she’d stolen, and hid the striped wrapper under the mattress. The chocolate was solid Jane had to bite hard at first, and chew quickly before she could swallow it. After she’d eaten it, a feeling of guilt came over her. She heard a knock on the front door and ran down to answer it.
. “The Insurance man is here Mum, do you want me to pay him.” She said. “Oh yes please Jane, the money is on the sideboard.” The extra expense for Mum and Dad at this time of year, could not be afforded all at once, so every month a little was put by for food and drink or any other small luxuries unaccounted for?
“There’s a biscuit waiting for you in here. I thought you said you were really hungry?” Jane felt ashamed and tried hard to forget her dishonest actions.
She came into the kitchen; with a sad look on her face. “What’s the matter?” Her Mother said. Who had now finished decorating the table for her party? Jellies, sandwiches and sausage rolls sat in the middle. And at each place setting there was a beaker of orange cordial. Jane sat down at the table “Brenda O Leary said there’s no such thing as Father Christmas.” The O Leary’s had nine children; all wore threadbare jumpers with holes at the elbows.
Mum sat beside her. “Sometimes children can be cruel, if they don’t believe. You see Jane once you lose the spirit of Christmas, it will never return. It’s in us all, if we choose to believe it? and I for one do. So you must decide for yourself.”
Then Jennifer came in. “It’s snowing heavy now out there, I can’t wait for Christmas can you Jane?” Then she vanished up the stairs. Jenny was fourteen, and allowed to go to town by herself. Jane pondered for a while. I wish I knew what this Christmas spirit thing was? Only one more day after today she thought. And I’ve still got my birthday party tonight to look forward to. She began to feel a little excited inside,
Dad had done lots of overtime recently. Today he came home early; he was very tired. His brow was sweaty, and the sweat and dirt mixed, and ran down his face. On which there was a beaming smile He had managed to carry eight heavy bags from town, stuffed full of vegetables, fruit and nuts. The kettle whistled, and Mum got up to pour the hot water into a bowl, which she had placed in the kitchen sink. “I’ve finished work now, until after the Christmas.” He said. “Oh that’s great love, here have nice wash and freshen up. I’ll put the shopping away.”
Jane went into the living room. Jessica had woken up and was stood by the Christmas tree admiring it, Jane began to blush. “Dad’s home, why don’t you go and see him in the kitchen.” she said .Then she went upstairs to Jenny, who was busy wrapping presents. She hummed to the tune of jingle bells, which played on her transistor radio. Then Jessica shouted from the bottom of the stairs. “Come and see the fairies fly up the chimney there’s hundreds of them.” Jane got butterflies in her tummy, and Jenny said “Let’s go and see them.”
They both rushed down the stairs, and opened the door. Everyone sang happy birthday. Jane was overwhelmed with emotion. The table had been brought into the living room where it was warm and cosy, and they sat down together for tea. At the end Jenny disappeared into the kitchen, and then came back with a cake which had candles on it. She set it down on the table. The white icing had peaks on it, with a Father Christmas decoration. Her name was spelled out on it, in tiny silver balls. “Blow out your candle’s and make a wish, the fairies are watching, you know,” Jessica said excitedly. Jane took a deep breath and blew them out.
Dad gave everyone a Christmas cracker. “I think a chocolate from the tree, will get us all in the Christmas spirit tonight, don’t you?” The words Mum uttered rang in Jane’s ears. “I am really sorry” she blurted out red faced, “I have had one already.” She said. “We know? Your mouth has been covered in chocolate, since you came home this afternoon.” Said Mum and she smiled. Jane was glad she had owned up and she let out a sigh of relief.
Dad went outside to get coal, from the bunker. When he returned, he said, “We seem to have used a lot of coal?” He threw a shovel of slack onto the fire. “I thought that too.” Mum replied wondering if she had been using too much. “I think I will go for a walk” He said putting on his coat. When he went out, he found footprints in the yard which led out of the gate.
In the backs the cobbles were completely covered in snow, but the tracks were easy to follow from the light of the full moon.
Their house was at the end of a long block of terraced. After he had passed a few gates the street light came on, and lit up the number twenty six splashed in red paint on a gate. At that precise moment a ferocious barking startled him, and the gate nearly rattled off its hinges. He quickly hurried passed. He was almost at the end of the street, when the footprints disappeared into a yard which had no gate. It was the O Leary’s .Feeling sorry for them especially with Christmas closing in, he left very quietly.
The next day Mum and Dad were very busy, the smell of the turkey and stuffing was mouth watering. In the evening the living room was nice and warm; the fire had burnt to ambers in the grate. The oval tin bath was brought in and put in front of it. Mum and Dad came in with pan after pan of hot water from the stove to fill it.
After Mum bathed Jessica, she wrapped her in warm towel and sat her on Dads knee. Then Jane stepped in and quickly had a bath, she wanted to wear her new red fluffy dressing gown, the birthday present from Mum and Dad. Jennifer helped her put it on. “What was that noise?” said Dad, “It seems to be coming from there.” He pointed to the fire. As he got up and moved the fire guard. Then kneeling down on the hearth, he looked up the chimney. Jessica crouched at the side of him. He reached out his hand, and tugged on what seemed to a big black boot. “No Dad” cried Jessica frightened to look anymore. “It’s Father Christmas.” Dad pulled hard, and with a jolt he fell back, still holding on to his boot. Everyone watched in astonishment.
Dad shouted up the chimney. “Sorry Father Christmas; I will leave your boot on top of the coal bunker.” There was no reply. “That was naughty pinching his boot, he could have got burned on the fire.” said Jane, as she started to understand what the Christmas spirit was. Jessica and Jane were worried they offered to go to bed early. A piece of coal was the last thing they wanted to find at the side of the fire in the morning, instead of presents? Each was given one of Dad’s socks. Jessica put hers on the back of the settee, and Jane’s went on the back of the armchair. They left mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph on top of the hearth. Then Mum took them to bed.
“I have to run on an errand.” Dad said to Jenny, as got dressed to go out into the cold night air, taking the boot with him.
The thought of the O Leary children being cold on Christmas Day was too much. He decided to take them bucket of coal, and left it at the back door without knocking.
The next day, Jessica woke her sisters “Shall we see if he’s been.” They crept down the stairs in the dark. Jessica hesitated and then opened the door, “He has” she shouted.
In front of the settee was a shiny pink three wheeler bike. He left Jane a doll that she had wanted for ages. It had two changes of clothes, which she had not expected, and had not written them on her Christmas list. Jenny got a red and cream leatherette record player. The girl’s socks contained lots of nuts sweets and fruit, and they had a selection box each. Mum and Dad had come down now and wished them all a Happy Christmas.
The End
tinaarnold76@hotmail.com
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