Heather Kinser
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2018 Valentiny Contest

2/9/2018

47 Comments

 
     What's better than candy or roses or diamonds or anything shiny? It's...
Valentiny!
     There's nothing like a kid-lit writing contest to cheer you up in the thick of winter. With that in mind, here's my entry for Susanna Leonard Hill's annual "Valentiny" Contest. To meet this year's criteria, the story had to include someone who's "hopeful." And as usual, it must be super-duper short--just 214 words or less. Good luck to everyone participating. This is a fun one!
     Now put on your scuba suit. We're going under the sea for this valentine tale...

Love, iKedod
At Little Swimmers Sea-School, Ms. Fish said, “Reach into the shell and choose a valentine pal.”

“I wonder who’ll get me,” squ-eel-ed Elektra.

“I’ll take anyone,” swished Angelica “…except Icky Ichabod.”

Elektra didn’t answer.

It was Ichabod’s turn to choose. He hoped and hoped for…

Elektra!

Ichabod puffed up…poking Angelica.

“Hey! Stay away.”

“Sorry.” Ichabod deflated.

How he wished Elektra’s card could be special. The trouble was…

his untidy writing. Somehow his spines got in the way.

            Bee Mi vaLuntiin.
            Love, iKedod

Ichabod swam, searching for answers.

Here was a sprig of golden kelp.

It might help Elektra remember the day he shared his seaweed sandwich with her.

Here was a many-colored shell—just like the rainbows they drew together.

And here was a pearl—the same kind they used to play catch-of-the-day.

Ichabod made a card...

without words.

“Icky, your envelope’s poky and puffy—like you,” snipped Angelica.

Ichabod didn’t answer.

He set the card on the Elektra’s desk—and hoped for the best.

“Oh!” said Elektra. “Who did this come from?”

She noticed the kelp, and glowed.

She spotted the shell, and shined.

She observed the pearl, and her smile became…electric.

“Look!” said Elektra. “My valentine’s one-of-a-kind. Just like my good friend…

Ichabod!”

Angelica didn’t answer.

Ichabod did…

“Be my valentine, Elektra!”
 

47 Comments
Vicki Hammond link
2/10/2018 07:34:16 am

Sweet! I like Ichabod too. Angelica better look out for karma nets.
Good luck in the contest :)

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:34:14 pm

Thanks for reading my story. Good luck to you, too!

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Candice
2/11/2018 09:40:16 am

HA! Karma nets!

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Lynn A. Davidson link
2/10/2018 09:07:20 am

Awwww, that's sweet! :)

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Lynn
2/10/2018 03:17:44 pm

I want to add, I wish you well with your story.

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:35:02 pm

Thank you! I appreciate your comments. Good luck with the contest.

Rose Cappelli
2/10/2018 09:29:45 am

What a sweet story! Ichabod and Elektra are a special pair. Good luck in the contest.

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:35:56 pm

Thanks for dropping in to read my entry. I wish you luck, too!

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Teresa Schaefer link
2/10/2018 10:32:52 am

Great entry. Ichabodbis a delight.

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:37:03 pm

Thanks so much. It's really fun to be part of this contest.

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Books4Learning link
2/10/2018 11:38:26 am

Awesome story!

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:37:47 pm

Thank you! I really appreciate the comment.

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Aileen Stewart link
2/10/2018 01:19:39 pm

Love the undersea theme. Best Wishes.

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:38:56 pm

Thanks! At first I was going to write about wild turkeys, but somehow I ended up with an eel and a puffer fish. Go figure.

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Gregory E. Bray link
2/10/2018 09:05:13 pm

Very sweet. Good luck!

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 11:39:33 pm

Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

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Maria Marshall link
2/10/2018 09:52:11 pm

Great idea to set it under the sea! I love iKedod - poor puffer fish. Glad he got a good ending. Good luck.

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Heather Kinser link
2/10/2018 10:14:52 pm

Thank you! I'm glad to hear you knew he was a puffer fish. (Whew! I wasn't 100% sure readers would know.) Good luck in the contest, and thanks for stopping by.

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Liz Tipping link
2/11/2018 07:49:53 am

What a lovely story! Icabod was so creative in his valentine. Good luck! Liz

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:19:57 am

Thanks for stopping by. Good luck to you, too!

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Stephanie link
2/11/2018 08:39:06 am

I love that Valentine's Day extends to the sea. Love is truly everywhere. Fantastic! Good luck :)

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:20:34 am

Thanks so much for the comment. Have fun in the contest!

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Candice Conner link
2/11/2018 09:43:35 am

I adore how the Puffer Fish included all the bits of his memories of good times with his friend. Such a lovely story of an underdog (or fish in this sense) winning the day and his Valentine!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:22:02 am

I appreciate your comments! Thanks for dropping by, and good luck in the contest.

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Deborah Boerema
2/11/2018 01:04:50 pm

Unique setting for a Valentine story. Goes to show . . . love knows no borders. Best wishes!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:22:35 am

Thanks for stopping by to read my under-sea story!

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Mary Ann Cortez link
2/11/2018 04:49:58 pm

Super cute story. Love all the images.

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:23:37 am

Thank you! It's good to know the story is conjuring up visual images. Have a great day!

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Alissa McClure link
2/12/2018 09:35:46 am

I love how you were able to sneak in that Elektra was an eel with her "squ-eel"! Great idea!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:24:38 am

Thanks for appreciating that moment! No art notes were allowed, so I wanted to be sure I conveyed what types of creatures they were. Glad it worked!

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Nancy Riley link
2/12/2018 05:06:38 pm

Very cute. Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day.

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:25:10 am

Thanks for dropping in to read. Good luck to you, too!

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Rebekah Hoeft link
2/13/2018 03:57:52 am

Love this! Can totally picture this, despite the few words! Well done!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:25:57 am

Oh, hooray! Knowing you can visualize the story is really helpful. Thanks for reading.

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Jilanne Hoffmann
2/13/2018 11:34:11 pm

Love your underwater love story! And nice wordplay, too! Good luck!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:26:51 am

Thanks for the comments. It's great to know that the story succeeded on a wordplay level. Good luck!

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Gabi Snyder link
2/14/2018 11:14:04 am

This is a super sweet story, Heather! I love Elektra's "electric" smile and Ichabod's special valentine for her. And this is such a unique setting -- well done!

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Heather Kinser
2/14/2018 10:25:02 pm

Hi Gabi! I'm glad you dropped in to meet Ichabod and friends. Happy Valentine's day! Here's hoping we both get lots of kelp, shells, and pearls! (On second thought...maybe not kelp.)

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Alayne Kay Christian link
2/15/2018 01:35:52 pm

Just goes to show you, there's someone in this world for everyone. What a sweet friendship story. Angelica has no taste ;-) Best of luck with the contest.

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Heather Kinser
2/15/2018 10:23:26 pm

Thanks for dropping in to read my entry and allow Ichabod to swish into your heart. Lots of good contestants this year. Good luck to us all!

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Hilary Melton-Butcher link
2/15/2018 06:07:41 pm

Hi Heather - a delightful story ... letting us into the underworld of sea - love ... a puffer fish, the squealy eel - love it ... and those names - cheers Hilary

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Heather Kinser
2/15/2018 10:24:31 pm

Thanks for reading and commenting. It's so good to get feedback!

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Debbie Day
2/15/2018 07:37:27 pm

Wow, this was wonderfully crafted. I love how you used the line about not saying anything with all the characters and made a full circle at the end. Great word play, message, characters - just perfect! Good luck!

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Heather Kinser
2/15/2018 10:26:23 pm

Your comments made my day. Thanks for reading and for kindly calling my story "perfect." There are lots of excellent contenders in the contest and I'm crossing my fingers that Ichabod can shine through.

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Lauri Meyers link
2/16/2018 05:12:32 am

Heather- this is great! Such a unique approach to Valentine's. I was rooting for Ichabod.

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Heather Kinser
2/16/2018 09:28:08 am

Thanks for dropping in to read and comment. Have fun with the contest!

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Susanna Leonard Hill link
2/18/2018 12:52:49 pm

Such a sweet story, Heather! Ichabod may be prickly on the outside, but he has a heart of gold and Electra is lucky to have such a Valentine :) I'm so glad his hopes weren't dashed! Thanks for joining in the contest fun!

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