Be Brave, My Heart! – The 6th Annual Valentiny Contest

~ for children’s writers ~

SUSANNA LEONARD HILL‘s Contest: since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (defined as ages 12 and under) 214 words max in which someone feels brave!

Title: DEAR LUCAS

Word Count: 207

Boys just don’t give other boys valentines.

Nope.

Gross.

So maybe I’ll give one to Cora

or Mahlia

or wait, no…

maybe some candy hearts for Hannah

or roses for Rosie.

Ugh!

Forget it.

Valentines is dumb, anyways.

Who needs hugs

and love,

sticky kisses

and sweet wishes?

So dumb.

And why is Lucas looking at me like that?

Everyone knows he’s…

different.

Cora knows it,

and Mahlia,

and Hannah and Rosie.

I don’t do different.

And I DON’T need anymore friends.

But…

I never wanted Lucas to be just a friend, anyway.

Ugh!

Nevermind.

Forget about Lucas.

Everyone else has.

He’s probably forgotten about me…

although he’s STILL looking at me like that.

Like he wants to give me a valentine,

or some candy hearts,

or some roses.

But all through the day,

and all night long…

I think of Lucas.

Not Cora

or Mahlia

or Hannah or Rosie….

I can’t forget the way he looks at me

and sees me like no one else.

So the next morning,

before the bell even rings,

I know…

Boys just don’t give other boys valentines.

Nope.

That’s dumb.

They give it to them right in front of the whole class.

Dear Lucas,

Will you be brave with me?