Here is my entry into Susanna Leonard Hill’s fabulous contest:
Go Green for Christmas
“Due Monday- Go Green for Christmas contest entries,” said Mrs. Denton. “First place is fifty-dollars. Recycled materials only.”
“Fifty bucks?” Jake shouted. “I’ll take it!” Everyone laughed.
“Psst! Sam!” Jake whispered. He held a note.
“Not now, Jake,” Sam said.
Jake wasn’t the best listener: his note flew onto Sam’s desk.
“My house. Tomorrow morning. To create the WINNER!”
“I …work for my mom on Saturdays.”
“I’ll be there!” Alex said.
“Sam, breakfast!” Mom said.
“Do I have to help you collect garbage today?”
“Yes. Junking is how I get supplies.”
“Most artists buy supplies, Mom,” Sam said.
“I’m not most artists. I’m The Junk Lady- ‘Making Garbage Artfully Useful.’”
“Look at that!” Mom said fifteen minutes later. Her pick-up truck was soon filled with construction cones.
Mom turned left. “Doesn’t Jake live on this street?”
Sam crouched down. Maybe Jake wouldn’t notice him.
“There’s your friend now.”
Alex stood in Jake’s driveway.
Jake burst out of his house.
“You made it!” Jake said.
Alex snickered. “Your mom collects garbage?”
“Uh…yeah,” Sam said.
“Go ahead, Sam.” Mom said. “I’ll manage alone today.”
Mom hit the gas. A cone fell off the truck and landed straight up. Jake threw the basketball to Alex.
Alex missed.
Sam ducked. The ball settled on the cone.
“Wow!” Alex said.
“It’s a…funky Christmas tree,” Sam said.
Jake opened the recycling bin. “Just needs decorations.”
“Being The Junk Lady’s son is pretty great,” Sam said Monday, as the principal placed a blue ribbon on the tree.
margaret.r.zotkiewicz.author 