Thank you, Susanna Hill, for this wonderful contest! So grateful to announce that my entry received honorable mention!

And thank you for awarding my story with an honorable mention!

A One-of-a-Kind, Just-in-Case, Not-at-All-Pink Valentine’s Day

By Amy Leskowski

214 words

“Pink?” asked Mr. Hue. “Pink? Wow. Absent on Valentine’s Day.”

No! Yellow trembled. She’d counted on Pink’s perfect attendance.

“Relax,” said Blue. “Be proud! Free! Brave!” Easy for Blue to say. She’d earned her stripes on Independence Day.

“If Yellow chickens out, I’ll find a fill-in.” Purple’s egg-cellent planning made Easter celebrations rise above all others.

“Yule probably want me to do it.” Red’s right. If it weren’t for Green’s luck nabbing St. Patrick’s Day, Red would’ve said “Be Mine” to Valentine’s Day instead of being boxed into Christmas.

Orange treated himself to Halloween, Brown prepared Thanksgiving, and Yellow delighted in being the never-needed, just-in-case color.

“It’s Yellow’s turn to shine,” said Mr. Hue.

Yellow paced. Wondered. Maybe?

Yellow brainstormed. Drafted. Dull.

Yellow erased. Retried. Better.

Yellow polished. Practiced. Beamed. Brilliant!

But at 2:14 p.m., Yellow panicked and hid.

She braved a peek.

Red’s cheer had disappeared. Orange seemed scared. Green pinched herself. Blue burst into tears. Purple hunted for Yellow. Brown looked thankful to not be involved. Mr. Hue’s face lost color.

Wow! Valentine’s Day needs me. Yellow brightened.

She teetered to the stage, toting her not-at-all-pink, not-at-all-heart-shaped decorations—and sparked a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day celebration:

“P-pink’s nose is red.

He’s s-sick with the flu.

For once, my s-stars

can be V-v-v-valentines too!”