I love challenges, especially writing contest challenges! They give me a focus and help me stretch as a writer. So today, I’m participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s 5th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest. The challenge: write a Valentine story in which someone or something is curious, appropriate for kids, in 214 words or less. Thanks for reading!
Rusty and Rosie
by Rose Cappelli
(187 words)
Rusty rose from his den
On a cold winter day,
When his world was arranged
In a most special way.
He spied hearts on the hillside
And hearts on the trees.
Hearts on the leaves
Blowing by on the breeze.
Heart shaped rocks on the path
Rusty couldn’t ignore.
His questioning mind
Made him want to know more.
He followed them down
To a grove of tall pines,
Where hearts on the bark
Were the next special signs.
Heart shaped rocks in the stream
Kept his paws fairly dry,
As Rusty continued
His quest to learn why.
He discovered more shapes
On the opposite shore,
Where blackberry hearts
Led to Rosie’s front door.
Rusty knocked right away
And she answered quite quickly.
“I hoped you would come,”
Rosie said rather briskly.
She invited him in
Where he saw a huge sign-
WILL YOU PLEASE, RUSTY FOX,
BE MY SWEET VALENTINE?
So they huddled and cuddled
The rest of the day.
Dined on blackberry hearts
Baked in blackberry tarts.
And they promised each other
On stars up above,
They would always find hearts
To remind them of love.
Imagine the Possibilities 
I love the trail of hearts that Rosie left everywhere. Good luck in the contest.
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Love the multiple use of hearts. Best Wishes!
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Hearts, hearts everywhere!
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Oh, this is such a sweet story. Beautifully written. Well done! Best wishes with the contest!
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I can imagine the forest full of hearts, and it is beautiful!
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How sweet! Has a lot of Valentine’s spirit and is lovely. Nice job, Rose. 🙂
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A great visual story with a sweet ending. I really enjoyed it!
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I love finding hearts in nature! A wonderful Valentine story. Good luck!
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Lovely heart story! Good luck!
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So glad Rusty and Rosie found hearts and love. Sweet story!
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Very nice to read aloud and delightful images as well. I enjoyed your story!
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Curiously romantic…love it!
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Aw! What a sweet little love story, Rose! Love how the trail of hearts led Rusty to his Valentine! Nothing like a mysterious trail to make you curious 🙂 Thanks for joining in the Valentiny fun!
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Thank you, Susanna, and for the wonderful contests that always stretch my writing in some way.
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