The Writing Games - Episode 3

It's been a while since we posted one of these. We had Carolyn and Amy home from college for the holidays, and the resulting Story Game stories were very amusing.  We play the Story Game by giving all of the players a sheet of paper and (roughly) 90 seconds to write something.  Their work is passed to the person next to them and moved around the table until everyone has made their contribution to it. Playing with younger children adds an interesting element to the prose.

A Troll gets Parole

Prison life was tough for the Holiday Troll. Two Christmases ago he was busted by the "Man in the Suit" and sent to the "Big House" for doing such a lousy job on his wrapping assignments.

"Hey, I'm a troll," he had said, but Santa was unsympathetic. He remembered the day with bitterness-- Santa's flushed face and disheveled snowy hair and beard. His usually twinkling blue eyes bloodshot from one too many 'nogs.

The Troll remembered looking down at the crumpled paper and tattered ribbon in his claws, and how he had shrunk in embarrassment. The lecture had been long and severe, and even Mrs. Santa (who had always been good to the Holiday Troll) could not condone such a lousy job.  One thing had led to another, and before he knew it, the Holiday Troll heard the gloomy grind of a barred door closing behind him.

"Oh no!" a tornado of Jingle Bells, red and green gingham, and snow-white curls was approaching.  Mrs. Claus (who was also the prison Matron) was bringing the Holiday Troll's rations. Three brisk, powerful knocks and a brusque "Well, Troll-y boy, I hope you're being good today," she began without introduction. "Santa's had an emergency, and you're to be released immediately." Hands on her hips, she eyed him suspiciously, then slid the heavy door open with her green jeweled heel. "Dinner's in the dining room," she said, then whirled and left.

The Holiday Troll stood, dumbfounded. Had his unjust sentence really come to an end without warning? And what emergency had led to this turn of events?

He had no idea. The next few minutes would be seared into his mind like a kid's signature into a tree's bark. They would be the most important in his life. Little did he know that Mrs. Claus intended them to be his last.

"Hi!" Wally (or the Holiday Troll) said. "I want to end the story now." (Throwing a big tantrum.)