Just in time writing! Here’s my entry for this year’s Spring Fling!! Cheers!
Spring Fling Rules
1. Story targets kids ages 12 or under.
2. Inspired by a child-appropriate gif, that is the only visual for the story.
3. 150 or fewer words, not including the title.
4. No illustration notes.
5. Post stories from April 1st to April 3rd at 11:59pm CST, on blog and link at Spring Fling.
6. Only one entry per contestant.
So here goes nuthin’!!! My story, inspired by the GIF above, clocks in at 145 words!! Woohooo!
Zippy, the Bunny?
Zippy was always late.
Late waking up.
Late to bunny birthday parties.
Late to Mr. McGregor’s garden.
And there was that embarrassing time she delivered Easter eggs.
She took so long—
the eggs walked away.
“Why can’t you be like us?” asked the other bunnies.
“I’ve tried!” Zippy cried.
Unconvinced, the bunnies hopped off to play Wolf Tag.
For years, Zippy had tried hopping,
but couldn’t lift all four feet off the ground at the same time.
Moping, she meandered through the meadow to the marsh.
A turtle sidled up.
Zippy’s worries spilled out, ending with “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing,” said the turtle. “Ignore your fur coat. You have a turtle heart.”
The turtle plopped into the water.
“Join me?”
Zippy hesitated.
She closed her eyes—
and listened to the beat of her heart.
“Jump-jump,” it said. “Jump-jump!”
And so she did.
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Audio recording of Zippy, the Bunny?
Jilanne Hoffmann 
I love this so much, Jilanne! Lyrical and lovely. Your recording is so soothing. Thanks for including it and good luck in the contest!
Thanks, Rose! It’s always interesting to see where and image will take you.
Awww! So sweet.
“She took so long — the eggs walked away.” What a great line. Cracked me up.
I thought she was going to discover that she actually was a turtle. But I love the ending with the so important theme of be happy with who you are.
🥳
Thanks, Sarah. LOL, your line “cracked me up” is eggcellent! My original ending leaned toward discovering she was a turtle, but after much pondering, I decided I like this ending better. It’s often hard to change how the world perceives your exterior, and so important to acknowledge the self that lies underneath.
Such a cute, sweet story, Jilanne! I loved that the eggs walked away – I could just imagine the chicks hatching in the time it took Zippy to get around to them 😊 And the audio was wonderful!
Thanks for stopping by, Susanna! Zippy is much more zippy in the water, LOL.
That was so cute, I love your use of alliteration scattered around to make certain lines pop.
Thank you! I enjoy a little wordplay now and then. Thanks for stopping by!
Aw what a sweet am unexpected ending! Thanks for sharing for the spring fling Kidlit contest
Thanks, Kaitlyn! I was just happy to get a story written in time to play! Cheers!