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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Writer’s Skill/Craft (04/22/10)
The grey haired old man with wrinkled brow and twinkling eyes, leans over his desk in the twilight of the evening. Jonathon writes and as the words flows from his pen, the light outside his window casts shadows that soon turn into bright colors of children’s clothes and the sound of laughter can be heard echoing through his quiet stone home.

A plump rabbit appears from the shadows and hops over his boot as he is engrossed in his writing. Easter eggs start to dot a neatly cut lawn like Christmas ornaments on a tree. Then the high pitched laughter of children grows from the echoes into a sound like an orchestra formed of bells. More bunnies hop to and fro while little chubby fingers of adolescent children reach for the bunnies who hop just out of their grasp.

The old man laughs as he continues to write. The words flow from him like a spring fed stream without end.

Now there are parents scattered around the bright green lawn holding glasses of cool lemonade that perspire on the warm spring day. The deeper tones of men and the higher pitched tones of women whispering in small groups is an undertone for the laughter of the children.

It is Easter, and the one who gave the greatest gift of all watches the old man leaning over his desk in the dusk of the evening and he smiles.

One child holds the largest bunny of all while the other children gathered around him. The bunny sits quietly in his arms. Its deep brown eyes are the color of the chocolate that melts on the fingers of the children and smears their faces like clowns.

“Jonathon, I’ll call you Jonathon," the little boy speaks solemnly while the other children nod their heads and reach to touch the bunny.

The bunnies’ nose wrinkles and wiggles back and forth, then it speaks, “Why would you call me Jonathon, my name is Peter. Jonathon is my creator, not a bunny.”

The children’s eyes widened and their mouths open in wonder.

“…and Please put me down, I should not have eaten all that chocolate, but ohhh, it was so good. I should not have stuffed myself.”

The young boy swallows, and puts Peter, the rabbit, down and squats in front of him. “You’re the Easter Bunny.”

“Why yes, I am at that. Very astute of you young man.” The other children gather around in a circle in awe of a talking bunny.

“Thank you for the Easter basket,” the young boy says as he squats in front of Peter Rabbit.

“You are quite welcome.” Peter says,” Do you children know what Easter is really about?”

“ It’s not really about bunnies and candy, and Easter Egg hunts.”

The children nod their heads in unison, “No”.

“Did you know that Jesus was reborn on Easter? He gave his life for you, so you might have everlasting life.”

All the children’s eyes widen, and they nod ‘no’ again, and listen as Peter tells the story of Jesus.

“Wow, he did that for us?” They chime in sounding like bells from heaven.

“Yes, children, he did,” says Peter.

“…and you? “ They ask,” Did he give his life for you too?”

…”No, not for me, I’m a story book character, so, in a way, I have everlasting life too. As you read and then re-read me to your children, and your children’s children I live on forever. It’s the magic of story telling. Eternal life for me is much different than for you, but as long as you wish to tell the tale of Easter to your children, as I’ve told it to you, I will live on. …so in many ways, my life depends on your acceptance of this great gift, and your eternal life is what keeps me living on forever.”

The old man, content with his work, looks outside his window at the dying light that illuminates his book. The dusk is turning to night as the bunny, but a shadow disappears into darkness.

Jonathon sighs, “Thank you Dear Lord” …and closes his eyes in prayer thanking His creator for his creation. He wonders at his craft, if it isn’t something more. It feels so alive when he is writing. He smiles again.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die…” John 11:35 25-26



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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
04/30/10
This is a delightful story, The message was very powerful.

One small note-usually when I see the word nod I think of yes and shake makes me think of no. It might just be my preference, but I thought I'd mention it.

This would make a darling illustrated story or perhaps a story in the Sunday School take-home sheets.
Yvonne Blake 
04/30/10
Very creative! It was hard to tell where the narrative stopped and where the story began...but that's often the way of a writer's life.
Charlotte Maccallum
05/01/10
Great story. I must admit I was thinking what on earth is this it's got nothing to do with writing. But the end is great. I think you achived what you set out to do.
Jan Ackerson
05/03/10
This was a creative approach to the topic.

A few errors in writing mechanics kept this one from really soaring.

Lots of great imagery here--I could really picture the scene on the lawn and the writer. Well done.