My First Chuckle Challenge

Guess what guys, I’m funny! Well, that’s what the judges of the 1st annual Chuckle Challenge said and that is what I keep telling my kids. Maybe one day they will believe me.

As you know, I LOVE kid lit writing contests. They stir up creativity, build community, and there’s prizes! Mostly, the results are quick and that is such a breath of fresh air in an industry that can take months and years to respond to submissions.

When April Berry, Kris DeCaro, and Julie Hauswirth posted about their Chuckle Challenge, I saw it as a great opportunity to get some creativity flowing, distract me from some uncertainties that were feeling stressful, and see if I could be funny. I mean, I think I’m hilarious, but I wasn’t sure how well I would fare in a contest focused on humor.

I was delighted to receive an HA-norable Mention for the story below. I hope it gives you a chuckle. Heads up, there’s potty humor involved.

Contest Rules: 200 words or less, humor, for ages 12 and under, and must use a character and item from the lists they provided. I chose “Tiptoe Tina” and “Broccoli.”

Tina’s Tummy Trouble

Broccoli casserole rumbled around in Tina’s tummy. Bleh! Tina needed a cookie. But mom was still rage-cleaning the kitchen and mumbling words like underappreciated and nutritious, so Tina waited until the counters sparkled and Mom collapsed onto the couch.

RUMBLE!

Tina tiptoed – Pffft!

“Ooops! Broccoli farts.”

GRUMBLE!

Tina tiptoed again. Pfffffft!

Tina’s dog sniffed the air and whimpered.

“Sorry Henry,” she whispered. A cookie would fix her problem.

Tiptoe Tina snuck across the shining floors, and climbed up to the cookie cabinet. But she couldn’t reach.

She stretched her fingers,

arms,

legs,

and with one last try raised onto the tippiest tips of her toes.

“Ahha!”

RUMBLE! Tina’s stretched tummy grumbled...

and let out a ripe, loud fart. PFFFT!

Henry howled.

Quickly, Tina grabbed the cookie box but her sock slipped. Cookies clattered on the counter.

“Uh oh!”

Mom scurried into the kitchen, moaning “Tina! Look at this mess! And what is that smell?”

Tina mumbled something about nutritious casserole.

Mom frowned. “Please clean this up.”

“Sorry, Mom.” Tina ate a crumbly cookie from the counter and tossed one to Henry.

Then another and another.

Henry froze. RUMBLE.

He tiptoed away but his tummy GRUMBLED with

PFFFT! Cookie farts.