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    • Sassafras and Valentine’s Day

      Posted at 11:43 am by writergherlone, on January 24, 2018

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      Sassafras and Valentine’s Day

      By Kristy Gherlone

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      It was Valentine’s Day and Sassafras was sad. She wanted to get something special for her Daddy, but she didn’t have any money.

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      “What’s wrong, Sassafras?” her mother asked, noticing how unhappy she seemed.

      “It’s Valentine’s Day, but I don’t have anything for Daddy. How will he know that I love him if I don’t buy him a present?”

      “Daddy knows that you love him. You don’t have to buy gifts to show someone how much you care. There are lots of other ways to do that.”

      “Like how?” Sassafras asked.

      “Well, you could make him a card, if you like. I’m sure he would love that.”

      “That’s a great idea!” Sassafras brightened.

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      She gathered some art supplies and got to work.

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      Carefully, she cut out colorful hearts and pasted them to the paper she had folded.

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      Next, she used crayons to write what she wanted to say.

      “How’s it going in there?” Sassafras’s mother asked.

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      “Good, but I don’t want you to see until I’m all done.” Sassafras said, jumping onto the card to hide it. She wanted it to be a surprise.

      “That’s fine,” her mother laughed. “You know, when I was a little girl, my favorite Valentine’s were the ones that had treats inside.”

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      “I have just the thing!” Sassafras said.

      When she finished with the card, she called for her mother to see it.

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      “That is a lovely card, Sassafras. It came out very nice. What did you write?”

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      “I wrote, ‘For Daddy, love Sassy.’

      “It’s very nice, but I thought you were going to add some treats?”

      “Well, I was going to share my worms, but I accidentally ate them.”

      Sassafras’s mother smiled. She knew that worms were her very favorite thing. “That’s okay. I think Daddy might like chocolates better anyway. I have some that you can give to him.”

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      “Oh, thank you! I think he will like those better.”  She chose a few and stuck them to the card.

      IMG_8121 “Can I give it to him now? She asked excitedely.

      “Of course. I think you’ll find him on the porch.”

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      “Wait! I have one for you, too!” Sassafras cried. She gave her mother the paper heart she’d made.

      “Why, thank you, Sassy! You’re so thoughtful.”

      “I know,” Sassafras giggled and went off to find her Dad.

       

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      “Daddy! I made something for you!”

      Sassafras’s Dad was very happy with the card. He could tell how hard she’d worked on it.

      “Thank you, Sassy! That was very sweet of you.”

      “I made it because I love you.”

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      “And I love you!” he said, giving Sassafras a hug. “Now we have something for you! Your mother has it in the kitchen. Go and see.”

      “Is it a present?” Sassafras asked.

      “It might be,” her Daddy smiled.

      “But Mama said you don’t need to buy presents to show someone how much you care.”

      “That is true,” he said, ruffling her feathers. “But we got you one anyway.”

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      “Worms!” she cried happily.  “I love worms and presents and Valentine’s Day. But you know what I love most of all? You!”

      **A new short comedy story of mine has just been published! You can find “Piano Hoarding Christians” in Defenestration Mag!

       

      **NO part of this story may be copied or reproduced without written consent from the author.

      Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged childrensstory, ducks, family, familyfriendly, fiction, hearts, love, pekinduck, picturestory, shortstory, valentinesday
    • Sassafras Makes a Jack-o’-Lantern

      Posted at 12:12 pm by writergherlone, on October 19, 2017

      Sassafras Makes a Jack-o’-Lantern

      (story and pictures by Kristy Gherlone)

       

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      “May I try on my Halloween costume and can we make a Jack-o’-Lantern?” Sassy asked one October morning.

      “Hmmm,” Sassafras’s mother smiled, noticing that Sassafras had already put on the costume, and had already gathered the pumpkins. “I guess it is almost Halloween. I suppose so. Let me get a knife and the things we’ll need.”

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      “I can get the knife!” Sassafras offered. She was excited and eager to help.

      “No. You’d better let me get that,” Sassafras’s mother said. “Knives are sharp. You should never carve a pumpkin unless there is an adult around to help you.”

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      Sassafras’s mother got the knife and stuck it into the top of the pumpkin. Sassafras began to cry.

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      “What’s the matter Sassafras? Why are you so sad?”

      “I didn’t know you were going to kill the pumpkin!” Sassafras wailed, quite upset.

      “Aww, it’s okay,” Sassafras’s mother said, giving her a hug. “This pumpkin is not alive. I promise, I’m not hurting it at all.”

      “Are you sure?” Sassafras asked, still sniffling.

      “I’m positive. Pumpkins are vegetables. People grow them in their gardens for food and decoration. They are not like people and ducks.”

      “Oh. Okay,” Sassafras sighed with relief.

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      Sassafras’s mother finished cutting a hole into the top of the pumpkin and Sassafras helped to remove the seeds that were inside.

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      “These seeds are slimy, but they taste kind of good,” Sassy said.

      “Don’t eat too many,” Sassafras’s mother cautioned. “You’ll get a bellyache.”

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      “I think there are more on the bottom.”

      “You are doing a great job. Make sure the pumpkin is nice and clean,” Sassafras’s mother said. “If you leave too many of the fibers inside, the pumpkin won’t last very long.”

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      “I think that’s the last of them,” Sassafras declared. She had created quite a pile of seeds and fibers on the plastic bag.

      “We can roast some of the seeds later, after they dry out,  if you like. I think you will like those,” Sassafras’s mother said.

      “Yummy!” Sassy cried happily. Roasted pumpkin seeds sounded delicious.

      When Sassafras and her mother were finished carving the face on the Jack-o’-Lantern, Sassafras helped to carry it onto the porch.

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      “Our Jack-o’-Lantern came out nice,” Sassafras said, proudly. “And now everyone can see.”

       

      I hope you enjoyed my story.  Sassafras is a wonderful pet and has a lot of patience for my nonsense. She is always paid for her participation in the form of worms and hugs.

      This was last years costume.

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      Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged childrensstory, costumes, ducks, familyfriendly, fiction, Halloween, pekinduck, pumpkins, shortstory
    • Introducing Sassafras!

      Posted at 12:16 pm by writergherlone, on July 7, 2017

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      I’m not sure of how serious a venture this is, but I do enjoy writing small stories about my duck, Sassafras. 

      She is a willing participant and has been very popular on Facebook! I hope you find these occasional small stories enjoyable as well.

      Sassafras and…

      Home Is Where The Love IS

      by Kristy Gherlone

       

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      “Mama, I have a question. Does everyone live in a house like ours?” Sassafras asked one spring morning.

      “Goodness, no,” her mama answered. “There are many different types of houses. Let’s take a walk around and see what we find.”

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      “I think I found a house!” Sassafras called out excitedly. “At least it looks something like a house, but it’s very small.”

      “Right you are!” Sassafras’s mother said. “That is the chickadees house.”

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      “I found another, but this one is blue!”

      “Very good! That is where the thrushes live.”

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      “What about this, Sassafras? Do you think this could be a house?” Her mama asked.

      “Hmm,” Sassafras pondered, looking at the big pile of sticks. I didn’t look like any house she had ever seen. “I’m not sure.”

      “It is.” Her mama said. “This house belongs to a raccoon. Some creatures use leaves, sticks, and mud to make their homes.”

      Sassafras wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound very comfortable.”

      “Well, I’m sure they think so,” her mama laughed.

       

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      “I know this is a house!” Sassafras exclaimed proudly. “I’ve seen Mrs. Robin sleeping here.”

      “Great job, Sassy! You are right! You have found the Robin’s house.”

      “When her eggs hatch, maybe Mrs. Robin will let me babysit,” Sassafras giggled.

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      “There is a hole in the ground. Could something live here?” Sassafras asked.

      “Watch for a moment and see if anything comes out,” her mama said.

      Sassafras stood over the hole and waited. “Ants!” She cried. “I think this is an ants house!”

      “Very good, Sassafras!”

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      “I found our house again!” Sassafras cried. “I like it the best.”

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      “Just remember, Sassafras…It doesn’t matter where you live as long as you are loved.”

      Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments | Tagged childrensstory, ducks, education, familyfriendly, fiction, nature, pekin, picturebook, shortstory
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