12 Days of Writing

This is a pyramid-style writing challenge taking place over the first 12 days of December 2008. The idea is that you write a one-word sentence on day one, two two-word sentences on day two etc. No idea how well I'll be able to do it but I'll give it a shot!

Finished story

"Geese?"

"That's right. Six geese."

"Doing what, though?"

"Laying their eggs. Six geese a-laying."

"That sounds really silly. Is 'a-laying' a word?"

"Of course it is! Stop spoiling the fun."

Cathy sighed, rolling her eyes. "Just trying to help, sweetie."

Percy looked up, suddenly angry. "But how are you helping? You are just being rude."

Cathy realized this might get difficult. The arguments always started like this. Percy liked to create 'fun' activities. But his idea of 'fun' sucked. At least, Cathy thought it did. Still, she tried to humor him.

But Percy was losing his patience, too. “What is your problem with it, exactly?”

“Well, just go back to the beginning. First a partridge, turtle doves, french hens. Then we have calling birds, now geese.”

“Yes, Cathy, but what is your point?”

“Well, too many birds, for one thing.”

"If you would just let me finish, I - "

Cathy raised her hand, cutting short Percy's rant. "I know there is much more to come. But it just seems to get increasingly random. Not much of this is related to Christmas."

"Cathy, this is a really famous Christmas song. Everyone knows it and associates it with Christmas."

"Not if they pay attention to the words."

It was at that moment that Percy lost it. He had suggested illustrating a song for the kids. Cathy said she would join in, despite seeming reluctant. As soon as Percy chose the song, she started. She had a way of really winding him up.

And now, he had well and truly had enough. "Would you just stop being such a miserable wretch?! Why must you always pick on everything I do? Is it that difficult to be nice to me?"

Cathy stared at him, eyes wide with shock, utterly dumbfounded.

Percy realized he may have shouted a bit too loudly. "Sorry to snap at you, I should hold my temper."

"It's fine, Percy, I know I can be annoying." It took great resolve for Cathy to make this admission. She still did not think she had done anything wrong. But it was clear they needed to sort this out. "I just think there are more Christmassy songs, you know? It's not just birds - the lyrics are generally weird. The leaping lords and maids a-milking aren't much better."

"I think the lyrics are all to do with religious imagery. So although it may not be immediately obvious, it is Christmassy."

"Most of the kids in this play group are under five. I think religious imagery is going to be lost on them!"

"If you're so clever, come up with a better idea."

"OK, there are plenty of more festive songs to choose from. How about Good King Wenceslas, or Jingle Bells, or Silent Night?"

"I don't think Silent Night really lends itself to illustration. Unless we want a series of pictures of dark, empty skies."

Cathy smiled for the first time since the argument had begun. "Better than endless pictures of different species of bird, though, surely?"

After some deliberation about various songs, they eventually settled on Jingle Bells. Percy agreed to throw out all the pictures he had already done. They spent the next two hours in relative harmony, just painting pictures. With the tension now behind them, they both started to feel festive. All was well — that is, until the children arrived the next morning.

Six children gathered round the freshly painted pictures, scowling and looking confused. “Why is the sleigh being pulled by a horse instead of reindeer?”

Percy explained it was not Santa’s sleigh, just people on a ride.

“But the sleigh is pulled by lots of reindeer, not a horse!”

Exasperated, Percy looked away from the unimpressed children and caught Cathy’s eye.

A smirk appeared on Cathy’s face, despite her efforts to hide it. “On reflection, Percy, maybe the birds were a better idea, after all.”



Day-by-Day breakdown

Day One

"Geese?"

Day Two

"That's right. Six geese."

Day Three

"Doing what, though?"

"Laying their eggs. Six geese a-laying."

Day Four

"That sounds really silly. Is 'a-laying' a word?"

"Of course it is! Stop spoiling the fun."

Day Five

Cathy sighed, rolling her eyes. "Just trying to help, sweetie."

Percy looked up, suddenly angry. "But how are you helping? You are just being rude."

Day Six

Cathy realized this might get difficult. The arguments always started like this. Percy liked to create 'fun' activities.
But his idea of 'fun' sucked. At least, Cathy thought it did. Still, she tried to humor him.

Day Seven

But Percy was losing his patience, too. “What is your problem with it, exactly?”
“Well, just go back to the beginning. First a partridge, turtle doves, french hens. Then we have calling birds, now geese.”
“Yes, Cathy, but what is your point?”
“Well, too many birds, for one thing.”

Day Eight

"If you would just let me finish, I - "
Cathy raised her hand, cutting short Percy's rant. "I know there is much more to come.
But it just seems to get increasingly random. Not much of this is related to Christmas."
"Cathy, this is a really famous Christmas song. Everyone knows it and associates it with Christmas."
"Not if they pay attention to the words."

Day Nine

It was at that moment that Percy lost it.
He had suggested illustrating a song for the kids. Cathy said she would join in, despite seeming reluctant.
As soon as Percy chose the song, she started. She had a way of really winding him up.
And now, he had well and truly had enough.
"Would you just stop being such a miserable wretch?! Why must you always pick on everything I do? Is it that difficult to be nice to me?"

Day Ten

Cathy stared at him, eyes wide with shock, utterly dumbfounded.
Percy realized he may have shouted a bit too loudly.
"Sorry to snap at you, I should hold my temper."
"It's fine, Percy, I know I can be annoying." It took great resolve for Cathy to make this admission. She still did not think she had done anything wrong. But it was clear they needed to sort this out. "I just think there are more Christmassy songs, you know? It's not just birds - the lyrics are generally weird. The leaping lords and maids a-milking aren't much better."

Day Eleven

"I think the lyrics are all to do with religious imagery. So although it may not be immediately obvious, it is Christmassy."
"Most of the kids in this play group are under five. I think religious imagery is going to be lost on them!"
"If you're so clever, come up with a better idea."
"OK, there are plenty of more festive songs to choose from. How about Good King Wenceslas, or Jingle Bells, or Silent Night?"
"I don't think Silent Night really lends itself to illustration. Unless we want a series of pictures of dark, empty skies."
Cathy smiled for the first time since the argument had begun. "Better than endless pictures of different species of bird, though, surely?"

Day Twelve

After some deliberation about various songs, they eventually settled on Jingle Bells. Percy agreed to throw out all the pictures he had already done. They spent the next two hours in relative harmony, just painting pictures. With the tension now behind them, they both started to feel festive. All was well — that is, until the children arrived the next morning.
Six children gathered round the freshly painted pictures, scowling and looking confused. “Why is the sleigh being pulled by a horse instead of reindeer?”
Percy explained it was not Santa’s sleigh, just people on a ride.
“But the sleigh is pulled by lots of reindeer, not a horse!”
Exasperated, Percy looked away from the unimpressed children and caught Cathy’s eye.
A smirk appeared on Cathy’s face, despite her efforts to hide it. “On reflection, Percy, maybe the birds were a better idea, after all.”