Valumtime’s Day

This is my entry for Susanna Hill’s Valentiny contest. It is a 214 word story about curiosity on Valentine’s Day.

Valumtime’s Day

It showed up at our front door on Tuesday. The box was wrapped in brown paper and smelled like dirt. I can’t read the squiggles yet, but I see my name written in black on the top. Mom said that I’ve got to wait until Valumtime’s Day to open it. But that’s two sleeps from now!

Each morning, I eat cereal and stare at the box for me on the kitchen table. When mom isn’t looking, I try to peek through a tiny tear in the paper, but all I can see is a brown box. I bet it’s from Dad. He’s being a hero far away.

Then it’s Valumtime’s Day. I run to the kitchen and mom says I have to eat my cereal first, but I’m not hungry. She giggles and lets me open my box first.

I tear off the paper, but mom has to help me use scissors to cut open the tape. She does it slowly so she doesn’t break anything inside or hurt anyone.

When she’s done, I open the box. Wrapped inside is a pink Teddy bear and a card with a different pink bear holding a flower. I can’t read the card, but I see Dad and hearts written at the bottom. Best Valumtime’s Day ever!