need help with an idea for a story

[artisttoo]

Here I sit.  It is nearly 9:30 p.m. on my 45th wedding anniversary, and I am suffering from laryngitis and a scratchy, sore throat.  All day I have done pretty much nothing, except take throat losenges, drink tea and soda, watch tv and think.  My hubbie has been great to wait on me, go out and buy food and wait on me some more.  At some point during the day, ideas started pouring into my head about a children's story.  The idea formed after one of my tutoring students did something funny with her Santa hat the other day, so I spent part of the day writing ideas down.

Here's the problem I am having with my story.  I need for Santa to laugh so hard that he shakes his head and his hat goes flying off.  What could a child say to Santa that would make him laugh that hard?  I know some of you moms of young children have heard things that have made you laugh til you cried or maybe wet your pants.  What might make Santa laugh really hard?

If you can give me some ideas, you will have made my 45th anniversary something I can look back on and say, "That was a great anniversary.  I was able to write a story."  Also, any of you who give me an idea, I will write back and let you know more about the plot and what my student did that was the seed for growing into this Christmas story.

Thanks ahead of time.

Deanna

[HavenWood]

Dec. 22, 2007 at 10:46 PM I can't think of anything now, as it is late and i am so tired.  I will give it some thought and let you know later, if it's not too late.  I hope you have fun writing it!

[HavenWood]

Dec. 23, 2007 at 4:17 PM well, i thought about it on and off today.  the only thing i could come up with is the kid saying something to Santa about his belly, his weight, not needing to eat any more cookies.  i'm going to ask my son, (age 8) and see what he says.  i'll get back to you.

[HavenWood]

Dec. 23, 2007 at 4:21 PM

Levi wasn't much help.  He said the kid could say, "I farted."  Being 8, all those inappropriate things are humorous to him!

Maybe it could be something the kid asks for that makes santa laugh. 

[artisttoo]

Dec. 23, 2007 at 8:56 PM Thanks, Stacy.  What do you think of this?  Maybe the kid could ask Santa to bring him some bugs, but the kid really means the kind of bugs he can plant around the house so he can listen in on his parents' private conversations.  Or he could ask Santa to give his dad something so he wouldn't  fart such smelly farts.  (In my family we really need to get something like that for my grandson, who takes such joy in grossing us all out in the car.)

(Original Poster)

[mrsmoon]

Jan. 4, 2008 at 8:29 PM Maybe the kid could say "give me a sister that doesn't talk."

[mrsmoon]

Jan. 4, 2008 at 8:31 PM Do you think santa would laugh if a child closed his eyes and said "you're not real"

[artisttoo]

Jan. 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM

I think Santa would laugh if a child crossed his eyes and said, "You're not real."  I ended up having Santa think asking for bugs was funny, especially when the child says he wants the kind of bugs that are spy devices. 

This particular story is well on the way to being ready to send off to publishers.  Now I need to find out which publishers would be the best fit.

(Original Poster)