LOCAL

Unfinished Christmas Story: Ending by Brody Lee Sweigart

Chambersburg Public Opinion
Should a pair of siblings give up prized possessions from their father, whom they may never see again, in order to help family friends build a new home? We invite local students in grades 2 through 8 to tell us, by finishing Public Opinion's 2018 Unfinished Christmas Story, "The Little Wooden Soldiers."

Public Opinion invited children in grades through through eight from across the county to get creative this holiday season and write their own ending to an "Unfinished Christmas Story." 

The unfinished story, "The Little Wooden Soldiers," centered on two siblings faced with a tough choice: Should they give up a prized possession from their father, who is off fighting in the Civil War, to help homeless family friends? Read the rest of the story, with the author's own ending, here. 

Below is one of the entries we received. Others can be found here. Except for the addition of some paragraph breaks, most entries appear just as we received them. 

Brody Lee Sweigart, third grade, Chambersburg

Abner said, “hurry up I want the toy soldier. 

Emma said “I don’t have them”.

“yes you do.

No I don’t”

“Let me look in your bookbag”

”no” Emma said.  Why would I let you look in my bookbag. Please Abner why can’t your dad make Thomas and Molly and go by your own toy soldier."

“No”

“Fine I will give you the toy soldier."  Emma got in her book bag and pulled the toy soldier out and gave it to Abner. 

Jed came out and saw Abner with his sisters toy soldier. “Give my sister her toy soldier back.”

“No she gave it to me”.

“You did Emma”

Yea it’s the only way Thomas and Molly will get a house. 

Yea but what if Abner lied then we wont have anything to remember dad by if he doesn’t come back from the war.  And Molly and Thomas wont have a house. 

Then the bell rang and they went in class.  Later that day Jed and Emma were waiting for Abners dad to get there but he never came. 

Jed said I told you you shouldn’t of gave the toy soldier to Abner. 

The next day they looked for Abner but they couldn’t find him. Later that day they went to Abners house his dad opened the door.  Jed asked Abner’s dad if he could build a house for Thomas and Molly and said how Abner lied.  He said he would if he found the toy soldier.  He looked everywhere except Abner’s bookbag.  There it was he gave it to them and built Molly and Thomas a house.  A few days later Jeds dad came home and Molly and Thomas lived happily ever after.