Susanna Hill's In Just Spring Contest

I entered into Susanna Hill's In Just Spring contest that starts today March 15 and ends March 18th.

Here are the rules taken from Susanna's blog:

The story must be about something that really says "SPRING" to you - something that really makes you feel that spring is here! It can be nature oriented - the robins or geese returning, eggs hatching, flowers blooming, baby animals being born, bears waking up, sunshine or rain, etc. It can be holiday oriented - St. Patrick's Day, Easter, April Fools' Day etc. It can be school oriented - the spring pageant, spring vacation, the spring talent show. It can be activity oriented - picnics, bike riding, baseball - anything at all that makes you think spring. 
The only other requirement is that the last line must be "[Character Name] knew Spring was really here!" or "[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!" (You can also write in first person if you want - e.g. I knew Spring was really here.... and present tense is fine too.) I've given the rhymers amongst you a choice... but if you can't make either option work with your rhyme scheme you have permission to tweak it slightly as long as the essential meaning stays the same.

Click here if you would like to read Susanna's entire blog post.  This link here will take you to all the contest entries.

Slurp! Plop! Spring is Here!

Mama Bunny hollered, “Keep your shoes clean.”

“I know Ma,” said Miles closing the door.

The sun warmed his white furry neck. The air felt crisp and light. He hopped on each patch of grass that lead to the fence where his brother Toby waited.

When he stepped on day-old snow it sounded funny.

Crunch! Squeak!

He wondered what the wet mud would sound like. He hung his shoes on the fence and found out.

Slurp! Plop!

"When you get out of there," yelled Toby, "I'm going to start counting."

"One! Two! Three!"

“Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!” said Miles.

Toby opened his eyes and Miles was gone.

“Where are you?”

A voice whispered from the mud puddle, “Right here.”

Toby jumped off the fence and fell on Miles.

“Tricked you,” laughed Miles, all muddy.

“Mama’s going to be SO mad.”

Miles giggled and pulled out a water balloon.

“Too cold for that,” said Toby.

But still Miles handed it to him.

“A HOT water balloon,” Toby grinned and said...

"One! Two! Three!"

“Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!” said Miles.

He found a dark cave and hid in it.

Miles felt something harry.

Grunt! Growl!

“I smell something yummy,” sniffed Bear.

“I’m just a little mouse, no bigger than a bite,” fibbed Miles.

“Mmm, you’re as big as a rat,” said Bear.

“Yes, but much faster,” said Miles.

He didn’t count to three.

He said, “Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo! You can’t catch me!”
Miles dove under the snow but his muddy feet poked out like breadsticks.

“Mmmm…breadsticks,” said Bear digging after him.

Then, overhead a figure appeared.

“TAKE THAT!" said Toby, throwing his balloon.



KERSPLAT!

Miles's muddy fur washed from brown to white.

Bear couldn't see him and dug faster.

Toby and Miles bolted,

Past the mud puddle,

Slurp! Plop!

Past the day-old snow,

Crunch! Squeak!

And back to the fence.

“Mama’s going to be SO mad,” said Toby.

Miles giggled at his muddy feet, then showed Toby his clean shoes.

“What can I say? Spring is really here!”