Sarah Brennan Funny & Fabulous Blog

Clever Competitions

COMPETITION NUMBER 41: THE STORY OF A SASSY SNAKE

Huge congratulations to the winners of my Sassy Snake Story competition! You’ll remember that the story had to be set in China, and that, as well as a sassy snake, the characters had to include an evil emperor, a kind courtier, a sad spider, a mighty flood, at least five of my Wicked Words, and the colour chartreuse!

Well done to the winners below – it was a treat to read your highly entertaining stories! Young readers take note: both of the first-place winners have taken part in my Clever Competitions several times before! They prove that old adage that practice will inevitably make perfect!

Wicked Words are printed in bold.

Here are the winning entries:

Grade One to Three Category

FIRST PLACE: Sera Leya Abraham, Grade 3, Stamford American School, Hong Kong, 9 years old

Readers will remember that Sera placed third in Tale of a Rogue Rabbit competition last year. I love her winning story below with its Emperor who is so unpleasant that he forbids laughing, her furry purple spider and her snake with super-powers! I especially enjoyed her inclusion of a rather unusual Confucius in her story! Sera used six Wicked Words correctly. Well done on a fantastic result Sera! Keep on writing stories!                                                                                                                       

The Chartreuse Snake     

One spring morning in the city of Nan Jing (Sui Dynasty) when the birds were chirping melodiously.  It seemed like a day of celebration, but none could. Never in the reign of Emperor Yang could anyone rejoice. For in the court of Emperor Yang, no one could laugh or giggle including the emperor’s closest companion, Steven Snake.

Steven’s chartreuse scales were scintillating and there was no other snake more elegant than him.  

Emperor Yang court also had one of the most omnisicient courtiers, Confucius, who was majestic and hilarious.  Steven Snake could laugh his head off in seconds even though he was Emperor Yang’s closest companion. One day, Confucius cracked the most amusing joke that made Steven laugh like anything! But he forgot that Emperor Yang was sitting right next to him. Emperor Yang was furious and he banished Steven from the kingdom! Steven never forgave Emperor Yang for this. Little did Emperor Yang know that Steven wasn’t just any snake, he was a snake with powers, powers that were so great that he could teleport to the fifth dimension. But Steven wanted revenge! 

Soon after Steven’s banishment, there was a huge flood that swept across the whole of Nan Jing! There was complete pandemonium. Emperor Yang and Confucius were marooned and miraculously they managed to find themselves in a tiny room to slip inside just in time before the water could seep in.  But foolish Emperor Yang opened the door and almost drowned. Luckily both he and Confucius knew how to swim and they reached high grounds, Emperor Yang was so tired he dropped to the ground!

Confucius as always was ready to help people. He used all his strength to grab a few sticks, light a fire and fetch some water. While Confucius was lighting the fire, he noticed a small figure moving surreptitiously around the sticks. Suddenly the creature gave out a loud yelp! Confucius (who was quite startled) rushed to see where it came from. His eyes caught a weeping spider. As he picked up the spider he said “Why are you crying”. The spider cried even more!  Confucius knew that all every one needed was a good rest.

The next morning he realised that Emperor Yang was nowhere to be seen. He went looking for Emperor Yang and all he found were a few sticks of wood. He then heard a soft cackle and quietly tiptoed to see who it was.  Well, who knew Emperor Yang could torture a poor spider cruelly as the spider let out a sibilant scream! Confucius grabbed a stick and with all his might smacked it down on Emperor Yang’s head as the Emperor died a quick death.

He quickly ran away with the tiny spider in his hands. His feet were as fast as lightning he managed to reach Nan Jing in seconds. When he reached the place it was completely desolated the only thing he could see was a glimmering light. As he started following the light he felt the ground shaking then the spider the fell from his hand and fell into the cracks of the ground.  Confucius felt like he was going to split into half! He could feel himself floating up in thin air. While he was floating, something was pulling him even closer to the light.

Suddenly the light grew bigger. It was the spider he rescued it! As he stared with awe the spider spoke in the most melodious voice and said “My name is Purply (because his spider fur was purple) I was testing you to see whether you had a kind heart and liked to help people. I am a friend of Steven. He asked me check whether you would like to join him in his Snake Palace?”

Confucius thought for a while and said “I am sorry but I would like to journey across Nan Jing first and then I will make my decision.

“I respect your decision.  When you are ready to make your choice just think of me and I will be summoned.” Then Purply disappeared.

As Confucius journeyed across Nan Jing he saw many different sights. The flood had wiped out almost everything there was. However, it had left a sweet earthly smell! Confucius was full of wonder so many things he has never seen before – wrecked houses, papers shredded, even crops uprooted.  The flood had done a lot of damage. He thought “How have I never seen things like this before? I thought I knew everything there was to know!”

He was satisfied with the sights he saw. It was time for him to make his choice! He pondered and pondered and finally made his decision. He was going to accept Steven and Purply’s offer! As he took a few deep breaths he was filled with mixed emotions. He knew now he was ready to be with Steven and Purply.  

He gathered all his thoughts and summoned Purply.  Purply was exuberant! He accompanied Confucius to Steven’s palace. Steven was as delighted as Purply and they lived together in his palace.  With Nan Jing in Steven’s hands, nothing could possibly go wrong!

Grade Four To Six Category

FIRST PLACE: Charles Bruser Zarin, Grade 5, Hong Kong International School, Hong Kong, 10 years old

Readers will recognize Charles’ name from his terrific results in previous competitions! Charles placed First and Third in two of my Clever Competitions over the last two years. In his winning story below, we find a truly sneaky snake who, like all Zodiac Snakes, loves collecting beautiful things, and who manages to bamboozle an Emperor who seems to me rather more hapless than evil! Not only did Charles use excellent vocabulary throughout, but he also managed to incorporate a total of twenty three Wicked Words in his story! I’m certain that Charles is an avid book reader!

The Prophetic Snake Who Shed His Skin

Comfortable in his gargantuan and sumptuous office, Xianshi slithered around surreptitiously pondering another conniving scheme during an estival morning.

“Hmm, seven hundred … No! Seven thousand emeralds!” he whispered slowly to himself.

He had a voracious desire for jewels.

“Oh! I can imagine those resplendent, chartreuse gems!”

He began writing, 

“When the Goddess moves the clouds

Bad luck is on your way

You must give seven thousand

Emeralds to the snake who can save the day …”

 Xianshi slithered rhythmically to the splendiferous palace of Emperor Huai.

“Emperor Huai, it seems like the prophecy says to give seven thousand emeralds to me,” he said sibilantly.

“No, that cannot be true,” Emperor Huai exclaimed indignantly.

“I am the snake who can save the day,” answered Xianshi.

“You can’t save the day!” the emperor said, in an unconvinced tone.

“Yes, I can. When war strikes, I will find the prophecy that will save you.”

“True, I will give you that. I will have those emeralds prepared in no time!”

Xianshi was surprised and pleased by how easily the emperor folded.

After waiting impatiently for an endless day, the emeralds finally came to Xianshi’s doorstep.

“Ooh, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for these!” he said to his clock.

He slid towards the door, and there they were, delivered in a cardboard courier box. He brought the box inside and then opened it, “Hmm, these don’t look scintillating enough. Something isn’t right …”

He set off to the kind courtier responsible for gems.

“Hmm, in fact these are fake. Just like the ones the emperor makes,” Renci said inadvertently.

“Courtier, what do you mean the ones the emperor makes?”

“First off, I have a name. I’m Renci. Second, I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

“My deepest apologies, kind Renci, please elucidate further as I believe I might have been bamboozled,” pleaded Xianshi. 

“Ok, the emperor makes fake emeralds and jade,” Renci said gently. “He has squandered his vast fortune.”

Suddenly, imperial guards stormed in with shields and spears.

“Xianshi, you are under arrest for prophecy fraud! Put your hands in the air!”

The snake put his tail up and was quickly pulled away to a depressing jail cell.

“You’re going to stay here for a long time!” one of the guards taunted him.

At first, he noticed how atrocious the cell was, there were vines on the walls and cracks in the floor. But he also noticed something else, a little hammock with a weeping spider in it.

“Ooh, my kids! Why am I here!” the spider was crying.

“Why are you crying, spider?”

“I’m Zhigong, and my family is out there somewhere, but I don’t know where!”

“Well, let’s plot our escape! You can use webs to weave a key!” said Xianshi omnisciently.

Zhigong skillfully webbed up a key and effortlessly exonerated them from confinement.

As Xianshi and Zhigong crept away from the jail, they wandered past the palace’s grand fountains.

Suddenly, the fountains began to overflow. And overflow. And overflow. Until the pooled waters burst over and caused a massive and unrelenting powerful flood. With the flooding waters spreading everywhere, it was pandemonium.

As the imperial guards tried to pursue the escaping prisoners, Xianshi wrapped around the still sad Zhigong as they swung away on his webs. Sadly, the imperial guards were consumed by the raging flood.  

At a safe distance from the devastating flood, Xianshi and Zhigong pondered their next move.

“So, what are we going to do about the emperor?” asked Zhigong. “He’s still going to use the fake gems.”

“I have a plan. Have I ever told you that I make prophecies?” asked Xianshi.

“No …”

“Well, with my illustrious prophecies, I can spread the scintillating news about the emperor!”

“That is a splendidly good plan!”

“Do you know where it comes from?” Xianshi pointed at his head.

“Well, you better get to work then!!!” said Zhigong.

Xianshi started writing, 

“This is not a prophecy

What it is 

Is a warning to all

The emperor has done something bad

The emerald or jade he gave 

Is not real at all”

Zhigong bowed to Xianshi in recognition of his masterful writing and plot.

They started handing them out to people across the kingdom and even the emperor received a copy of it. 

“XIANGSHI!!! IF YOU WANT TO SAY THESE intransigent THINGS, THEN FIGHT ME!!!!” he hollered frustratedly. “IF YOU WIN YOU CAN CHOOSE A NEW EMPEROR, BUT IF I WIN YOU ARE BANISHED TO THE SKY!!!!”

“Alright, I’m ready!” and he slithered toward the emperor, “Let’s fight right now!”

Although he was a snake, Xianshi raised himself up into a crane kick stance and landed a powerful blow to Emperor Huai’s royal face.

“You shouldn’t have done that!!” Huai charged lackadaisically and Xianshi easily dodged the attack.

With an incredibly quick and precise motion, Xianshi bit Huai, who exclaimed, “Ah!” in agony.

“With that bite, you need to go see a medic! Or you won’t see another day,” said Xianshi triumphantly. 

Huai was hurriedly rushed away.

“Fight over! Winner, Xianshi!!!” Renci declared, “Who do you want to be emperor?”

The sly and self-serving snake thought about it deeply.

“Days ago, I would have made myself emperor of course, but now I have changed. I want you to be emperor!!!!”

“Wait, me, why?” asked the kind courtier Renci.

“It would not be hyperbole to say that none of this would have happened without you. You told me about Huai’s evil business, you deserve to be emperor!”

The crowd erupted into jubilant cheers.

Except for the sad spider, Zhigong, who asked almost ineffably, “Can you please help me locate my lost family? I miss them terribly.”

“What do you think, Emperor Renci?” asked Xianshi.

“That will be very easy, as I’ve been protecting them all along!” declared Renci magnanimously. 

At that moment, the new imperial guard brought forward Zhigong’s family for an exuberant and ecstatic reunion.

Xianshi’s serpent mind began to think of his next prophecy…