Written for Esther’s “Can You Tell A Story In” –
#318, exactly 100 words using the ten prompt words
shown below. In exactly 100 words, here’s my flash.
armor, fidget, nativity, tambourine, gloss,
windsurf, spelling, bun, pajamas, and lightning

Christmas morning arrived with lightning speed. The Conlans, still in pajamas, attacked the presents like warriors in armor.
Little Mia unwrapped a tambourine and immediately provided unwanted accompaniment. Dad got windsurf lessons … handy for land-locked Nebraska! Mom received glitter lip gloss, which the dog ate within seconds.
Patrick’s fidgetspinner ricocheted off Grandma’s carefully arranged nativity scene, decapitating a wise man and JJ’s gift tag prompted hysterical laughter at the mis-spelling of his name!
“Who wants cinnamon buns?” Mom called out happily.
Everyone stampeded kitchen-ward, leaving wrapping paper carnage behind.
The tambourine continued shaking, possessed by the Christmas spirit.
NAR©2025
100 Words
This is “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” by First To Eleven
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Yay for Christmas chaos! The picture you conjured up was just right getting lots of the words in it. Cinnamon buns … so good. Love the song, too 🙂
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Thanks, Barbara. Merry Christmas! 🤶🏼🎄🎅🏼
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I hate it when that fidget spinner decapitates the wise man, but it is always fun to watch.
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I think so too! We’d always find WWE action figures in our creche!
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One of my neighbors gave me a lovely manger statue, but I lost it when I moved.
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Maybe it was too hot for the creche in sunny FL 🌞
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Are you the ghost of Christmas past? It’s loke I’m Scrooge and you just dragged me into my past of loving fun by a full family. Great job and the video is cool to. Happy Christmas dear Nancy!
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I’m so glad this story resonated with you, Ernie. Thanks so much. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, my friend. 🎅🏼🦌
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Many Christmas mornings like that when my boys were young. I also had them. Up before dawn, and my poor parents dragged from bed after staying up past midnight distributing the presents.
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Many, many years of that, Phil. We get great joy seeing our sons going through the same thing with their kids. Merry Christmas to you and Momo. 🎄
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Thank you, Nancy, and a Merry Christmas and prospers new year for ya’ll too.
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Love this! Happy memories!!! Merry Christmas Nancy
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So glad you enjoyed this, Di. Merry Christmas! 💝
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What a fun morning.
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You described this scene so well Nancy beautiful chaos ♥️
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A real family Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Merry Christmas, Ange. 🎄
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You captured the hectic Christmas unwrapping scene with aplomb, my friend … no unwrapping in Ballarat, we just sit around table enjoying our humongous luncheon and each others company …
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That is what it’s all about, dear Ivor. Enjoy the love! 🥰
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Another party today … it’s my sister’s birthday … xxx
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Great fun! 🎂
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Wonderful chaos
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Merry Christmas, Brian! ✨🎄✨
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Merry Christmas nancy 🎅🏼🌲
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