Media is full of stories of Euro meltdown fear. Bailing out failing economies and the dropping Euro are all signs to bring fear into the hearts of those seeing their savings melt away.
There is still hope out there. We asked what the average person on the streets thought.
“Meltdown? You mean global warming? Ho, ho, ho. The sack is always full for smiling children.”
As the eternal optimist in the red suit waddled off down the road, it made me think, “What gift would the European Central Bank like this Christmas or would they just get lumps of coal for naughty countries?”
Ross's Writing Blog 
Sparks In Shadow
September 27, 2011 at 17:48
Thanks for bringing in Santa. How can I get depressed about all this when Santa lets loose his hearty laugh?
Ross Mannell
September 27, 2011 at 17:56
Thanks for the comment.
I puzzled over this prompt as I looked for a way to add a touch of the positive to a gloomy topic. As a child, Santa cheered me up so the eternally optimistic man in a red suit found his way into this journalists article. Most papers have fluff articles to lighten the mood at times. 🙂
Anna Halford
September 27, 2011 at 21:28
Well, with the shops being full of Christmas items already this is such an apt take on the prompt. A great way to lighten the mood 🙂
Ross Mannell
September 28, 2011 at 00:53
Thanks for the comment.
The idea was to provide a lighter mood for possible child readers while still carrying a message regarding the Euro difficulties. 🙂
Alison Green
September 27, 2011 at 22:56
Lumps of coal definitely. An engaging take on the prompt. Good old Santa.
Ross Mannell
September 28, 2011 at 00:55
Thanks for the comment.
I was hoping many people knew the old tradition concerning coal as you did. For those not knowing the old Santa rule, good children receive gifts while a naughty child receives a lump of coal. 🙂
Michelle
February 9, 2012 at 12:01
Shelly – That is horaliius, i too am laughing out loud. Kids, ya just never know what they will do. Thanks for sharing that was very funny!
caughtwriting
September 29, 2011 at 01:34
An excellent take on the challenge, this made me smile. Amusing to think of Santa as the average optimist on the street. Love the graphic too.
Ross Mannell
September 29, 2011 at 09:05
Thanks for the comment.
If Santa wasn’t optimistic, the world would be in trouble. 🙂
gsussex
September 29, 2011 at 04:38
Ross you always bring depth and quality in your entries! Really enjoyed this week’s entry
Ross Mannell
September 29, 2011 at 09:07
Thanks for the comment.
Writing is a hobby of mine. The Centus challenge and UK’s 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups are great little mind exercises and are much quicker than writing children’s novels and short stories. I love the challenge of making the story concise yet with meaning.
Susan Mann
September 30, 2011 at 23:05
Excellent take on the prompt, Topical with Christmas already being talked about.
Ross Mannell
October 1, 2011 at 13:59
Thanks for the comment.
Christmas is very close now. At least that’s what shops are telling us. 🙂
jfb57
October 2, 2011 at 03:04
This is a clever take on the prompt Ross. I like using the cold & Santa with the connections of melting & presents. I was trying to decide which paper it would be. Maybe the Xmas Express or the Rudolph Times! Thank you so much for always taking up the challenge. Means such a lot!
Ross Mannell
October 2, 2011 at 09:03
Thanks for the comment.
Even some of the greater papers like fluff pieces as we approach Christmas. 🙂
Gill Robins
October 2, 2011 at 07:04
This brought a smile to my face, because we are enjoying record temperatures so Santa seems a long way away. Except that gritting lorries were spreading salt in Hampshire today. Apparently they wanted to be ready, just in case!
So seeing Santa just after laughing about gritting lorry practice seemed like serendipity.
Ross Mannell
October 2, 2011 at 09:07
Thanks for the comment.
It’s a little easier to think of Santa in the suit at the moment here in Australia. It’s still cool. Poor Santa and the reindeer in the December summer we have…. An Aussie Christmas song suggests Santa swaps his suit for a swimsuit when he arrives here and swaps the reindeer for six boomers (large kangaroos) to cope with the heat. 🙂