Excuses, Excuses! Contest Winners

The Excuses, Excuses! contest challenges students to use three random words from entries in previous contests--usually drawn from a bowl; this year online from a random-choice spinning widget--to create an excuse about why they or their homework were late. Although there were not as many entries this year as last, for obvious reasons, the entrants made up for it by penning many long and involved entries that would surely have wrung pity from the hardest-hearted teacher! Although winning entries are below, other highly creative entries will also be considered for publication in The Hoot, the Middle School literary magazine.

For more information about the Excuses, Excuses! contest, the intro video is here, and you can read all submitted excuses here.

Winner: 10 Points

Words: Lilypads, Deliveries, Explorer

I’m sorry I was late, but you will not believe what I went through. It started off as normal, I woke up this morning on time when I heard a knock on my door which was odd, since the mail people don’t usually knock for my deliveries. Well, I opened the door to reveal a box that was marked URGENT with my name in red on it. I immediately opened the box and out jumped Dora the Explorer! She grabbed me by the hand, rather roughly I might add, and grimly said, “The Swiper took the special lilypads that restore peace in my town. I followed the clues to here. I’m searching your place.” I pleaded with her to understand that I had to get to work but my efforts were futile. She went through my entire apartment and there, in my kitchen, were her lilypads! That led to an interrogation to which I am now scared of monkeys. Boots is scary when he wants to be. So, boss, if you ever get a box marked urgent, run away. You do not want to meet Dora when she’s in a bad mood.   —Mahi ,  7th, Gold

Second Place: 7 Points

Words: Papaya, Championship, Candy

I was late to school because there was a papaya eating competition in our neighborhood. A man came to everyone’s homes to advertise for the contest and when he came to ours, I said I didn’t want to participate because I had to finish my homework. However, he bribed me with candy, and I couldn’t resist. He also told me that the reward was a jumbo sized Twix. I decided that I would participate only for the small award for participation (candy) because I had to finish my homework anyway. When the competition started, I realized that I was way better at eating papayas fast than I thought. Before I knew it, I made it to the finals round. I was so excited because I was so close to winning a giant Twix bar. It was a tough battle that I ended up winning. I was crowned the papaya eating champion (of the city)! Then I found out that there was a big championship round the next day in the morning where I went against people all around the state. By the time the championship ended, school had started 1 hour ago. Sorry. —Avani, 7th, Gold

Third Place: 5 Points

Words: Drippy, Wheel, Warning

I’m sorry, but I don’t have my homework today. My homework was done and saved last night, and I was drinking a glass of water, when some water got on my computer. Thankfully it was okay, but I had to be careful to not be drippy. I continued, when all of a sudden, a blue, spinning wheel appeared on the screen. Yes, I know that it’s normal. But this one was different! This wheel had words underneath it! I’m convinced it was a warning. I saw an “lo”, as in “look out”! As I jumped in surprise, my glass of water spilled on my computer. Unfortunately, I can’t access my file through OneDrive. Did the words say “loading”? Now that I think about it… they might have. —Ashley, 7th, Gold

 Honorable Mention: 3 Points

Words: Darken, Fairy, Smelled

Sorry I am late to school! You see, I always walk to school. However today, on my way to school I smelled something odd so I went to go investigate. I found out the smell was from a strange looking horse. When I petted the horse the sky begin to darken at the horse became an ugly looking fairy. The fairy said “How dare you touch me! Don’t you know that if you touch me you will get punished! I am the fairy of nightmares. See! I even look like a nightmare! Since you touch me I will make your nightmare come true!” Then she created a whirl wind that threw me up into the air. It keep on doing that. I was freaking out. I am scared of heights so this was very scary. Soon the whirl wind began to lose power. I ran as fast I could to school after this crazy adventure. --Sriniti, 5th, Gold