Inuvik (Dec 10/04) - What could be better than hot caribou stew and some storytelling at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School's Thursday Literacy Lunches?

Back for a second year, the elementary school's successful Literacy Lunch program has been attracting lots of students and their family members.

"So far, it's really been going well," said luncheon organizer Ruth Wright.

"We usually get a full house each Thursday."

And new for this instalment of the reading program is a story writing component, where each week students are encouraged to submit their own tales to be read aloud during lunch.

Caribou stew is nice, but it goes down so much better with a story.

So get yourself a hot bowl (if you can) and enjoy the following student stories, which were read last Thursday.

The Christmas Elves
by Shanna Allen
Grade 5

Once upon a time, there once were three elves. Their names were Rex, Anna and Alex.

Rex is 13 years old and Anna is 14 years old and Alex is 15 years old.

Alex wanted a real boss so he found a man with white long mustache and a big belly. Alex said to that man that he wanted him to be his boss and the man with the big belly said yes.

Alex and Anna wanted to name him Santa. Santa asked the elves to help him give out presents on Christmas and they said, "Sure."

Before Christmas they wrapped up presents for Neta, Terrance, Ashlyn and lots of other good kids. On Christmas, Santa and the elves handed out thousands of presents. All the kids started saying WOW!

After Christmas it was boxing day and we threw out all of our boxes and that's the end.

The Princess Who a Haircut
by Jacinta Larocque
Grade 5

Once upon a time there was a princess who lived with her father in a castle. The princess had the longest hair in the Kingdom but the princess thought she had her hair too long. So she decided to cut it. But her father the King didn't like that idea and would not let the princess cut her hair. The princess begged and begged, "Please father, I want to get a haircut!"

"Well OK, but you are paying for it," replied the King.

When the princess got her hair cut she went to her father and he said that it was too short.

The next day, the princess went to a store and do you know what she bought?...a wig.

If I Were a Snowman
by Kristen Elias
Grade 2

If I were a snowman I would run away to find my best friends and go sliding. After that we will go in the snow house to have cold chocolate, then go skating.