Austin Briggs's Blog, page 36
February 2, 2013
December 2012 Winners
Thanks to all who dropped me a quick note asking where the heck was I. Your questions made me realize that the contest is starting to get some traction.
I apologize for missing a month. I simply had a good old overload, and dropped a few balls. Trying to do too much too fast!
Anyway.
I loved the December entries, didn’t you? Here are some that believe deserve to be short-listed for the award – the Greatest Seven of December:
1. Scattering Mum by Sandra-Jane Goddard.
2. End of the Line by O.D. Trebor.
3. Moving on by Thomas Giles.
4. Some Secrets are Better Left, well, Secret by Michael Coady.
5. No Price Too High by Elizabeth John.
6. A Journey of Secret Discoveries by Linda Goldman Foley.
7. My Sister Jenny by Salvatore Buttaci.
As always, I wish I could award more, and I’m sure I’ve missed very deserving stories. However, this site isn’t perfect, and an element of subjectivity in my assessments will always remain.
The winners, in my view, are:
1st prize ($55): End of the Line by O.D. Trebor. This chilling story has thoroughly fascinated me.
2nd prize ($30): My Sister Jenny by Salvatore Buttaci. The humanity in this story has affected me deeply.
2nd prize ($30): Scattering Mum by Sandra-Jane Goddard. The conflict, the emotion in this complex story is brilliant.
Congratulations! Next up: the January winnings and the February prompt.
December 2012 Winners is a post from: Adventure and Learning
January 31, 2013
Too Late for Love
Mattie fell head over heels in love with a man she never met. His smile in a picture and his poetic words typed on a screen were enough for her to know him.
Now, standing over her grave, he weeps.
“I’m sorry I failed to tell you, I love you Mattie. Perhaps we’ll meet in Heaven.”
P. A. Shannon.
Too Late for Love is a post from: Adventure and Learning
January 30, 2013
A Breathing Secret
After sixteen years nothing had changed. When our eyes met I was still lost. Everything in the hotel lobby disappeared in a strange fog and my only thought was: “Why have I never told him?”
That moment my sons voice said. “Mom?”
His eyes met my sons, his own – returned to me – and he knew.
A Breathing Secret is a post from: Adventure and Learning
January 27, 2013
Our Pond
Little Drubble took the high road down to the silver pond. Sitting at the banks of the still water – a small bumbling friend awaited Drubble and his news.
He scrambled across the brush, through the thickets and stood next to the Woggtide beatle that was singing a song.
“Good day, my friend” Drubble whispered.
Our Pond is a post from: Adventure and Learning
Give Me Space
It wasn’t something expected.
Love wound its way across the ether and into the devilish remnants of a man’s unguarded banks.
Several seconds saw momentum build.
Layers of nuisance and debris melted away.
Sean could see where he once refused to look.
Julie wasn’t told of his secret.
Give Me Space is a post from: Adventure and Learning
Better Late Than Never
“Paolo, where is Tim?” asked Zac, spooning up the froth from his latte in Roberto’s restaurant. “He said he’d give me a ring, but all I get is his voicemail.”
“Sorry I’m late, mate,” whispered Tim, kneeling beside him, “Open this small box and please let your answer be ‘Yes’.”
Better Late Than Never is a post from: Adventure and Learning
January 21, 2013
Your Secret Is No Different From Mine
Dressed in a peach summer gown, she asked, “How do I look?”
‘Beautiful” – he lied. Inside, he thought, ‘forgive me, sweetheart, I betrayed again!’
She smiles, and stares back at the mirror. Expression transformed. She thinks, “No words can ever make me feel as beautiful as the look in your eyes did. Sorry, sweetheart…”
Your Secret Is No Different From Mine is a post from: Adventure and Learning
Tastes Like Oak
Grimbledung stayed in the stocks for the day.
It was just to make the soldiers feel good about themselves.
Tomorrow, however…
Tomorrow, Grim was going home. Those poor feel-good soldiers didn’t know Grim’s secret.
Gnomes really didn’t mind the taste of wood.
Tastes Like Oak is a post from: Adventure and Learning
Not Me
The pints flowed that night in the pub, him and me drinking through his personal hell. His girlfriend was pregnant and he knew it wasn’t him. I backed him up all the way, I’d help him find the guy. I’d make sure he wouldn’t find out it was me.
Not Me is a post from: Adventure and Learning
Leftovers
“I always buy my friends from department stores. That way, I can return them whenever I want and get a refund or an exchange.”
“So you would return me, Susan?”
“Of course … once I grew tired of you,Carol.”
“Thanks. Thanks a lot.”
“No problem.”
“What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Shopping for more friends.”
Eugene Chun.
Leftovers is a post from: Adventure and Learning
