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Writing Contest #11 - Entries
Spin Cycle"Uncle, did someone plant this coin in the earth hoping to grow a money tree? Fifty pees hanging like acorns?"
"Ha! Hasn't your Dad told you money doesn't grow on trees Tim? No, I'll tell you why this coin was most likely buried in the soil. They normally come in pairs, since people who are in love often bury two small objects together deep in the ground to symbolise the everlasting nature of their love for each other".
"But Uncle, we put things in the ground when they're dead don't we?"
"Yes, but this is to suggest that the love between those two people will outlive death even".
"Uncle, I know from being a bridesmaid that the wedding vows say 'Until death do us part'".
"That's very true Melanie, but this here suggests that their love will last beyond death even".
"Wow!"
"The only problem is kids, by digging this coin up, you've split up the two lovers. The love tokens are supposed to remain together undisturbed forever".
"You mean we've divorced them?"
"Worse than that kiddoes, you've separated their eternal souls from each other. Still, we can cheer you up with a couple of gobstoppers this coin should just about cover".
Golden GatewayWell, Jacob, this is a day I have been preparing for since you took your first breath. The law says we are not allowed to discuss the blood line until you reach your twelfth birthday or until a sign has been shown to you. It is rare for anyone to be sent a sign, and I have never heard of someone as young as six to be chosen. However, here we are, and you are in possession of the talisman of Boaz.
The coin is like no coin you have ever seen, and after today you will never set eyes on it again. Some call it the ‘Talisman of Boaz’, others call it ‘Solomons Strength’ and a few call it ‘The Portal of God’. Its proper name is “Clavem auream portae” – “The key to the golden gateway”.
You see Jacob, you must have felt that you are not quite like other boys. What I am about to tell you will change the course of your life. It is a secret you can never share with your wife even as you watch her and those you love grow, age and die.
Now, Jacob, I can tell you what you are………
The Impossible Coin.We sat beside a comforting fire; I held the coin before the eager eyes of the twins, bedazzled in the firelight, and I began:
"This is a half-crown; it's worth about 12 pence."
"Aww!" they said in unison.
"But, when I was your age", I continued, "with a coin just like this, I took take a train to the seaside. I bought an ice-cream cornet, as big as your face, in three different flavours. I rode on the dodgems, whirled round on the carousel and won a teddy bear from the hoop-la stall. I skipped along the prom to the cafe and ordered cod, the size of shark and a double portion of chips. I even had enough money left to get a comic and huge bar of rock for the journey home."
"Impossible!" They chimed together.
"If you were our age, you'd have to have an adult with you." said Tom.
"And to buy all that" Katy added, "the coin must be magic!"
"No" I smiled. "The coin wasn't magic, but the days certainly were."
SILVER TETRADRACHIM ME
Long ago in ancient Mesopotamia, a distant and exotic place, existed the city-state of Babylon.
In those times each place had its own coin.
Like today each marking had meaning.
On one side you see the bearded man on the chair? That is Zeus enthroned.
And on the other, Herakles's head swathed in the hood of his Nemean lion cloak.
NIECE
Uncle you haven't looked!
ME
You remember the tale of Herakles and his labours?
Well do you?
Good.
The Greek writing beneath Zeus means Alexander's Babylon
This coin was minted soon after Babylon fell to Alexander.
He was a mighty King of Macedon who conquered most of the known World.
The silver used to mint this coin was from an Akkadian coin.
The traces of lead are like a fingerprint.
NEPHEW
How do you know it's silver and lead?
Is it because it's black?
NIECE
Why does it have a hole?
ME
I thought you'd ask the obvious first.
Why was it in the field?
But I'll answer all, because I feel the cocoa and that means we don't have long.
Your father wore that coin when I killed him and I never managed to find it.
Memories in the sand.The boy knelt in the sand, attracted by the glint of a gold coin in the hot afternoon sun.
“Leave it.”
The boy hesitated but pulled it free.
“Do you know what that is?”
The boy shook his head.
“It is a curse Habib. That gold is all that is left of your parents; my beautiful brother and his wife.”
The man held out his hand and the boy dropped the coin into his dry worn palm.
He looked down. “They were dark days.”
His head raised and old eyes met young.
“They came from nowhere and swept through the village, white men helped by black; I was away on a hunt and you were a baby. It was a visit from the gods, they couldn’t be stopped.”
“Our people were bound in lines and marched the great journey across the scrub towards the coast where they were fed on to large wooden sea-monsters with those from many other villages.”
“Then they were gone.”
The man rubbed a tear from his eyes.
“This Habib, was the treasure given for the children of this land.”
With that he threw the coin back into the sand.
“It is not a good thing.”
Lost coinsAndrew and Fiona were ready for bed as they sat in front of the roaring fire with their cocoa. Uncle Tony began his story of the coin.
‘Hundreds of years ago, the world barely used they used cows, sheep or chickens to bargain with. In the world there were just five coins, all belonged to one man, a despicable man who refused to share his wealth with anybody. One day he came across a beggar man who asked for the most meagre crust of bread. The wealthy man, disgusted at what he saw, kicked the beggar man hard. The beggar man rose to his feet uttering a curse on the wealthy man that he will lose his wealth. The rich man just laughed and walked away. But through bad business, one by one, the coins were flung to far shores; Asia, Africa, Australasia, America and Europe. The now poor man swore he get back every coin and kill whoever had them! He is still looking for them to this day. Now, bed!’
As the children ascended the stairs he heard Andrew say, “Don’t adults tell unbelievable stories?”
Suddenly, there was a tremendous bang on the door. “Where are my COINS?”
Coin TossThis coin is very valuable. It’s not rare, but this particular one has been sought by many people and was long thought lost. It is valuable because it once sealed the fate of a nation.
You see, two tribes went to war. The reasons why have been lost in antiquity’s misty memory, but because warfare in those days was brutal in ways we cannot even imagine these days, they used champions. The champions of these two tribes were the greatest in all the land. Neither had been defeated (defeated champions usually being dead champions) and they were experts in sword, axe, bow, sling, mace and even double-handed rolling pin.
The battle was mighty. It lasted for days and by the end of it neither man stood victorious nor lay defeated, but so great had their exertions been that they could no longer continue. In their consternation over this impasse, it was decided that the two men would determine the outcome of the battle using a toss of this very coin. The northern tribe’s champion was given the honour of tossing the coin and the southern champion would call it. He called heads and that’s exactly where the other tossed it
If I have missed your entry please PM me, also could a kind moderator, preferably not one who is on holiday, that leaves you Simon, create a poll so we can get voting!
So many fun posts, it'll be difficult choosing. Good luck everyone.
gentle bump for a moderator to please load the voting poll!Thanks
I'm here. Just about to add the poll :)
Some good little yarns but I've voted, and yes, I do have an entry this time though I'm just hoping for higher than Nuls Points!
You and me both, Young Steven. I, however, have form when it comes to Nul Points!
I didn't get anything rit in time for this one (besides, winning your own compo is probably bad form... ;))Someone was asking where the idea for the coin came from. Simple... Too many decades of watching Time Team!!!
You can't have too many decades of watching Time Team! (Though, sad to say, I think this is the last series.)It's because of them that I have a Certificate in Archaeology!
Not really surprising - it did get rather dumbed down in the last few series (prompting Mick Aston to quit, if I remember rightly). Even so, it's still a damn sight better than the brainless "reality" dross that C4 puts out.And you got a certificate in archaeology? That's awesome! I was in the Young Archaeologists at my local museum when I was a kid, but never took it ant further.
Yes, about, whoo? 14 years ago. Went back to university to do a part time course, evenings and weekend field work. Mr Ignite did it too. He worked at the University and knew the course tutor. I still relish the moment that I got a much better mark than him on one of the modules and his immediate reaction was that it must have been a marking error! He usually bigs me up but that smarted, obviously!
I forgot one!!!The Lost Artefact
Norbert had a problem with keeping quiet, when you’re an elephant silence is difficult to achieve. Norbert had been working for the circus at least 2 years and never before had the performers taken him on one of their burglary raids.
They reached the museum without drawing attention to themselves despite Norbert’s heavy footfalls. Using his trunk he lifted 4 of the 5 men up into the window with ease. The 5th stayed with him, probably to stop him wandering off although Norbert had no intention of doing so. After all where would he go, he could hardly go catch a film at the local cinema.
20 minutes elapsed before the 4 men reappeared and jumped on to the elephant’s back; Norbert lifted up the 5th and set off back the way they had come.
“Strange coin. Must be worth a lot,” one man remarked as he sifted through the haul. Unfortunately the coin slipped from his hands just as Norbert decided he needed to take a dump.
The authorities eventually caught up with the thieves and recovered all but one of the missing artefacts; not one of the performers had wanted to search through elephant dung to salvage it.
Voted! I did enjoy the stories,another difficult choice.
Added lost artifact to poll. You can change your vote if you like it.
Voted. I enjoyed them all! Wish I'd had time to enter, but hopefully the next one.
I have to say that I think the quality this time around is generally higher than before (mind you I haven't entered in, like, six or seven times).
The poll should be finished by now. unless is closes tonight?
Till March 5th - it says! It's that moderator! Simooooon!
The poll still hasn't closed?This is the longest voting EVER!
I'm getting really excited about it!!Tomorrow is our local book club meeting so see you there Mago!
So it's the 5th, where are the results?Signed, Mr Patience.
The winner is the Impossible Coin! It's been so long I've forgotten who wrote what.
ooooo i voted for that :) well done all...
I did too Kath.And I came in second (joint); chuffed is the word.
It's been that long (Simon!) I've forgotten which I voted for!Well done the winner. 'Fess up!
Well done Steve on his first go. I came in joint penultimate. Pretty typical!
I voted for "Memories in the Sand" was that you Steven?
Yep and thanks for the vote!Enjoyed this comp, when's the next?
Well done, Mark. The standard must be high when someone with a sustificate comes in 'joint penultimate'.
My prize is to come up with the topic for the next one by next Wednesday.Thinking head is firmly screwed on.
Joint penultimate is an achievement for an non-author Barry. Especially as I've come last a couple of times!
Joe fell headlong as we crossed the field, stirring up the soil with his boot. His sister Alice yelled and grabbed up a dark disc of metal.
“What’s this?” she asked excitedly. “It’s money, isn’t it?” Joe immediately assumed it was pirate gold, despite all evidence to the contrary.
“It’s an old penny,” I said. A Victorian bun penny.
“Hey, a Bum Penny? Can you stick it up - ”
“So called because -” I interrupted him just in time!
“’Cos you can buy a penny bun with it!” shrieked Alice, delight shining in her eyes.
“Not these days, sadly. It’s called that because Queen Victoria wears her hair in a bun. When she was older, she had a veil covering it.”
“Can we get a penny bun Auntie?” asked Alice with wide-eyed innocence.
“Let’s see what the baker says.” I replied.
The baker was interested in their find, but not to the extent of accepting it as legal tender. We came away from his shop with a bun each, but we’d have had to exchange about 300 bun pennies for our three buns. As Joe said, you’d have to take your purse shopping in a wheelbarrow!