We got nearly thirty entries running the full gamut from letters about lost love, playful missives about a woman's relationship with her boobs or ones railing against the injustices of an unkind gene pool. Someone even managed to use 100 words to cover both Professor Brian Cox and fart gags, which takes some doing and probably deserves an award in its own right. There were also a few crackers which tragically crept just over the prescribed word count and couldn't qualify for the competition. That's 100 words for you; until you try it you don't realise just how little it is, and then when somebody does it well you realise just how much space it can be.
Getting it down to a shortlist of ten was hard work but sifting through a fine and varied array of stories to pick our winner and runners-up was every bit as difficult again. So, without banging on any longer it gives me great pleasure to announce the stories which finished in the podium positions. Oh, and just to stress (for rabid word counters like me), the salutation and sign-off don't count towards the 100 Words.
WINNER: Paul Kendrick, Wafers
Dear sympathetic nun,
A secular child at Catholic school; teased for being different. Too "unclean" to partake of the host during mass. "Demonic", perhaps (if catcalls can be relied upon). A hellish situation for a teaching assistant's first day, certainly.
Not for you.
You gave me a magic box: currency, a teetering pile of unconsecrated communion wafers to eat at break. "To shut them up," you said, with an unexpectedly impish spark, grinning... Those brittle discs carried more kudos than Quavers, I can tell you.
A soothing drop of compassion on the rough, cracked memories of my schooldays, even now eighteen years forward.
Better at remembering acts of kindness than I am names
* * *
1ST RUNNER UP: Travis Sloat, A Letter To My Wife
Dear Alicia,
The emptiness drives you mad, out of your senses with jealousy, anger, and rage. The emptiness clouds your mind, makes you bitter, makes you hate others for their gifts. It's something you've always wanted, yet you've been denied for eight years now. I want it too, for different reasons. I want it for you. I want you to be able to share the massive amount of love you've shown me over the years. However, the emptiness still exists, prominent in your mind, a barb that pierces your heart every time someone else gets to say, "I'm pregnant." I love you.
Yours forever, Travis
* * *
2ND RUNNER UP: Katy Scrogin, Contrition
Dear Soren,
A dozen years ago, floating on a confident wave of shared secrets and earnest discussions, you called to ask me for an official date. A dozen years ago, I tried to hid my freak-out, but you knew. Although I always say I have no regrets in life, that instance of caving to still-childish fears shows me up as a liar. I miss our friendship, and your goodness, and the lapsed possibility of sharing some of my life with you. I wish you joy and peace and unending abundance of the eagerness I spurned so flippantly. I've missed you ever since.
Katy
Congratulations to everybody who took part. I hope you like them.
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17 comments:
Mr London Street has done a very good precis of a very difficult job. I think we chose worthy winners. What say you?
Wafers was my favourite too, very worthy winner. Pretty pleased with myself for being one of the ten shortlisted - amongst pretty good company I think!
You did well - all three are fantastic. Choosing must have very hard indeed.
I like them all, but it's the last that I connected with the most.
Will you be doing anything like this again?
All very well done. I think the winner was especially good. A standout.
These were all amazing. I would have to say my favourite was the first runner up, most likely because of my own struggles to concieve.
nice writing!
A very deserving winner.
"Rough, cracked memories of my schooldays." What a perfect phrase.
Those were indeed worthy. What a difficult task you so naively agreed to.
What I really like about the response to these entries is that all three of them have their fans, and a lot going for them. Thanks everyone for being so supportive.
OWO - No, I don't think so, unless someone asks me to judge something. I went through my phase of judging That Was The Week That Blogged, which I stopped doing in the face of general apathy. I did go through a phase where I considered setting a 100 Word prompt every week and doing one of those widgets where people could link to their own attempts, but I decided against it.
I enjoyed all 10 of the 100 word posts that made the shortlist but the eventual winner was the one that really stood out for me too. Really enjoyed these.
Really enjoyed all three entries....good choice.
All three were excellent, but the winner stood out for me. Well done all.
The winner was exceptional. Phenomenal choice.
The winner was my personal favourite so I am glad it won. Excellent choice, judges.
yes, but Brian Cox and fart jokes sounds like the cream of the crop
Fantastic writing and congratulations to all three. The winner was my fave too.
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