This is the second presentation of winning entries to the Sara G. & A. Macarthur Authors' Challenge. Thanks to all authors for their outstanding submissions. All future challenge entries will be 300-600 words.
Watch for Challenge Number Three ... coming soon.
Sara G. & A. Macarthur
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As stated ... This time, Newsvine Authors had to SPIN their best tales to make it to the Finish Line ... and we weren't just horsin' 'round about that as the wonderful works below will verify!
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This image was the basis of the CHALLENGE and the WINNERS really did MEET THE CHALLENGE. Congratulations!
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Easter Treasure by Holly
Well, this Easter is certainly going to suck, Gavin thought miserably. The whole frigging family was coming over for supper, which meant he would see all his dumb baby cousins. Worse yet, he was going to have to pretend he believed in the Easter Bunny in his crappy suit, helping the little brats find their crappy little eggs, and kiss his family’s stupid crappy faces wearing his ugly crappy suit. Now his relaxation was messed up, and he just couldn’t have it. Not today, he thought bitterly.
Finally, he had reached the carousel. It had been hard sneaking in, even though it was dark. Now the darkness was working against him, making it impossible to see what he was looking for. With a heavy sigh, he reached into his backpack and drew out a penlight. Getting down onto all fours, he scrambled around looking hard at the ground around him. He found several pieces of plastic wrappers, but not the kind he was looking for. He was even more agitated now because he heard the loudspeaker blare that the fair would be closing soon. Goddammit, he spat at the ground, didn’t that just figure?
Suddenly, he spied a small glisten in the glow of the penlight. His eyes stayed transfixed by the reflection of light. He ventured closer, not minding at all that the rocks were starting to press so hard into his hands that they bled. “Frigging awesome”, he declared. His right hand quickly shoved the object of his search into his pocket. He ran outside the fair gates and met up with his cousin. “Did you get it?” his cousin asked. Grinning mischievously, Gavin pulled the sandwich baggie out of his pocket. “Yeah,” he said, smiling. “I got it!”
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The Postcard by 3kyw4law
“Look, Grandma. Look what I found,” the little girl cried as she ran up to her grandmother.
Grandma took the ragged and yellow postcard. Memories flooded her mind as she looked at the picture.
Moonlight bleaching the park of all its colors. The gentle kiss of a breeze against her cheek. The silkiness of her gown and the softness of his jacket. Warm brown eyes smiling down at her. Anxiety and hope on his face as he offered a tiny diamond ring. The happy giddiness when she said "yes." How the park had gone from washed out to brilliant silvers and glittering onyx. Oh, how the world had sparkled then.
The forgotten joy and laughter that had been shared through the years came back to her. Oh, there had been some bad times and a few heartaches but never once had she doubted the love that she could see and feel for the man who had completed her. When the war had separated them for a time, his love had come through in the letters he had sent to her. The letters spoke of the plans he had, the people he met and the friends he had made. During his brief visit home, they had packed each minute full; their eyes only for each other. The war again separated them, forever this time. She had put his letters in the casket and then watched as they lowered him into the ground. She had collapsed as the dirt had poured onto her love’s final resting place. Weeks later she had discovered the gift he had given her.
“Grandma?” a soft child’s voice broke into her memories.
Tears in her eyes, Grandma smiled into the warm brown eyes of her granddaughter. “Child, let me tell you a story of a man I once knew.”
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