;)

Another lame attempt at this challenge thing. But I am going to do it till I get it right. So read it, don't read it. Mwah. Oh and its a little longer than the 1 000 word stipulation.

The night was unwittingly setting the scene for events that were about to unfold. It was a bitterly cold night in the middle of what was turning out to be an otherwise beautiful summer. Mist had settled eerily over the small town of Lively, population – 1 517. The trees were twisting ominously in the wind like they were performing a heart-rending final dance tribute. The sound of the wind was a sad, lonely cry into the emptiness of the night. Ironic!

(with apologies cos it's late and it's long...)

Theme: The door in the floor.
Due Date: Friday 25 July 2008.
Genre: Short story.
Maximum number of words: 1000.

My brain has only made one connection with Winter Solstice in the last two weeks since the challenge was posted. And that was that the page on my pc remains as clean and white as a winter solstice snowdrift.

Theme: Invisible History.
Due Date: Friday 11 July 2008.
Genre: Short story.
Maximum number of words: 1000.

He’d been carving and scraping all day for the past month. Every year he felt the same after a fortnight or so, but every year he came back. He knew in the back of his mind that he’d keep coming back until his body could no longer stand the pace. But right now, all he wanted was a warm bed and a cup of steaming cocoa.

Huallpa trailed her cold fingers over the polished granite walls, tracing the grooves where the blocks were snugly joined. Relieved from the daily tedium of tending to the crops, she watched the valley below for the arrival of the wagon train that would bring surplus corn, potatoes and brightly coloured woven textiles to Machu Pichu from other villages from within the empire.

(Another late one for 'Friday the 13th')

“Hello, I’d like to confirm employment of Goodman Tini please.”
“Who’s speaking?”
“It’s Bianca, from Russells in Claremont.”
“OK. Hi Bianca. Yes, Goodman does work for me. Why do you want to know?”
“Goodman wants to buy a room divider on HP, and we need to establish his credit-worthiness.”

The cubicle stared back at him, as always. Computer screen flickering lines of uninteresting text. Framed picture of wife (left) and child (forgotten). Day planner, each day’s page ripped out at 5p.m. every day to reveal only that he had nothing planned for the next. Notepad containing mostly the doodles he made during meetings. Miniature cactus that just wants to die in peace... or in pieces. Whichever way. The cactus had also had enough.

Theme: Winter Solstice
Due Date: Friday 27 June 2008
Genre: Open - whatever you like!
Maximum number of words: 1000

It's a bit early for the challenge but I'm not going to be around later so if no one minds, I'll post it now....

“Jenna, don’t do it! You hardly even know the guy!”
“I do SO know him…I’ve known him all my life, remember?”
“Oh, come on... that was YEARS ago. People change, you know.”

I wanna cookie!

my tummy hurts....

love you, Mommy.

Dad! I passed!

Title: Those three words

BTA/Anglo Platinum Short Story Competition 2008

Warning: De Beyaaitch is back!! Do not enter here, oh ye of fragile ego…

“Just give me the fucking money!” Gerrard Deans needed to get high. He needed to get high now.