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CONTEST: 50 Words or Less III
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Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Jun-8-2009 21:24

It's just about that time, again.

The Idea: Using a given opening line, you must write a story that uses 50 words or less. The opening line does not count toward your word total.

The Rules:

* I will give a total of 5 opening lines. You may choose whichever line(s) you wish to use. Remember, the opening line does not count toward your 50 word limit.

* There are two ways to enter: (A) single paragraph stories and (B) extended stories. You may either enter (A) or (B). The only way to enter both is to use only three or four starting lines for the extended story entry, and use the remaining one or two for the single paragraph stories.

* To enter (A): You may write an entry for as many of the opening lines as you like, but only 1 story for each line. So, your maximum number of entries is 5. If you only like 3 of the opening lines, then write 3 stories. However, the stories should not be related.

* To enter (B): Again, you may use as many of the opening lines as you like, but only once each. They should all be submitted as one entry, creating an overall story, although each separate paragraph with opening line should be able to stand alone as its own story.

* Your story or stories must make sense. It/they also should be mystery-related, or be mysterious with a really interesting twist.

* Spelling and grammar DO count. Spellcheck: Live it, Love it, USE IT! Please.

*All entries must be posted no later than 11:59 PM server time on June 24,2009.

Prizes: If Unsubscribed: A three-month subscription and $50,000 Sleuth Dollars
If Subscribed: $100,000 Sleuth Dollars

Your opening lines:

1. Isobel was as haughty as a dame can get.

2. This was no weather for such a little lady to be exposed to.

3. "Shut it," he snarled, "or I'll shut it for you."

4. Nobody understood the rules, not as Big Al set them forth.

5. The window was covered with prints; how could it not be?

Replies

Meredith Wiseman
Meredith Wiseman
Pinball Amateur

Jun-23-2009 07:47

"Shut it," he snarled, "or I'll shut it for you." I tried bribing Shady. I knew his dirty little secret. But he did not care. I lost all my money just to get rid of my false accusations! But if anyone is interested, I will tell, for a small fee. Hey, I need the money now!

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Jun-23-2009 16:18

This was no weather for such a little lady to be exposed to. I approached and offered her my scarf. She drew herself up though she was only 5’ nothing and made herself seem taller than I. Even with her protruding belly she had an air of confidence about her. Suddenly a gunshot rang out and she went down.

Isobel was as haughty as a dame can get. “I’m Big Al’s woman and he wants me dead!” she said, sitting up looking beautiful in that hospital bed. “Anything at all” was all Boss managed to say. He was smitten. I got the details from her and we left to start gathering evidence. Isobel was dead within the hour.

Nobody understood the rules, not as Big Al set them forth. He loved Isobel but she was a liability. She knew too much. And of course to this day there never was any evidence. Nothing to prove Big Al had a hand in it. Except the blue eyes of that little boy who would never know his mother.

“Shut it,” he snarled, “or I’ll shut it for you.” Boss had a hangover again. He used to be a good detective, until he met Isobel that is. Gently I closed the door and turning I smiled at the little boy on the carpet. The one reminder of that failed case. Isobel’s son.


Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jun-23-2009 22:35

[Entry for B. Note that the narration is done by a female.]

The window was covered with prints; how could it not be? The manor was abandoned for years, but I knew someone still lived there; someone who wanted the world to believe that she's dead. I need to find her. My life depended on it. Carefully I walked towards the garden where I knew she'd be. The sky began to rain.

This was no weather for such a little lady to be exposed to, but she continued to tend the garden. Her back was towards me. Should I go to her now? Would I startle her? Memories came flooding in. She used to sing me lullabies in this very garden. "Grandma!" I said, "I finally found you." The small lady stood and turned around.

Isobel was as haughty as a dame can get, in her worn petticoat and hair in disarray. Her eyes were shooting fire in the pouring rain. "Why can't you all just leave me alone?" The man trailing behind me cocked his gun. That sound was funeral bell to me. "So, this is it. After all these years! The secret…"

"Shut it," he snarled, "or I'll shut it for you." and he did. Before my grandmother could utter another word about the secret only Big Al and she now survived to tell, the man put five bullets into her fragile body. Isobel tumbled down; her blood sank into the mud. What happened? Weren't we just supposed to find her?

Nobody understood the rules, not as Big Al set them forth. Neither the man or I knew the entire plan, but each of us did Big Al's bidding, for survival. Then I saw it. Isobel wasn't tending her garden. She was digging a grave. She knew exactly what was coming. I cried silently, camouflaged by the pouring rain.

Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene
Old Shoe

Jun-24-2009 01:09

((Entry for B. Thanks, Zeo, for telling me about this! ;-) ))


Isobel was about as haughty as a dame could get. She stepped into the cold Shanghai air, leaving the party behind her. She walked down the street with her head held high, ignoring the fierce cold winds blowing around her. She felt like queen of the night as her lace gown flapped in the breeze.

This was no weather for such a little lady to be exposed to. Isobel trudged down the bright Shanghai street, the cold night air beginning to affect her. She rubbed her bare arms in a vain attempt to warm them; she wished she had brought a coat. But danger lied not far ahead, as two waited in an alley.

"Shut it," he snarled, "or I'll shut it for you." One man held her in a tight grip as she tried to scream. She quickly obliged his command. He threw her in the back of a van, binding her with duct tape. She heard, “Big Al has been lookin’ for ya.’”, before the van sped off into the night.

Nobody understood the rules, not as Big Al set them forth. Isobel knew it better than anyone. She had, of course, been his gal for a long time. She ran away from him… but he caught her again. “You thought you could run, Isobel?” boomed the voice. Then, his gun cocked… the last sound she’d ever hear…


Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene
Old Shoe

Jun-25-2009 16:28

Phew! I just made the deadline! LOL GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! :-)

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Jun-25-2009 21:53

Thanks to those of you who participated - I'll post the winners some time Friday or Saturday. :-)

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Jun-26-2009 21:03

Once again, I'd like to thank those of you who entered. I love to see what you guys come up with when you have to build on someone else's opening thought. :)

So, congratulations to Meredith Wiseman, winner of the Single Story prize; and to Joseph Zeo, winner of the Extended Story prize.

And a hearty "Nice Writing!" to all of you!

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jun-27-2009 02:42

Oh wow! Niiiice! Thank you Anikka, and thank you everyone. This was harder then i thought it would be, since it's limited to 50 words per paragraph (i had to do word count a couple of times to chop off the extras to keep it 48-50 each :-P ) Really appreciate this contest Anikka, it really put our brains to work.

Meredith Wiseman
Meredith Wiseman
Pinball Amateur

Jun-27-2009 02:54

Thank you, Anikka for the contest! I won! Woohoo!!! Hmmm, I have to tell you Shady's secret, right? :D

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Jun-27-2009 03:09

Congratulations Joseph and Meredith. It was an interesting contest. Thanks Anikka.

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