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Holiday Writing Contest 2012
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luc pfeiffer
luc pfeiffer
Red-Nosed

Dec-20-2012 17:51

HALLO AGAIN!!! :o)

We finally found Snuffles the Bloodhound and Klondike the Reindeer (he was stealing Clyde the Moose's carrots down at the Zoo). So, as promised, here we go... :o)

The Directors of Wish On A Star have held a holiday writing contest for several years. And while we're starting this just a wee bit late (sorry bout that, folks), we got together and decided, why not, we'll put this up and see if we get any bites. This year's offering includes some traditional requirements, like entries should not exceed the length of 3 posts; and some new hurdles, like the ones below. So...here goes!! ;o)

We would like you to have your stories set, at least in part, in New York City, and in the time period of 1920 to 1945 or so (i.e.--the Noir Era). We want you to set your stories up to be about a holiday between November 20 and January 20; however; we don't care which Holiday you choose. (Yes, even Druids qualify.) Naming the Holiday is not sufficient; the authour should include what the character(s) do to honor that particular festive occasion in their story. Does the story have to be a mystery? Nope. It can be, but it can be a comedy, a drama, a role-play, whatever you want.

We want you to include one Townsperson or other major NY character (Big Lucy or her staff, a Faction Head, Ella May Viddel, Cabaret Singer, Marcus Cairn, Head Librarian, etc.) in your story. You need to do more than just list the person's name and job; we want you to describe the character, develop what personality traits you think this person has, and include this person, even if only in a minor role, in your story.

Final part of the boring stuff: We would like you to include a theme of music in your story. We want authors at least to allude to one piece of music in the entry. But!! Naming a song just won't cut it. We want you to describe the music in some way and incorporate it into your story in a meaningful way. All music must be written/published/copyrighted BEFORE 1945.

Replies

David Adams
David Adams
Red-Nosed

Jan-3-2013 15:53

Fantastic entries so far! Only a couple more days to get your story in, so get scribblin'! :-D

Happy New Year!!
Dave

Peter O'Neil
Peter O'Neil
Old Shoe

Jan-4-2013 18:24

Alas, I had hoped to contribute but was overloaded with distractions.

Great stories, folks. Can't wait to see how the judges rule!

luc pfeiffer
luc pfeiffer
Red-Nosed

Jan-5-2013 13:31

you still have another 11 hours, mr. o'neill. breit has been begging me to write something. i should have it up sometime this afternoon, even if it is out of the judging. the fun part is writing and reading them, as you reminded us. so if it takes a couple extra days, i'm still willing to consider you for one of those honorable mention prizes that i talked about earlier. good luck and hope you get an entry in! L

luc pfeiffer
luc pfeiffer
Red-Nosed

Jan-5-2013 21:58

wait a minute, it's two hours until the deadline and someone FINALLY makes us a sticky post here????!!! call me a little befuddled. i need ice cream. some things are just too mysterious to ponder. good luck all! hope we get a couple last minute entries! L

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Jan-5-2013 23:43

Hi all!! ;-)

Because we've had a couple of PMs and posts from people stating that they're having time issues (and we've been a bit guilty of that ourselves, oops ;-), we're going to extend the deadline for the contest to 11:59 PM, Sleuth Server Time, Monday, January 7, 2013. We're hoping that an extra two days will give everybody enough time to come up with the time they need to be able to submit an entry. For those that have already submitted one, we THANK YOU so very much!! Please be patient with us just a bit longer, please.

We have one surprise judge lined up to evaluate everyone's work so far. We're hoping to have at least one more. We will reveal the full panel of judges on Tuesday.

Any past or present member of Wish in good standing, who wishes to cast a vote in this contest, is more than welcome to do so (one of the perks of being a part of our little Zoo ;-). Please PM any of the Directors, so we know you want to take part (and yes, you can remain anonymous ;-).

Have a great weekend, everybody, and we hope you all have had a Wonderful Holiday Season!! ;-D

Thank you!!
Breit

Vampiric Smile
Vampiric Smile
Safety Officer

Jan-6-2013 09:06

^
Vary good desicion as 3 enties to compete for 3 prices would have been a bit unethical....the more the entries the sweeter the awards

CrabApple
CrabApple
Old Shoe

Jan-7-2013 20:18

Incoming, Origins of this detective story

CrabApple
CrabApple
Old Shoe

Jan-7-2013 20:20

Back Story
operare non meno l’ongiegno che la forza - Còsimo di Giovanni degli Mèdici
“Exercise intellect, as much as force”
I have never met my mama (mother); she died long before my baba (father) met Tiffany. My ba kept only one photo of her in lining of his old jacket, stuffed in the back of the closet. Past the gross lingering of Lucky Strikes, the scent of jasmine stuffed my nostrils. There are few things about my ma that I know of. I want to believe she smelled fresh as the jasmine flower. The photo has the folds of a cross, from the two creases my ba made. Her beautiful raven locks pinned in a bun with two beautiful hair comb nestled in the center. She wore a long Chinese dress, she smiled flirtatiously at the photographer. Happy was my ma.

My ba refused to explain to me why my mother no longer existed in my life, I suspect guilt and grief still held him back. Tiffany is the closest to a mother figure that I ever had. She is a white woman with shiny blonde hair. She married my ba not too long after he got off the boat from Shanghai. I thought she was my real mom until my ba had to explain to me that she was not. I loved Tiffany as if she is my ma.

Something about my ba’s past troubled Tiffany. She tried to wash his sins away by introducing him to the ways of the Bible. I think it did little for my mother, I don’t think that he believed that eve God could forgive him for his sins. As far as I knew, I was a good child of Christ. I went with Tiffany to church every Sunday, and listened to her read passages to me by my bedside. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I shall die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.” Tiffany and I whispered to the lord. “Mother, what happened to ma? Is she in heaven?”

Tiffany’s face turned a ghostly white. She held me in her arms and wept, “My poor child…” over and over again. She wanted to protect me from the truth, but the Lord told her somehow that I needed to know.


CrabApple
CrabApple
Old Shoe

Jan-7-2013 20:21

My ba once was part of the Eastern Triads. He did things that Tiffany could not forgive, but prayed to God that his forgiveness would be enough to guide his soul to heaven. Then he met my ma, he wanted to leave the mafia and start a life with her. The crime lord was extremely displeased with this, and wanted to make one last bargain with my ba. He could leave on the condition that he gives up his first born child. The crime lord loses one member, but he shall replace my father with me. My ba had fallen in love, but his cold heart had not completely melted just yet, nor was he ready to be a father. He agreed to the trade with no second thought.

Come the day of my birth, my ba’s frozen heart had melted like ice-cream on the streets of NY. My ma did not know of the arrangement, she knew of my ba’s history but was able to talk him out of that lifestyle. The Triad attempted to collect early, days after my birth. My ba was at home reading the Chinese newspaper. My ma was dusting the house. I was hanging to my ma’s back via a tied wrap. Suddenly my ba looks very afraid. My ma looked down at the mirror she was cleaning and saw the reflection. The mafia had come to collect. My ba tried to bargain with the members, failing terribly. My ma just flat out refused, and was shot straight to the heart. I was on her back, her body stopped the bullet from reaching me. My father took me and ran. Ran all the way to the docks of Shanghai and never looked back again.

If I could turn back time, I would tell my ba that running away from a problem seldom takes care of it. In this case when you are dealing with the Triad, he better hope he can keep running forever.

Present Day
If there was a day I loved more than my birthday out of the 365 days of the year, it would be Christmas. Bing Crosby’s voice droned on the radio as I decorated The Mother of Innocence Cathedral. I wish I could sing, whenever I tried Father Mandred Gesling would suddenly remember that the church is a holy

CrabApple
CrabApple
Old Shoe

Jan-7-2013 20:22

place that deserved absolute silence. I know he is joking…I think. It started with church every Sunday, but Tiffany insisted that our dedication lasts on more than just Sunday. I agreed with her, God had chosen to spare me and give my ba another chance. Tiffany and I are very involved in the church. Tiffany enrolled me in Bible study and Latin study. Father Gresling taught both at Sunday school. Though I am no longer a young child, I am now a woman with a very deep faith.

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas..with every Christmas card I"

“Enough, enough, child!” Gesling’s voice echoes from his office. He rushes towards me waving his hands as if he is washing the stained glass windows. Father is a serious man if you sit down and listen to him preach on Sunday. Today I get the privilege of watching him waddle toward me like a penguin. He certainly looked like one too with his robes. I step down from the ladder. “Yes, Father?” I say innocently to him. It is funny to me, how such a small man in stature decided to speak for the big man. He takes his job very seriously, dooming him with a terrible social life. Even having one drink is a characteristic of a hedonist.

“Child, the lord and I thank you for your volunteer work. But you need to leave now. I need to meet with-“
“Brother Gesling, I apologize for my tardiness.”

Gesling and I turn to look behind us. There stood a man perhaps ten or fifteen years older than I. He is handsome, with a full head of hair as opposed to Gesling. He too wore robes, but the way in which he wore them was on another spectrum from Gesling. This man wore them almost in a business sense.“Father Chen, I was just about to close the church doors.” Gesling hurriedly says, it sounds like an apology.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Father Chen. Happy holidays.” I say.
“Child, I have heard of your dedication to this Church. I have a position I would like to offer you…” Chen extends his hand, in the direction of Gesling’s office. Chen

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