The story of the week for January 22 to 26 is…
Chill to Serve by Anna Ascott
2017 Story of the Year Finalists
The quantity and quality of stories submitted to 50WS keeps rising, making 2017 an excellent year for our little corner of the microfiction world.
Here are the 12 Story of the Month winners for 2017.
JANUARY: Arte Verborum by Ingrid Jendrzejewsky
FEBRUARY: Over by Joan Trueman
MARCH: Constellations by Jonathan Kosik
APRIL: Window Shopper by Susan Gale Wickes
MAY: My Father, in Worcester, Massachussetts by Jennifer L. Freed
JUNE: Table Manners by Christina Dalcher
JULY: Backtrack by B.C. Nance
AUGUST: Multiple Choice by Tracy Fells
SEPTEMBER: Mutant by Boomer Trujillo
OCTOBER: Surprise by John Fowler
NOVEMBER: The Goldilocks Zone by Viv Burgess
DECEMBER: They Only Ask, What’s Next? by Kara Johnson-Martinez
The winner, as chosen by editor Tim Sevenhuysen, will be announced on Saturday, February 3!
The prize for the Story of the Year winner will be:
- $50 (Canadian)
- Enshrinement in the 50WS Hall of Fame
Let everyone know your favourite story in the comments!
Throwback: In 2015, Bob Thurber won the Story of the Year award with his piece The Mapmaker’s Calligraphist Daughter. In 2016, Guy Preston took the prize with One Job Away From Retirement. The 2017 winner was Jennifer L. Freed, for Aunt Peg.
CHRISTOPHER A JOS: The Trip
My owner greeted the receptionist behind the counter and set my kennel down on the waiting room floor.
I pressed my nose against the bars. This wasn’t the veterinary clinic. Where―
“Welcome to Sepsihso Minor,” a mechanical voice crackled on the loudspeaker. “Veloroqi Sector LNQ4. Human Adoption and Dropoff Shelter.”
Christopher A. Jos is a teacher currently living in Alberta, Canada, and is a self-professed fantasy and science-fiction junkie going back to his early teenage years. You can visit him at https://christopherajos.wordpress.com, or find him on Twitter.
DAN SHUSHKO: The Breakup
Iris knew she had made the right choice, because after two weeks she didn’t miss him. It felt better to stretch out in bed, and she didn’t have to watch sports anymore.
The only thing that bothered her was the photos he had taken and the secrets that he knew.
Dan Shushko wrote this story.
SUSAN GALE WICKES: White Liar
It started out small. Just a little white lie here and there. No real damage done, right? I could stop at any time.
“Grandma, I don’t feel well. I’m not coming over today.” I went shopping instead and found a beautiful navy suit.
I’ll wear it tomorrow to her funeral.
Susan Gale Wickes is from Indiana. She enjoys writing short stories, and always tries to tell the truth.
SUSAN SCHWENK: 1932 Redux
The doll’s faded curls stuck out defiantly. Her unblinking blue eyes were clouded, the greasy stain on her diminutive apron unseen.
Arthritic fingers gently soothed the curls then the worried eyes. Her apron, lovingly washed, was placed near the fire with a pat.
Finally, doll and owner were almost new.
Susan Schwenk lives in Illinois. She occasionally invites her muse for tea.
JOHN B SINCLAIR: Time Piece
He turned to see his replacement being greeted as he had been, with smiles, handshakes, and razzmatazz.
All too soon his own time had been ravaged with despair, hurricanes, and many tragic manmade disasters.
The Old Year listened to the chimes welcoming the New Year and whispered: “Good Luck, 2018.”
John B. Sinclair is a much-travelled Scot who has now returned to Scotland, where he enjoys freelance writing on a variety of subjects.
ANNA ASCOTT: Chill to Serve
Ingredients
140 invitations
121 RSVPs
47 relatives, immediate or otherwise
1 cake (number of layers may vary)
3 bridesmaids
2 groomsmen
1 dress
1 pair of shoes
1 pair of cold feet
3 reassurances
2 vows
1 chance, not taken
1 decision
1 kiss
Directions
Combine ingredients, chill to serve.
Anna likes socks, notebooks, tea, and microfiction. She lives in Germany.
IAIN YOUNG: How It Usually Works
“Call it in the air, ma’am.”
“Tails,” said Spring, lounging by the pool.
The groundhog caught the coin. “It’s heads, ma’am.”
“Best of three?” Spring asked.
“No,” said Winter, “and absolutely no more favors.”
“Not even a little one?”
“I’ll be at the bar,” said the groundhog. “Let me know.”
Iain Young asserts that no groundhogs were harmed in the writing of this story.
G ALLEN WILBANKS: Out the Back
With nowhere to hide, he stood exposed, naked to the world.
Looking up from where he came, he longed for what he had left behind. Unprepared for confrontation, the choice that led him to this time and place was inescapable.
Couldn’t she at least throw his pants out to him?
G. Allen Wilbanks is a member of the HWA and has published over 40 short stories in Deep Magic, Daily Science Fiction, The Talisman, and other venues. He has published two short story collections, and his first novel was released in October, 2017.