Rose Jennings opened the letter and started reading.
She wasn’t in the highest of spirits, having just come from the hospital where her sister passed away from accidental poisoning.
The unnamed author expressed their sentiments. She was touched until she noticed the date on the letter: September 1st.
Eric has been writing short stories for around a year.
Anna raced into her bathroom. She thought about how much trouble she would be in if her assumption was right. Anna knew her parents would make her marry somebody she didn’t love anymore. She paced back and forth.
Tears rushed down her face as she looked at the pink plus.
Savannah Bayan is on Twitter.
The Story of the Month is chosen from the Story of the Week winners announced from the past month. The finalists for February were:
Paradise by Matthew D Wheaton
Closing Time by Steve Lucas
Year’s End by Devon R Widmer
Death and I by Clio Velentza
This set of winners was among the strongest I’ve seen since the Story of the Month award began! It was hard to decide, but the winner of the February 2015 Story of the Month, and the $10 prize, is…
Closing Time
Congratulations, Steve!
I lifted my eyes from my feet and concrete sidewalk. A face approached…
I frowned. It was familiar, but it had been a while. Perhaps a long while.
Her pace slowed and she smiled. Weakly.
I tried… but I bit my lip, bowed my head again, and simply walked by.
Joey tries to write a little.
It had started out as a cry for fairer wages, better living conditions, and dental. Then the revolt had become inevitable.
Santa sat in his cell and ate his microwave Christmas dinner. His wife had led the charge, and now she flew the sleigh. It was better that way…
Mostly.
David is a fan of Christmas, honestly. Last year he made his own crackers, minus the ‘crack’.
Bill answered his phone; his brother Ben’s frantic whisper burst through.
“Someone’s in the house! I hear them, Bill! I’m in the attic – this battery’s almost dead! Qui-click!”
Bill regarded the phone.
He knew who to call, tapped the number.
“He’s in the attic. Take your time. But finish him.”
George Hopkin puts words and spaces together and hopes they entertain or inform. If they both entertain and inform, he thinks that’d be just fantastic, thank you very much.
“Alright, Jensen, time to go. Let’s get in.”
The obedient dog looked up at her teary-eyed owner, then hobbled up into the car as well as she could. Her golden mane breezed in the passenger window wind the whole trip there.
“Be gentle,” she begged.
“We will,” said the veterinarian.
Rob is a part time student at SUNY Cortland. Though unsure of what his next step is, he is dedicated to becoming a better writer.
She fiddled with her hair, nervous with her date. They shared a sundae, lavish with cream and a cherry.
“I like your outfit!” she blurted, blushing.
“Thanks.” He smiled.
Looking at his phone, he stood up.
“Sorry, it’s my girlfriend. Gotta go.”
The sundae was reduced to a floating cherry.
Nico Fontelo is an enthusiast in mixed martial arts. He also enjoys strawberry shortcakes and sweet tea.
Luke stands in my doorway, grinning goofily with his perfect set of glinting, ivory teeth. My heart sinks to the floor. He’s probably here for my sister.
“She’s upstairs.” I sigh and move out of the doorway.
“Actually, David…” He steps in slowly. “I wanted to ask you to Prom.”
Jalyssa Groom studies Digital Media Art in Los Angeles. Her favorite animals are cats, despite being severely allergic to them. Her Meyers-Briggs’ type is INFP.
The Story of the Week for March 2 to 6 is…
Paradise by Matthew D. Wheaton.
The core concept isn’t especially unique, with a remnant of humanity surviving an apocalypse and emerging from underground many years later, but the twist that is added to it with the return to the start of the cycle in the Garden of Eden is really clever and story-expanding. Great story, Matthew.