MCW 101 Short Story Contest 2014 - Runners Up and Honorable Mention

Runners Up

Sands of Time

The barker with the belly roll looked bored. Aaaay bumpy cars. Bummidybump. The words washed over the boardwalk like insistent surf. A boy and girl strolled up. He had low pants. She had high hair. The boy asked how much. The barker told him. They didn’t get on. We did. I bounced her blue car into the barrier tires with my red. She laughed the bummidybump laugh, a happy crinkle at the edges of her eyes. The scent of electric sparks and ancient steel lingered. So did we. And then we didn’t.

Irwin Speizer, no city listed

My Wishes!

There are two wishes I have. The first wish that my brother gets better. I want him to get better because he had surgery on his heart and that made me super sad. He is six months old. The second wish is that I win the 101-word short story contest because I want to help my grandma raise money. I want to help her raise money because her husband died and she is raising money because she has to send his ashes to Mexico. Those are my two wishes.

Jeniffer Reynosa Aviles, Castroville

Emotional Intelligence

“What’s up?” “I’m down.” “You need to get out.” “Why? My girl is gone.” “You just said that for the ninety-third time.” “And it’s still true. She’s gone.” “Ninety-four. You’re a loser.” “Excuse me?” “You’re acting like one.” “Playing your tough-love card?” “Yep.” “Go away.” “No way.” “What do you want?” “The old you back.”’ “I’m working on it.” “Great. Let’s go.” “Not yet.” “I’ll wait.” “You’re a pain.” “What would you do without me?” Sigh. “I’m coming.” “I knew you would.” “Thanks, Siri. Let’s go get a beer.” Ding. Ding. “Getting directions to the nearest bar.”

Leslie Patiño, Monterey

Then and Now

“Do you have kids?” she’d asked. The question triggered a low rumble in his gut. After the second abortion, when it was still legal only in New York, they’d gone their separate ways, no new addresses, done. Twenty years later, lives apart, they’d somehow recognized each other at a conference in California. “Yes, a daughter, and you?” No, her husband didn’t want children. Besides, she continued, she’d had her chance, “Then.” “You don’t mean us, do you?” Slowly, she lifted then lowered her head.

“But it was so long ago.” Still, she said, she always thought that that was her time.

Harvey Schrier, Monterey

A Haunches Hunch

It’s only minutes away from Big Brown, the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. He leanstoward me, a total stranger, and hands over aniPhone with a full screen image of Atticus, histwo-year-olddown in Athens, Texas. “If everything goes right, he’ll be running next year,” glancing at the screen.“Look at those muscles, look at that ass,” he says pointing to the horse’s hindquarters. My attention wanders to the brunette cougar walking across the lounge, leaning over to see an old-time photo of Monterey. “Yeah, nice ass,” I murmur.

BenCatlin, Pacific Grove

Stolen Heart

It was a hot day in June. People were pushing and shoving boarding the bus. Inside there was standing room only. A handsome young man offered me his seat. As he rose, our eyes met. His hand ran up my arm and my heart leaped. Dizzy and hot I thanked him and sat in the seat. When my stop came, we smiled once more and I hoped I would see him again. I had some groceries to buy before heading home. At the cash register I opened my handbag and was horrified to see my wallet was gone.

Jenny Nelson, Monterey

New Tune

“Happy Birthday,” Gilbert said. Cassie’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped when she tore the paper off revealing a new Apple laptop. She said, “Daddy, you’re the best! Mom said we couldn’t afford one.” “She didn’t want to spoil the surprise.” She carefully put the box down and gave him a long hug. “The man at the Apple store already set it up.” Cassie picked up the box and kissed her mother on the way to her bedroom. His smile faded as she walked past the now-empty spot where his 1957 Fender Stratocaster had been for 20 years.

Marc Ferris, Castroville

Money Back

I got out of my driverless electric car as delivery drones buzzed overhead carrying non-fat lattes skyward. The coffee shop line was long but moved quickly with patrons swiping their phones to pay. In a blink it was my turn. “Can I help you?” the barista asked, smiling. “Single mocha.” I pulled a $20 bill from my wallet. I thought I heard someone gasp. The barista saw the $20 then regarded me with obvious disdain. “I need to call my manager.” “Why?” She crossed her arms. “Because the manager is old enough to remember what cash is and how it works.”

Clark Coleman, Pacific Grove

Obsession

Plucking up courage, she asks, “Who were you talking to?” He turns to face her, tuning his response.

“When?” “On the phone, in the bathroom. You were fucking whispering?” “I was NOT whispering, and I don’t appreciate your eavesdropping,” he pings, strumming anxious hands through thinning hair. “Don’t you walk away from me!” roars Sheila. “I want a goddamned answer!” Adam spins on his heel. “I won’t be accused every time I take a piss in my own bloody house!” he shrieks. Sheila stares, shocked silence descending. “Nice,” she says at last. “Yeah, good one,” he agrees, as they walk offstage.

Deanna Ross, Del Rey Oaks

A Form of Medicine

When Marlene was 17, she stole a leather purse from the corner drugstore. It was cream-colored, with pearly beads stitched around the edges. She crammed it into her skirt pocket with clumsy, trembling hands and walked out, studying her brown oxfords. Today, on her 57th birthday, she finally uses it; slips in Klonopin for her anxiety, Ativan for insomnia, and Tamoxifen to slow the cancer’s spread. The purse rattles daintily at her side. The sun is warm and the park has never seemed prettier, the birdsong more sweet. She sets $20 on the first empty bench and doesn’t look back.

Deanna Ross, Del Rey Oaks

Honorable Mention

A Different Animal

Patricia closes the children’s storybook then asks,“Who is a dog?”Six four-year-olds raise their hands. “The dogs may go outside,” she says.Barking like dogs they crawl out to the playground.“Who is a cat?”Five raise their hands. On all fours they purr creeping out the door.“Who is a snake?”Three slither out.One boy is left sprawled on his back waiting. Questioningly she asks,“Who are you?”He rolls over, in a loud voice announces, “A Vampire!”“The vampire may go outside.”I’m mesmerized.She walks by me and silently whispers,“Grandpa may go outside.”

NickSouza, Carmel Valley

Vagabond Princess

He packed everything I owned and put it on the porch. That was his way of saying I had to go. She had come back into his life. I was staring at her female to female. I could not believe that she was really a vagabond princess. He said they met in Mombasa, that Malayan pirates captured and sold her to a pervert in Sychell Islands. Eventually she was freed by a compassionate retired Mossad agent. And now she was on the front porch and I was out, but shucks she still looks like a Rat Terrier to me.

Fred Preiser, Salinas

Inside Out

There is no escape from this house. The laughs behind the robin egg blue walls have driven me insane. The inedible foodhasreduced my waist to the size of a ring. I cannot walk without my high heels, so I pull on the dresses in my wardrobe, groping on the floor. I cannot wipe the smile off my face; I must please my husband. Is this a woman’s place, in the home? I tense up and hold my breath as the roof reveals a giant grubby hand. I meet eyes with theGoliathgirl as she garbles my name, “Barbie!”

Christopher JohnPaghasian, Seaside

Of Nightmares and Dreams

The creak of an opening door shatters my gentle dreams. Human instincts kick in before my eyes can adjust and I scramble to the edge of my bed. Reaching out, I grab the first object I can find, which happens to be a framed picture of my father in uniform. I feel a hand on my arm and freeze. My heart beats frantically as terror fills my mind. “Daniella love, it’s me. I’m home.” The light flicks on and I see him, the man from my picture. I fling myself into his arms and terror gives way to disbelief and joy.

Emmy Siletto, Carmel Valley

Red-Handed, Big-Hearted

Joe’s Market proprietor watches suspiciously the scarecrow rummaging the sweets section. The man grabs a chocolate, making for the door. “Hey!” shrieks Joe and they both shoot outside, scarecrow tossing the chocolate into a rusty jeep. “Call cops!” yells Joe, shoves the man against the car. Then, looking inside, he sees two grimy kids devouring chocolate, paper, foil and all. “Yours?” “Yeah.” “Teaching thievery?” “Naah… Christmas… ” exhales the man. “Your kids?” “Yeah.” “I got two like that… Go!” “Go?” “Yeah!” “Merry Christmas.” “Yeah Merry Christmas.” Jeep disappears. “Slipped, bastard,” Joe chuckles and walks back into the store.

Joseph Pazdernik, Carmel Valley

Street Corner Parable

Waiting outside the crowded pub, I put down my 4-year-old son. My father stands up and hobbles to the door. Slowly we walk down the sidewalk and approach an intersection, I grab my son’s little right hand. Simultaneously my 84 year old dad reaches out with his left and places it in mine. For a moment time stands still. I realize the bridge between their 80-year gap is me. I smile and look down at my young son and I look up to my aging father. I squeeze their hands gently and lead them across the busy street.

Elizabeth Hill, no city listed

By a Whisker

I’m up early. Everyone in the house is still asleep when I trot off to work. I take a magnificent stretch, feeling the glorious sun upon my face as a cool breeze brushes my nose, knowing it’s my day.

Then it happens, work. It’s mid-day, and I’m bored. I sit there staring into space. Nothing happens. No action. So I take a nap. Then night comes and I’m done. When I come home, I don’t need to knock, I hear my name: “Come on, Kitty, time for food!” I’ve trained him well.

Billy Armi, Watsonville

Cold Truth

Last year the horses froze to death during a winter like this: long, drawn out like a wire that attaches one electrical post to another, low and swinging and eternal. Mama stayed indoors with the cough, cradled it inside her chest like a child. In March, we dug through packed snow. They were six hard bodies, smooth and sinewy, frost collecting in eyelids and nostrils. Jelly was pregnant, expecting a foal in the spring. Her belly was swollen, hard as stone.

Christine Marella, Monterey

Color Drains

Beige. She hated the idea of it, the indecisiveness of the shade, but she also recognized that she was beige – not pure enough to be crisp white, but not vibrant or interesting enough to be yellow. Then she met him. He was green, a deep rich forest, with just enough blue and black to give him complexity that added spice. When they were together, he made her brighter, but every day she knew that she’d always be beige, that he’d find someone cobalt or chartreuse or oxblood. He tried to show her the pale rainbow beneath her beige. She found someone grey.

Sharmaine Sun, Monterey

About Our Cat

When we moved in, we noticed many hummingbirds. Helen also noticed that our cat spent an inordinate amount of time in the backyard under some shrubbery. When Helen went back to see why, she saw that the cat had killed a hummingbird. Horrified, she scolded her, telling her that she was a very bad cat. The next day, the cat came in meowing loudly, carrying a little branch of a pine tree and laid in on Helen’s feet. The cat never killed another bird.

Saul Moskowitz, Pacific Grove

Costco Candy

Forty pounds. At least that’s what it felt like when I hefted it into the dump truck-sized cart. The sugar-laden sack was filled with: Kit Kats, Reese’s, M&Ms, Crunch bars, Snickers, and Milky Ways. I told my wife Connie that I would save it for Halloween, but she said it wasn’t even Labor Day yet. I explained to her all the benefits of buying candy early: It’s a really good price, we would be totally prepared, and… “Just get it already,” she said. Halloween came and went, but I still scare myself every time I look in the mirror.

Mike Haugh, Monterey

Secret Order

The Gods are so cruel. Drought plagued the land. From the surfer’s coast to the farmer’s fields all felt the hot, dry air. The golf courses stayed a guilty green. Suspicion swirled with each year. Fingers pointed and blame spewed. Still, no rain came. Then the dogs started to die. Beloved pets, working dogs, little dogs, big rough dogs. So many died. So many broken hearted owners wept. Graves were dug in backyards. Ashes placed on mantels. Burnt offerings. Sacrifices unknowingly made, ignorantly satisfying an ancient mythological demand. And then it rained and rained and rained.

Marie Gilmore, Pacific Grove

Two Friends

Jonesy wound the engine tight, pedaled the clutch, and shifted into sixth gear. The needle arced across the speedometer like a rising moon across a bright sky. The engine whined. Donnie felt his stomach lurch backwards; he clutched the passenger side armrest. They were kids in men’s bodies. The night was black. The surroundings were a kaleidoscope of headlights, blackness, and everything. “You want to take LSD?” Jonesy said. Jonesy’s mom had just died of cancer. Donnie had known her since he was 15. Jonesy held a pack of antacids. “You put acid on the antacids?” Donnie giggled, reaching.

Aaron Breeden, Carmel

Family Portrait

You always had a soft spot for boys. It made it hard being your only daughter with four older brothers. I stayed at home and cooked and cleaned and took care of all of their kids. I dressed up in dresses and wore fancy jewelry. I shut my mouth and looked pretty. I did everything you told me to until I realized that it was never going to get me any further into your heart. You always wanted them to succeed and for me to get married and stay quiet. It must have killed you to find out I was gay.

Cassandra Mason, no city listed

It’s All Gravy

Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E… Dave had neatly arranged all his many pills across the kitchen counter, so many in fact, that it would have overdosed a Pez dispenser. While he cooked breakfast he informed me of the various health benefits you would receive from each and every one, if you took them religiously. For example, I was glad to find out that Vitamin E neutralizes cholesterol that can clog your arteries. Hallelujah! “Thanks for making breakfast Dave,” I said as I separated the coagulating gravy with my fork in search of a biscuit.

Mike Haugh, Monterey

Night Shift

It was black when April sneaked out of her house. She went to the nearest club where she gave quite a pole dancing show after drinking her seventh shot of tequila. April then hitched a ride to her favorite casino two hours away. Three cocktails and $4,500 later, April finally felt that her night was starting. Unfortunately, she knew she had to go and slipped through her front door just as the sun rose. “How did you sleep last night honey?” yawned April’s husband as he fed their daughter breakfast. “I haven’t slept so well in years darling,” she smiled.

Madison Gong, Gilroy