Flash fiction contest results

 We're celebrating the publication of DEATH AND THE REDHEADED WOMAN by Loretta Ross this week, and you certainly rose to the occasion.
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Special recognition for an entry that definitively answers "what is 'voice' in writing"

Wolfman141 10:36am

Special recognition for a book I REALLY want to read!

"Story time with second graders is like a slow death. But as I read The World Revolves Around Me! to them,"

Kim English 12:13pm

Not quite a story, but utterly chiling (you guyz are scaring me here)

Colin Smith 10:35am

Calorie Bombshell 12:24pm

donnaeverhart.com 12:25pm

Julie.M.Weathers 9:23am

Not quite a story, but hilarious

Shaunna 11:17am

Not quite a story, but I'd LOVE to see this on film

Laura Rueckert 11:24am

gorgeous gorgeous sentences

"Silence slid into the spaces between words where love and laughter once reigned. We no longer talk, we simply make statements: Dinner is ready. I’m working late."

SiSi 1:59pm

outstanding usage of a prompt word

red/redress

W.R. Gingell 2:30am

Most meta entry!

Christina Seaine 3:31am

Here are the 7 finalists

(1) Michael Seese 10:22am

The energetic six-year-old in the pink dress with red spots wondered when it would be her turn. Bored to death, her mind drifted off to art class, lunch...

"Sara? Did you bring something for show and tell?"

She stood and produced a handgun. "Don't worry," she stated confidently. "It's just a toy."

But Miss Root, who grew up in a place where school was closed the first day of hunting season, knew better. "Of course it is. Just to be safe, please give it to me."

That's funny, Sara thought. Mommy said the same thing right before the loud noise.

(2) Mgan V 11:05am

People used to say that the only certain things in life were death and taxes. But that was before. Before the state discovered how to keep us all alive. Before the government’s dog and pony show convinced my parents to make me immortal.
The line of dandruff-mottled heads moves forward.
“Name?”
“Peter Echolls.”
“Tax?”
“The Red Tax.”
The uniformed woman arches an eyebrow, but she inspects my offering.
“I’m sorry sir. It’s not enough.”
I clench my worn, shaking hands. Blink back tears.
“It never is…”
The only certain thing in life is that I’ll never have enough to die.

(3) LynnRodz 11:55am

Death appeared to me one red sky dawn; being from the 'Show Me' state I wanted proof.

"Tonight I'll come for you," He said. "You'll see."

I couldn't die. My life had just begun. There was so much yet to do. Fear crept over me, I was paralyzed, unable to move. Only my brain reacted, what to do?

I headed to the airport. Fly west with the sun and night will elude me. At takeoff, I let out a sigh of relief. The person looking out the window turned and smiled.

"I'm glad you made this easy." Death said

(4) Carolynnwith2Ns 12:42pm

Did I tell you I’m from “The Show Me State”? On the western shore of the Lake of the Ozarks, I lived with a tobacco chewer called Red? He had a masters in heartbreaker and a doctorate in asshole. A backwoods Midwest legend, Red had been married 7 times. I was his 8th.
Did I tell you Red owned the biggest boat on the lake? Did I tell you they never found his body? Even though I only graduated high school, I ain’t stupid. Red’s death made me rich.
Did I tell you I have a degree in killin’ bastards?

(5) Rami McShane 5:23pm

Death watched Lilith sleep, stroked her cheek. Not yet. He snatched his hand back, clenched his fist. Lilith’s time to go was many years away.

With her crooked nose and wide mouth, Lilith wasn’t a classic beauty. But her hair, wild and the color of an angry sunset, showed passion, mesmerized him.

I won’t wait. Death curled his fingers around her neck.

Lilith woke. “Take me,” she begged.

Death squeezed her throat. Wait. What’s this?

Another life stirred inside her.

Devastated, Death released his grip.

Lilith sobbed, clutched his arm.

Death left her. He’d risk stealing one life, never two.

(6) Andrew Lipkin

6:28pm

I was through with being whored out. Driven from state to state. Maintained but never cared for. Those ugly, burly men, sweating through their worst shirts, in and out of me. My eventual death was an expected cost of doing business, but I wanted it sooner. My time. My place. Wanted it inconvenient. Expensive. Painful. Show them they were screwed without me.

Waited till we were hundreds of miles from anywhere, deep in the Mojave’s wavy heat and scrubby, blonde dirt. No cell reception.

Then boom. Head gasket. Goodbye.

Who hauls the U-Haul, when the U-Haul won’t haul for thee?

(7) flashfrieday 11:22pm

“I am Death.”

She looked up, red-eyed. “You’ve come for me?”

He only smiled in return. Smiled! It was genuine, warm — and, despite everything, her heart stirred. When had she last eaten? Showered? For the first time in months she thought to wonder.

Still smiling, he pulled her to her feet. Her brain whirled. She should call her mother! Check on her sister! Life began leaking from her pores.

“No! I want to live!” Her words burned with panic. Joy.

In confusion he watched her flee, the little statement card falling from his fingers. Please Help. I am Deaf.

And the winner of the flash fiction contest is Andrew Lipkin 6:28pm. One of the very best entries we've had in all the years of flash fiction contest, even without the hilarious tag line closing.

Andrew, if you'll email me your mailing address, I'll send you your prize.

Congratulations!

And thanks to all who entered. Reading your  contest entries is one of my favorite things to do.