Flash Fiction contest results-FINAL

The caliber of these entries has gotten so high that it's daunting to have to choose only a few. Let alone one.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to write and post entries.

It was a real pleasure to read these.

Herewith the results

UPDATE 9:32pm.
It's time to throw in the towel and just acknowledge that Steve Forti rules.
This week's entry was subtle, deft, and funny.
And a story.

There was stiff competition from the field, lemme tell ya.
(Well, you can see for yourself)

Mr Forti, unless you've been relocated in the Witness Protection Program, I have your address. Watch your mailbox. It's not a puppy. This time.

Shout out to some great line/s:

Carolynnwith2Ns

"I wouldn’t have an affair with you if you were the last man on earth.”
“Out of luck sweetie because I am the last man on earth.”

Aphra Pell

his heart belonged to Darlene Moggs, former celery queen of Kalamazoo.

These are the entries that stood out from the others

Steve Forti

2005: Every day, I’m on time for lessons, but still at the bottom of the scale. This is hard.

2007: I took down re, but then challenged mi to spar. Kicked my butt. Better keep practicing.

2010: Adagio, allegro. Y’all may doubt me, but I’m getting good at both.

2012: You know who called me tone deaf? Fa. I really want to stick it to that jerk.

2015: Who do I find fantastic? La. I realistically can contend with so, but never la.

2020: I’m speechless. I passed ti and won the Kalamazoo Kazoo! All that training, finally on top.

Not just deft use of prompt words.
Deft storytelling too.

NLiu

Mum's perfect. Always there. Patient. Fair. Gingerbread hugs, royal stories. Smiles. Cake.

Dad's a mess. Works late. Smells. Yells. Forgets birthdays.

He never thanks her: "It's what she's for."

Dad arrives with a strange, fleshy woman. Mum's disappeared.

Big sis protests. "You can't have an affair! Mum--"

Dad snorts. "That robot didn't have feelings, Claire!"

We find Mum in a cupboard.

She's in pieces.

We get her together, recharged, woke. Tell her everything.

One spark can stop a human heart. Who knew? Certainly not Dad's doctor.

Now we live in Vermont.

Like I said, Mum's perfect.

Dad was only human.

Of course this is gorgeous subtle writing and storytelling.
We've come to expect no less from NLiu.

frenchsojourn

He slipped on the Montblanc watch, and adjusted the worn leather strap. His old tarnished St. Claire College class ring was a tight fit, but the faded Royal Flight School tie was much more compliant. He stepped back to take it all in. The hair was off, the part looked forced, so he dabbed a little hair crème and worked it in gently.
He needed something extra, just a spark of color, he briefly remembered that whole paisley cumberbund affair, and decided to skip it.
Finally satisfied with the overall look, he closed the coffin until the viewing scheduled later.

I love that twist at the end.

MeganV

People came in droves to attend Grand Rapids' ArtPrize.
He drifted in from Kalamazoo, his VW dying just short of a legal parking spot—a feat worthy of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Not that he worried about the parking job. He had a boxful of éclairs at the ready.
Then she arrived, her volunteer’s uniform as pristine as a royal guardsman’s. “Afraid you’ll have to move.”
He held out the box. “Afraid my batteries dead.”
“Sounds like you need a jump.”
The jump itself was a noisy affair—barely concealed by his popped hood—but with double the spark.

Took me more than a minute to get it.
Did you?

Michael Seese

What a day.

One minute, I'm on the plane, fingernails etching trenches into the armrests of 22B. The next, I'm sweating in a Turkish prison.

A little éclaircissement...

Despite my fear of flying, I booked a midsummer dream vacation to Rome. All was copacetic, until some fancy-pants parked his royal attitude in 22C and pulled out a quill pen the size of a javelin. I freaked, and slapped his shiny pate with a partially eaten Twixt Bard.

And to think, the whole affair could have been avoided had I remembered Shakespeare's words.

22B, or not 22B: that is the question.

Yes the punch line is hilarious, but you had me at quill pen size of a javelin. 
And Twixt Bard? Took a second read to realize that was NOT a typo.

Timothy Lowe

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDING YOUR OWN COFFIN:

1) Use something sturdy. Royal oak or similar.
2) Two words: roofing-nails. (Coffin nails are tough to pry loose)
3) Measure carefully. This cask won’t be holding Amontillado.
4) Be careful to keep up appearances. Get the wife something sparkly to avert suspicion.
5) Get your affairs in order. Insurance, train tickets. (Even Kalamazoo will do this time of year)
6) Be precise with your timing. Mistress has to be ready with the spade.

Post-script: Incl. air holes (in case Mistress is running late).

I love lists.
This one is so much more than a list of course.
I love when you guyz play with form and use it so deftly.

Luralee

He lit a feeble spark. “You’ve gotta help me! It’s what you do!”

“It’s none of my affair.”

Crazed fanatics had arrived from all over the state. Kalamazoo, Royal Oak, now Fremont—
If He left so would they.

“Get in the truck.”

They’re surrounded before you can say “clairvoyant.”

“What’s in the back?” Zealots swarm the truck bed. “Just a cooler full of Vernors.”
“Guess we were misinformed. You’re free to go, Reverend.”

The disappointed mob starts to disburse...

“Are we there yet?” A wail from under the seat.

Devil’s own fault they never got that Dodge out of Hell.

I'm still laughing with this one.
I had to look up Vernors of course.

Alyssa R

Prince Asher and I dance together once before she arrives. The beauty from "Kalamazoo" who's finally sparked Asher's interest.

When she dashes out of the royal palace, I am relieved. Asher is...not.

I find him on the stairs, holding a delicate shoe and weeping.

The shoe looks… familiar.

(Leave it, Claire. This affair can end before it begins.)

Asher is like Monty, my starling. If he's caged, he'll die. He needs to be free.

I am his cage.

Heart shattering, I smile. "It's fairy work. Put it on her foot, and you'll know."

I love him too much.

I really love alternate takes or viewpoints on stories we all know.
This is wonderful

John Davis Frain

The pen wasn’t a pen.

“Need your signature, Claire, or they won’t believe it’s suicide.” Parker handed over my Mont Blanc. Pricey for a pen, doubly for the customization.

I thumbed the cap. “Are you cross over the affair, dear?” Flashbacks to three husbands, rest in pieces.

“Fine point. But it’s your memoir’s royalties that sparked this.”

My hub, the sharpie. “It hasn’t even earned out, hon.”

“It will now.” He brandished a sword and rushed me.

I opened my pen and fired. Twice in his heart. My signature.

“Always said which was mightier, dear.” But he’d already stopped listening.

All those pen references!
As we all know, I love pens. Love love love!
This incorporates pens so deftly it took me a second read to really see all of them.

Rest in pieces is delicious too.

Just Jan

There’s a spark. A sluggish rhythm.

“Are you alive?” whispers the wind.

“I feel my heart beating. It’s a glorious affair.”

It whips my royal blue scarf. “What will happen when I turn warm?”

“I’ll be here,” I insist. “I have a heart.”

Day by day, I fail. A jackdaw pecks my eyes. Curious squirrels nibble my nose. Near the end of the month, my arms drop off.

“The rain comes. How will you survive?”

“My heart is--” I begin, but the red candy Claire placed so gently inside me slides to the ground.

“Broken,” wails the wind.

I melt.

oh yes!

S.D.King

Tokens. Slots. Spinning fruit.

Royal Caribbean - 10 glorious gambling days. Wasn’t Monte Carlo, but promised an orgy affair for her exploding addiction.

Instead 14 days cabin quarantine. A septic lair. Cabin fever. Cabin insanity.

Now back from Japan, a jet-lagged bus of 60 snored at 4 am heading to Army base quarantine. She was wide-eyed.

They pulled into a commercial fuel station next to a charter bus. The bus marquee said “Caesar’s Palace.”

Slipping out, she joined those seniors returning from the restroom.

Not a spark of guilt as she settled into an empty seat.

Tokens! Slots! Spinning Fruit!

It took me three reads to fully appreciate the subtle story here.
Do you see it?

I'm torn between several of these, even after multiple reads.

Let me know which one you think should get the prize.

And who got overlooked that shouldn't have?

Post in comments column here.