Do you have a story worth sharing or maybe you have one in your mind that you've been meaning to get down on paper, but just haven't got round to it yet? Well now is the time to write it and share it!
My annual short story competition is in full swing and you have till July 3rd, 12pm to send it to me! 1,500 words or less, any genre you like and unpublished works only.
To enter, email your story to me at terrypcubbins@gmail.com, + send proof of your $25 donation. You can donate by making a check out to: The Lloyld Olson Scholarship Fund and taking it to the Umpqua Bank in Cle Elum, WA on 1st street. It cost $25 to enter and 100% of the competition funds go to the Lloyd Olson Scholarship fund. To find out the winners from last year, check out my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTerryCubbins
The top three winners will win a $100 gift card to one of three local Cle Elum restaurants (including The Sunset cafe and Village Pizza) and the runners up will receive a $20 gift card to other local Businesses (including Pioneer Roasting Company)
To help you along your way and inspire you with an example, here is a short story entry from 2021 that came in third place! Remember, this is just an example, and your story can be any genre and any topic! It doesn't have to resemble this story at all. Please enjoy.
The River Kids
“Ladies and Gentleman,” Harold sputters between breathes. He stops and puts his hand on the last tree of the trail, catches his breath, and studies the red rocky ledge in front of him and the open sky beyond it. He points at the ground. “May I present to you, the last two feet of cliff before the big drop.” He turns around and grins triumphantly to the three sweaty teenagers trailing him, and then looks down at the nervous boy leading the line. “Welcome to the jump site, Johnny. You scared?”
“He looks scared,” Danny says and gives Johnny a playful jab to the shoulder. “It’s only 60 feet, you know?” Johnny tries to make the face of someone who isn’t worried that the end of their life could be seconds away. He sucks in a breath and looks past Harold to the edge of the cliff, and then pulls his shirt off and throws it over his head and onto the ground behind him.
“Guys, I’m serious. We should turn back,” Sully says. He shoots Harold a concerned look.
“No way,” Johnny says. Harold grins at Sully, and then takes a few steps forward and spits over the edge of the cliff.
“He seems eager enough,” Danny chimes in. Johnny puts his hand on Danny’s scrawny shoulder, and uses it to balance himself as he yanks his shoes and socks off, and then throws them next to his shirt.
“You guys should have never pressured him into this,” Sully says.
“Pressure him? Didn’t you hear all that trail-gab he was talking on the way up here?”
“I said, I want to do it,” Johnny says. He steps carefully over a loose patch of pebbles on the ledge in front of him, shuffles to the last inch of cliffside, and then peers over. A cold gust of wind accompanies the sight of the long drop down. He jerks away from the edge. Danny laughs.
“Listen worthless county-boy. Today you have an opportunity to become one of us. This is your opportunity to receive the mark of The Riverkid,” Harold says, and a grave expression comes over his face as he holds his forearm up and points to the a circular burn mark at the bottom of his elbow. Johnny acknowledges the mark with a respectful nod and then looks at Danny who is pointing to a similar mark on his own arm, and finally, at Sully, who looks solemnly at the circular burn near his elbow. Harold gestures to the rocky runway in front of him. “One simple jump is all that stands between you and the mark.”
“60 long feet,” Danny says.
“We’ve all done it,” Harold adds.
“I’ll do it,” Johnny says, pulling off his blue t-shirt. He hands it to Sully who stares at him like a concerned mother. “Better bring my clothes down.” Johnny bends down into a sprinter’s position and then does a quick and determined run-up to the edge of the cliff.
“Oh my god,” Danny says and squeezes his hands into tight fists.
Johnny feels his pulse rise, a spring in his knee, and every muscle in his body buzzing with pure intention as he hustles towards the big launch. He nears the last inch of rocky surface beneath him, and then the sight of the long distance down to water below causes him to buckle at the knees and lean backwards into a full-on buttward crash on the ground. He sucks in a slow shaky inhale and stares fearfully down at the drop just inches in front of him. Danny cackles loudly from behind
“Shut up, Danny!” Sully yells.
“Ouch! Lucky it was Johnny that did that, and not your mother. She would have taken off half the cliffside.”
“Real original.”
“Told you he wouldn’t do it. County boys are weak.”
Johnny wipes the sweat from his forehead, stands up, dusts his shorts off, and does his best to ignore the pain in his backside.
“Guys seriously, can’t we just call it a day already?” Sully says. “My dad’s going to kill me if I’m not at the table for six. Plus, come on, we all heard about what happened two years ago. Larry Stevens?”
“I heard he slipped. Didn’t jump far enough,” Danny says.
“What happened to Larry?” Johnny asks.
“Don’t worry about it,” Harold says, as he slinks up to Johnny and throws his arm over his shoulder. “Just be sure to bend at the knees.”
“Don’t you county kids ever watch the news?” Danny asks.
“Well, you already know they can’t read the paper,” Harold says. Johnny chuckles defensively.
“You guys are sick. You shouldn’t joke about this stuff,” Sully says. “It’s getting darker, let’s just go.”
“Sully’s right. We don’t have all day. So, what’s it going to be? You one of us? Or just another out of towner?” John[JR1] ny peers over the edge, and wonders just how badly a 60-foot water smack stings.
“How do I even know you guys have actually done this?”
“Would the whole school lie to you? Ask anyone. They’ll tell you. Now listen, it’s all about how you go in,” Harold says, and gestures as he continues to talk. “Arms to your sides like a toothpick. Jump as far out as you can.” Johnny nods determinedly, and out of the corner of his eye he can see Sully waving his hand in a cross motion over his chest. Sully claps his hands together and raises them towards the sky as if he’s praying. He looks at Johnny.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Enough!” Harold yells. He turns away from the edge, rushes to Sully, and then gives him a two-handed shove to the chest. “He wants to be a Riverkid. Riverkids make the jump.”
“That was before!” Sully yells and shoves Harold backwards.
“It was one freak accident, a long time ago.”
Johnny turns from the edge of the cliff and walks back to Harold and Sully.
“Great, and now you’ve scared him out of it!” Harold yells.
“Told ya,” Danny pipes in.
Sully turns to tell Johnny that he’s made a smart choice. He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can say anything, Johnny bursts forward into a full-force sprint towards the edge of the cliff. He steps forward to the last piece of ground, slips in a loose patch of gravel, yells, and does a one-legged 180 that puts him face to face with Sully who feels as if time slows down as he watches Johnny’s eyes fill with fear as he flops backwards off the cliff.
“Johnny!” Sully yells, and sprints to where Johnny had just been standing. “Johnny!” He yells again as the two boys behind him stare on in stunned silence. He looks over the edge, and then whips around and points an angry finger at Harold. “You dog!” Danny walks quickly to the edge and looks over.
“I don’t see him. Not even a splash mark.”
“He’ll come back. I’m sure he’s fine.” Harold says, an audible crack in his voice.
“What if he landed on the rocks down there?” Sully says. He turns to Harold and grabs a fistful of his shirt. “This is your fault! Huh? Big man. Always the big man, and now look what happened! Oh my god, we’re dead.”
“Shut up, Sully! He’ll pop back up. He has too,” Harold says and pushes Sully away from him. They turn to the edge and the three boys look over fearfully. Not a word is spoken between them as they watch the water. One by one, Danny counts silently on his fingers, until he’s counted all ten, and then he does it over and over again. He sighs and turns away from the edge.
“It’s been over thirty seconds!”
“Damnit!” Harold yells and kicks a pile of pebbles. He looks at Sully, who thinks he can see tears threatening to fall from Harold’s eyes. He opens his mouth to let Harold have it when a faint sound comes up from the reservoir. The boys freeze in a Mexican-stare off with one another. Not a muscle is moved as they listen for another sound. Then they hear it, the sound of heavy breathing. Harold is the first to run to the edge, followed by Sully and Danny. They spot Johnny quickly, and when Sully squints, he sees a smile spread across Johnny’s pale wet face. Harold laughs loud and joyously as Danny tilts his head back and screams into the sky. Sully lets out a sigh and walks away from the edge.
“Yeah! That a boy, Johnny!” Danny yells down. “We’re coming down for you!” He turns away from the edge and follows Harold over to Sully. The three boys stop, stand in a circle, and look up at each other.
“Riverkid?” Harold asks.
“Riverkid,” Sully and Danny confirm in unison.
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