Congratulations! Short Story Challenge Winners:

 

 Last month we challenged our readers to try their “hand” at writing the most creative short story to accompany one of the above images. Your responses were all so emotionally touching and creative, it was just as much of a challenge for us to narrow down the top two winners – which is why we had to extend another top spot to award three writers their prize:

* Congratulations to Amber Walker, Jean Yates, and Sara Torbett!

Please join us as we celebrate their stories:

To accompany the luggage image, Amber Walker writes:

“This image permeated my thoughts as the days in June seem to streak by without conscious knowledge of it.  So as the day unfolded with Dora the Explorer playing in the background for my little girl, I began to write lines that were inspired by the photograph.  Here is the end result:”

 

Threads

by Amber Walker

Closing my eyes

Swirling colors of rainbow form

Necklaces made of candy collide

Treasured beaded bracelet circling the wrist

Swaying pigtails from side to side

Sunlight glittering on daises and dandelions

Whispered songs floating in the breeze

 

One little girl

Packing layered life sketches

Designed through imagination

Held and carried in flowered vintage petals

Encasing dreams in innocent joy

 

Years pass

Time ebbs and flows

Dreams kept packed on seas of change

Innocence slips and hearts break

 

Eyes flutter open

Old dreams tangled with wisdom

Still tangible in foggy light

Suitcase laid open and past floats

Binding the past with the present

Stitches recalled

Knots remembered

Moments sewn together

Weaving one life pattern.

 

 

Clocks and Cars

by Jean Yates

Little guy doesn’t know
clocks have hands;

He lives a digital life.
Pretty nailed  grandmamma
knows about clocks. She once
was a good mom and wife.

Her ring only fits on a big finger now,
Her hands have become frail and thin.
Little guy doesn’t have any idea
as he shows how he makes the wheels spin.

Chubby hands,
Thin hands,
Clock hands
Wind down.

Red nails lose their lustre,
Hands of time have their bounds.

But love trumps
the time gig
As these two will show,
Love is forever,
That’s all we need know.

 

Red To Remember

By Sara Torbett

Red to remember and red to spark strength.

Toy cars to zoom,
two small hands to wonder.

Innocent conversations and questions galore,
“Grandma, who do you wear your red for?”

“I wear it to remember,
when I was young and carefree.
I used to dance in circles and laugh,
want to see?”

Curious eyes wondering how,
Grandma could choose to laugh right now.
Old and nimble, and frail as could be,
could red stand for a joy that was wild and free?

Laughter breaking, squeals of child’s delight.
Red on her nails, love in plain sight.

Red to remember,
the passion inside,
that an old frail body simply can’t hide.

 

Again, congratulations to our top three winners amongst the many compelling submissions. We hope you enjoy your complimentary choice of any Stampington magazine title to take home as our gift to you!

P.S. Have you seen the newest caption contest? Express what you “stand” for by offering your best caption for this image for your chance to win any choice of our top-seller Somerset Studio!