STACH Short Story Contest #21: 199 words, 5 winners, 15SBD prize pool!
Hello Everyone, @kingst here with the announcement for the STACH Short Story Contest #21.
What is a Short Story.
A short story is a story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel. It makes use of plot, resonance, and other dynamic components to a far greater degree than is typical of an anecdote. You can read it in less than 90 seconds.
Contest Rules:
•Write a Short Story based on the topic that will be given every week.
•Write an Original Short Story (Plagiarism will be flagged and reported).
•The Story must contain no more than 199 words.
•One entry per user.
•Story should be pasted in the comment section below, no links.
•Contestants are permitted to post their stories in an article on their blog, so they also get upvotes from the @stach trail.
Winners Selection.
Winners will be selected based on the topic, story plot, number of words and delivery as determined by the selected Judge. One word above 199, disqualifies the entry.
Contest Topic.
Write a 199 words story based on A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.
PRIZE.
FIVE winners will be selected for a share of the 15SBD. The story with the most interaction gets a 1SBD prize from @ejemai.
First Prize: ----------------------4SBD
Second Prize: ------------------3.5SBD
Third Prize: ---------------------3SBD
Fourth Prize: -------------------2.5SBD
Fifth Prize: ----------------------2SBD
Good luck guys!
Sharpen your writing skills and throw in some inspiring short stories. XO!
STACH is a physical Accelerator Hub dedicated to decentralizing the offline by breaking the barriers to accessing the internet like light, internet and conducive working space.
STACH is supported by @Sndbox as a Sndcastle project.
In 1916, when the world was at war, there was a soldier who was drafted to the front lines in Stockholm. His name was Melvin. When he got there he found that casualties were very high and the commanding officer was using a wrong tactics resulting in the death of his troops. Determined not to die he chose to approach the commanding officer about a more practical approach. He suggested that they utilize the strategy of guile and stealth rather than a frontal approach as their foes were more numerous than they were.
The commanding officer heeded the idea and they designed an elaborate plan to outwit their enemy. Their plan worked and they were able to reclaim the frontiers of Stockholm. Following this strategy saved the British many soldiers and Melvin went down into history as the man that helped win the war. But what no one really saw was the humility of the commanding officer who knew that accepting to implement a new plan from a low ranking officer was the stitch in time that saved nine. Melvin may have had his name etched in history but he made the humble decision to save lives.
Frequent robbery incidents at Eke market square makes the environment unconducive for habitation and transaction of business. The residents of the locality pass sleepless nights to safeguard their property and business premises. One owner of a supermarket had his premises broken into and the contents of the supermarkets vandalized. Another seller of motor parts had a similar ugly experience. The activity of night marauders became the talk of the whole community. Tears of those who lost their property each day create a gloomy picture of this sub-urban city. Owners of lock up stores are beginning to lose patronage due to the ugly incidents.
One landlord whose magnificent bungalow adjoined the market decided to take precautionary steps to avert the attack of thieves and vandals. He would always drum into the ears of members of the family, "Nobody should go to bed without cross-checking the gates and entrance doors; examine all the bolts and padlocks. "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine". The instruction of the landlord became a slogan in the household. Children often convert it into mock song and caricature. But the truth is that the man's vision served its purpose.
Joseph was the son of the chief of the Yanomami tribe. The tribe was one of the few remaining in the Amazon, between the borders of Brazil and Venezuela. For the tribe there were no borders, all the territory of the Amazon was their home, they were nomads, and they changed places when the climatic conditions were adverse and the hunting of animals was scarce.
Joseph learned everything he knew, from his father the head of the tribe. His father always advised him to listen to the Chaman*, of the tribe and its warriors more experienced in the important decisions of the tribe.
Joseph knew from his father that there were rival tribes, that they wanted to attack them to steal their wives, and their crops. His father was sick and old, and in a sacred ceremony he passed on to his son the head of the tribe.
Joseph being the new chief assembled his advisors, and alerted the tribe to be prepared for a possible attack by the enemy tribe. Their preparations in time prevented them from being attacked by surprise. Joseph won the battle and proved to be a great leader and warrior.
Wisdom and courage a powerful mix, specially when we add prudence. Good Luck!
Thank you, I´m glad you liked it.
Andy, Jim and Mathew had not studied for Monday's exam and they decided not to apply for the evaluation. To get the opportunity to be allowed to take the test on another day, they devised a plan. They dirtied their hands, face and clothes with oil, grease and dirt. They would go to the teacher's office after the exam. "One stitch in time now nine" - they thought.
-- Professor, we apologize for not attending today's exam. Last night we were returning from a friend's wedding in another city and the car broke down. That's why we return as dirty as you can see.
The good teacher demonstrating their understanding, allowed them to apply the exam two days later. After that time, they were ready for the test.
The teacher placed them in separate classrooms and applied the test with these four questions:
Who was married?
What time did the car break down?
Where exactly was it decomposed?
What is the brand of the car?
NOTICE: If all the answers are the same, everyone will have the maximum score.
They had not anticipated that the teacher did not stitch without thimble.
LOVE it! Now that's a story ;) Nicely done, @yaleal
The replacement dancer
Since I was little I always liked to participate in cultural activities and, especially, dance. Although I didn’t have a great talent, I always participated in the dances that were prepared in the school. The dance teacher supported me but she didn’t give me roles as principal dancer.
For the school’s anniversary week, a representative dance of Venezuelan folklore was being prepared. There were two girls who did a part of the duel of dances, and they would be the main dancers. Although I knew that this role wasn’t going to have me, every time the girls practiced their steps alone, I saw them, and memorized each of their routines.
Every day I practiced those routines at home because I didn’t want to be seen doing it at school. The day of the act, one of the girls couldn’t attend because she felt bad. The dance teacher was very worried and I approached her and said: "I know Maria's routine, I memorized her while she practiced, I can replace her". The teacher let me do it. Everything went perfect, thanks to that I am always ready for when my opportunity comes.
James was determined to get better grades this semester. His previous years result were poor thus, he was almost down with depression but after considering his background and the need to provide for his siblings being the eldest,he was spurred by the desire to make things better for them.
He and his siblings were orphans having lost their parents few years back.
Prior to this semester, he usually reads when exams were knocking on the door basically because he had to work part time to support himself;buying of school materials,feeding and other expenses. This led to rush to cover so much ground in so short a time.
He successfully balanced things up, reading at least 5 hours in the morning before school,after which he goes to work. This method proved quite effective against the one of previous years in which he planned to take time away from work and face his studies when the exams are close.The exams came this time he was able to walk out of each paper with a happy countenance.The results came;He did exceptionally well with his result enabling him to get a scholarship,a big bonus to him indeed.
Nice, short and beautiful story
Thanks for dropping by. I highly appreciate it
This is lovely... 😍
thanks boss
Very nice and inspiring story
I appreciate, thanks sir
The fact that james had a problem and he found a very workable solution and stuck with it is very much inspiring. So much to pick from such a short, concise and beautifully written story.
Hard work pays... He was rewarded for his efforts despite the challenges he faced. Nice👍
See why we need to balance things up?😏
Its what works
What a creative mind you have
Greetel struggled to know how to get the compass that appeared in his dream, if this changed he had lost the compass, along with the powers that he seemed to have. There was only one day, from the opening of his eyes until midnight or the exchange dream putting another challenge.
The dream showed a crimson compass and Greetel knew exactly where to find it, there was only one small problem, the wolf that used to be in that dark place would not let it reach its target.
I get to where I knew I would find her and saw a red flash in the distance, I walk up to her, just then the wolf howled, showing himself to Greetel and displaying his fangs and claws, the moon was at its highest point, few minutes serious midnight.
With spells and black magic would hypnotize the beast and so it was, I invoke a spell in his mind since being a dream the power of his mind dominated the world, howling louder and louder the wolf was reduced while Greetel managed to take in his hands the little compass and manipulate it to obtain everything that he craved.
A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE
Ada was the only child of her parents. They loved her and practically gave her all she wanted. She does whatever she wanted, whenever and however. Her mom always warned her but the dad said it was okay.
One day she asked her parents if it was okay for her to go to a party with her friends, her parents agreed but then her Mom asked the time for the party and she said 7pm. She was not happy about it. Her dad immediately asked the mom to stop talking and allow the child to live her life.
It was past 7 and Ada was ready for the party. She wore a very short dress and exposed parts of her body. As she was about leaving her mom called her and told her to be careful but Ada saw it as her mom not being happy for her.
She got to the party, enjoyed herself, drank a lot and was completely wasted. Her friends left her and she had to walk home alone. On her way she got robbed and raped and at that point she remembered all her mom's warning...