OK, I'll skip to the end. I co-won!
Last Friday, Janet posted a contest in honor of blog reader Susan Pogorzelski's The Last Letter getting a nice write-up.
Our mission was to craft a 100-word story using:
last
letter
pogo
ease
lime
Trying to think of what to do with "pogo" my mind went to "hippo go." The story just raced ahead from there.
When Janet announced the winners this morning, I saw I made the short list. But so did an entry by Cecilia Ortiz Luna, which looked a lot like mine. As it turns out, she read my story, and was inspired to finish it. I will admit that I was miffed, at first. But then maturity took over, and I realized I should be flattered that I inspired her, as that's what these contests are about.
And I will say, her entry is wonderful, too. The easiest way to find it is on the winner's page.
So without further ado, I give you the very dark "Gone Forever."
“Where did Mr. Hippo go?”
Children lack the capacity to understand “gone forever.” So you ease them into it. With a story, perhaps.
“Hippos are what's called an endangered species. To protect them a man takes them somewhere safe. Like a zoo. There they practice the letters of the alphabet. And eat lime sherbet.”
“That's my favorite!”
“It is? Imagine that. So I think Mr Hippos’s at the zoo, with his friends. Koalas, tigers ...”
“No. He's at my house. When are you taking me home?”
I imagine her parents will have trouble wrapping their heads around “gone forever” as well.
I welcome your thoughts, criticisms, tears, etc.
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