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Fiction Corner

Alison Hawke

Drabble of the Month

I'm out travelling the world this month. Well, England at least. Next month's article will be about creating realistic characters, warts and all. An interview with Australian author Kate Orman will be here after that, followed by a piece about using fact in your fiction.

Until I return, keep writing those drabbles for me.

Thanks to all who sent in drabbles about observers. This month's winners are Dave Hein, Jake Edwards and Andrew Davey. I had a tough time cutting it down to just those three. Honourable mention goes to Cindy Hendren, Bonnie Saunders, and Jennifer Raymond, who also sent in great drabbles.

Spy vs. Spy by Dave Hein There was another watcher here. Hans sensed it, but had not been able to spot anyone. Yet. He sat up and gulped some of the thin, tepid coffee. Like most airports Hans had been in, this one was noisy, overcrowded, and under ventilated. He sighed, and scanned the waiting area again. The gentleman in the polyester suit was still reading the Herald. Hans recognized some of the headings -- that paper was several days old. His pulse quickened. Got the bastard. Must be with MI-6. Who else would be too cheap to buy a current issue or a decent suit? Making the news by Jake Edwards The water forced the young boy against the rock. I asked the pilot to go lower; there was no time to lose. He gasped for breath. "Lower," I hollered again. The chopper blades forced spray making the scene less clear. But there in the middle, the boy began to lose the battle. It was dangerous and I knew it, but I couldn't afford to fail. Barely sixteen years old, that life down there. I had to get this one. "How you doing back there?" the pilot shouted. I had the youth framed just right as he slipped off the rock. Observers by Andrew Davey Fastidiously seated on an ottoman, the cats, one Persian, one tabby, watched me with the sanguine patience of heathen idols. "Don't look at me like that," I chided. "I just fed you." The cats continued to watch, smug and inscrutable. "Don't give me that 'I'm an enigmatic cat' thing," I sneered. "You're not fooling anyone." The cool stare continued. "I'm not falling for your cuteness, your mystique, or your superior airs. You're just cats. Don't expect me to think you're something special." Finally, the tabby broke. It glanced at the Persian. "Great," it said. "Now we'll have to kill him."

The theme for September is waiting for...(due August 10th), suggested by Peter Keane, and the theme for October is obscure (due September 10th), from Dawn Arkin and the theme for November is unpredictable (due October 10th), suggested by Judy Bagshaw. If you have any ideas for drabble themes, please email me.

PLEASE read the drabble submission guidelines and use the spell checker before sending in your entry. Also state which month the drabble is for. Only one entry per person per month.

Email your drabbles and themes to me.