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Other Short Stories by Bob Liddil These stories were all written to be
entered into an ongoing weekly short story contest on America Online in a section known as
"Amazing Instant Stories." I add a new one every fifteen days or
so according to how much time I have to devote to the contest. Nov 2005 note: America Online, in a single act of amazing stupidity, destroyed the message board section for "Amazing Instant Stories" I am currently looking for a new contest site. May 2008: Still have found no contest site to take te place of the above mentioned AOL Instant Story Site. The rain let up after a while. It had been a gully washer for the first few minutes, then tapered off to a light mist. The heavy clouds that had boiled above us moved on to the East, leaving a little patch of silver-edged pink along the western horizon. The story theme was "Twilight" and it won second place overall in its week. It was my first visit to the Civil War and, as it turned out, not my last. The story drew some strong comments due the somewhat explicit descriptions of violence, but received a favorable overall response. Boys will always be boys, especially where there are dares to be accepted and secret places to be explored. This one will cause moms to wonder what their sons really do when they are away from home and hearth. This contest theme was "flying" and it won first place. *** 5/2008 Update: A revised and corrected version of this story is now online. Additionally, the story has been accepted for publication by StoriesThatLift.com which publishes web, paper and audio versions of stories in their inventory. Sometimes our dreams take us in odd directions. My boyhood hero was a character in a special book. Then one day he shook my hand. This contest theme was "flying." It won no prize except with me because it very much wanted to be written. There was duty to be done. I was seventeen and freshly sworn in to the military as an "Airman Recruit." If getting there is half the fun, then surely when things go wrong it can also be half the terror. Such was my first ride on a DC3. This contest theme "goodbye" was a tough match but you'll get the connection in the ending. It won a Platinum Honorable Mention. Gas was 30 cents a gallon and the 4th of July was coming. We heard the call of the road and took off for Augusta, where fireworks were legal and there was a state line to cross. This contest theme was "high" and was illustrated by the (then) outrageous price of gasoline. The 54 Chevy in the story was the first car (that ran) I ever owned. It won a Platinum Honorable Mention. Doc taught me how to play pool over my mother's most strenuous objections. The lessons I learned over that green table went far beyond simple math and physics. Doc learned a little something too, I think. This story theme was "pockets" which made this story about fathers and sons and pool a natural. It won a Platinum Honorable Mention. Kelton was determined to get that dragon while I was just as determined to stay alive. Who would prevail and how has kept many a pint pot filled. This story theme was "pretend" and although it won only a silver Honorable Mention, it elicited some interesting comments, particularly about the radical change of voice and subject matter. Professional Wrestling has been a hit and miss proposition since Vince McMahon and his wrestling family dynasty were destroyed in an assassination. But the show goes on, and I go on. I am the Masked Avenger, super heel. . . The story theme was "heat" and I delivered an entirely different interpretation of the word in this Sci-fi narrative that takes place in a Cincinnati arena one August in the not too far distant future. There were two versions, this one and a third person narrative. This one won first prize in the category. It was Halloween and we were headed for the graveyard at midnight. That would have been bad enough if we hadn't been attacked by monsters. . . This is based on the facts of a true story. It is one of the great urban legends of the actual town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, being alleged to have occurred in the late 1980's. Though there were no innocents involved, I changed their names to protect them anyway, since they are all now full grown and have wee troublemakers of their own just getting old enough to start climbing out windows at night. This story theme was "graveyard" it won Platinum Honorable Mention in the category and some enthusiastic comments about the unusual story material. Sometimes only Sci-Fi will tell the tale. This cynical yarn starts off fast and warps into the twilight zone. You know the old song, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. . . ? Well our boy holds the copyright. This story theme was "Survivor" and it won a Gold Honorable Mention. In truth, this is a "Gadlin the dwarf" story and belongs on the other side with Fleet O'Feet and Wahid the thief. But it was written for the contest and entered. This story theme was "Anticipation" and it won nothing but a vote of confidence from a couple of readers who like fantasy. Too subtle to the theme, probably. Weird things happen to you when you are a kid, sometimes. On the day The Preacher came to town, there were forces at work in the heavens that only God could know about. A tent meeting, a rowdy boy, a devout grandmother and a divine surprise all combine to make this story a lot funnier now than when it happened. This story theme was "Perfect" and it won nothing, therefore, it must not have been. There was a lot of tough competition in this contest. The story might have fared better in less intense company. The Huckster's first visit to Salt Lake City was a memorable one for both hiimself and his customers. This story theme was "Legend" and this one won a silver Honorable Mention. Pandora's Dice Wheel was a marvelous invention of the TSR era of Dungeons and Dragons. It was a horizontally spinning wheel that rotated under a sword for a pointer and threw every shape dice in the known universe, from D3 to D100 on every spin. Now honestly, do you think you can shake up that many probabilities without messing with reality in some way? This story theme was "Bones" and this one won a Platinum Honorable Mention. The thousand word limit keeps it from being an epic, but the possibilities are limitless. "Rain is the enemy of all boys." This melancholy tale chronicles journey by a young boy on a rainy day from his home in the city to a dream vacation in the South Carolina outback. It also tells of an awakening to the reality of danger and environment and the dawn of adulthood. This story theme was "Rhythm" and this one won second place overall. It invoked several positive comments. This return to the Civil War chronicles a day in the lives of ordinary soldiers struggling to survive events larger than they are. The story theme was "Surrender." and it won a Silver Honorable Mention Everyone has demons. Not so many receive periodic personal visits from them, bearing orders to commit murder. Voices are one thing but Odem has a larger and more insistent problem The story theme was "Stay." and it won First Place. There were many constructive comments during the course of the contest, one of which resulted in better spelling and punctuation, my weakest point. Formula for conflict - take a hot summer's day in Pensacola, Florida and mix in an intense and exuberant street preacher then add a busy street full of impatient drivers. The story theme was "Witness." It won Third Place against its competition. Survival on a tropical island has been a hot topic for almost as long as there have been stories written or told. This dark tale has a counterclockwise twist in it that cuts to the bone. The story setting was "Tropical Island" and the contest was round one of a "survivor series." It won First Place against its competition and earned praise from some of the other contestants. It was love at first sight. The boy I used to be fell in love with a shiny red, chrome trimmed, two speed 50cc Puch, Allstate moped in the showroom at Sears and Robuck. But how does one raise $179.95 when the minimum wage is 65 cents an hour and the 'worker" is only 13? My best friend accidentally gave me the answer. The story setting was "South Carolina, 1960" and this is an oral story, a true one that I have been trying for years to write down. Too long for the AOL contest, the story was accepted and has been published by Storyhouse Coffee in Portland. Even as I write this, gourmet coffee drinkers are sipping to the percussions of a "Donut war." A note - Actually I did enter this in the AOL contest, which is how this version wound up at Storyhouse, but it did not win that week, I was soundly thrashed by entrants who hit the target theme better. The basement of the YMCA Boys' Department was noisy and crowded and bustling with activity upon the occasion of my first visit there at the age of seven. Having been admonished to "behave myself" and under the veiled threat of possible punishment, I and my newly found friend, Buddy, slipped away from supervising eyes and rode an ancient, creaking elevator to the top of the world. The story theme was "Secret Places." This was a particularly difficult theme to compete within, since there were so many possibilities from which to choose. The story won Third Place against some powerful competition and prompted several comments. from readers and other contestants and readers. Why Werewolves Make The Best Sailors I learned to play "Dungeons and Dragons" during the Blizzard of 1978. It was my introduction to the fascinating world of Role Playing Games and has, in fact, influenced much of my writing since (the game, not the blizzard). In memory of that wonderful weekend with my friends, when we devoured popcorn and pizza and Coca Cola, before it was Classic, I offer this story. The story theme was "Myth." Nowhere has myth and legend been more powerful and influential than in the realm of The game. But as we have learned from other stories, rolling dice on earth has consequences in the game world as well. This story won Second Place and invoked several comments about the nostalgia connected with a D&D story. Bomb disposal is a tricky business, one that calls for nerves of steel and the ability to make quick decisions. Sometimes you gotta go with your gut. Parker and Jensen have the bull by the horns. Problem is, that's not the part that bites you in the butt. The story theme was "Explosive." Nothing explodes quite like a 3 foot long stainless steel cylinder containing C4. Of course, there are worse things than death . . . This story marked a return to the contest after a long absence. It earned First Place among nearly 300 contenders and made me proud. A fine hotel in the mountains above Denver, dinner that is a gourmand's delight, fine wine, elegant surroundings and a seminar on immortality. Doesn't that sound like an evening made in heaven? Trouble is, different definitions of heaven evoke different visions of immortality. The story theme was "Trickery." This story secured Second Place in a field of two hundred entries and earned a cool comment from a fellow writer. It read, "Goth for the new age. I have to admit I initially thought, oh no, not another youth in a bottle story, but then you delivered a deliciously clever twist." It's the beginning of a fine, Southern California day, a day which happens to include a climb to 10,000 feet in a rickety DC-3, for the express purpose of leaping out of the door into space. What thoughts run through a mind about to take such a step? What happens afterward? The answer might surprise you. The story theme was "Anticipation" and it won "Silver Honorable Mention" against some unusually tough competition. It elicited some gratifying comments as well, including this one from a former paratrooper, who wrote, "I jumped five times, airborne school, Ft. Benning, GA. I could picture it all over again reading this tale...minus the butt slaps. . . " The cool kids wore Gant or Madras shirts and Weejuns, and came to school in cars like Bill Shaley's brand new '59 Chevy. I rode to school on a Sears and Roebuck, 50cc moped and was anything but one of the cool kids. But then, one day something changed and I had a decision to make . . . The story theme was "Dilemma." To my delight and surprise, it won first place overall, also winning 6 comments as well. What a nice Christmas present this was. Social workers seldom visited Mrs. Todd's cottage at The Methodist Children's Home, and when they did either someone left, someone came, or there was news, either good or bad. Connie Ray announces the arrival of a social worker on a blustery winter night. With him is a new kid . . . The story theme was "sojourn" which Webster's defines as "a temporary stay. It is very tough to do some of these contest stories in 1000 words. This one just barely made it. This story won First place also, making this and "Cool Kids" the first back to back winners. I was thrilled. Ceberus Reborn The Hades gate has been hacked. It's guardian, an Artificial Intelligence known as Ceberus, has flat lined, along with every single backup on the asteroid, Kilgari. The situation is critical. What Dr. Kisho Yamota needs is a cop. That's where I come in. I'm the Pinkerton Inspector in charge of this rock...... The story theme was "Sentinel," and this was the first assignment under the new, expanded word limit of 2000 words. One reader commented, "A security inspector is called in by a terrified scientist, to help stop up the breach when his sentinel program is circumvented by hackers. That belief alone is frightening, but as the truth is slowly revealed by the continuing drama, their fears are magnified. It was not until I got to the conclusion that I realized I'd been holding my breath." Unexpectedly, Cerberus Reborn won 1st place in this category. A "hat trick!" Three wins in a row! Also it is "hard" Science Fiction, a genre I haven't attempted successfully in more than 10 years. Author's Note: This story has been submitted to a SF-magazine and, while it is under consideration has been withdrawn from the net *sorry*. "He'd been a loser all the years I'd known him. For the longest time, Frankie had endured punishment and humiliation from everyone in our school. I am ashamed to say that even I pushed him around a little. It was that easy. than 10 years." Here begins a tale of tragedy all too common in the world of America's public education. It chronicles the day the gun came to school. The story theme was "Split Second," and it won First Prize in its competition. That makes four in a row now. :) "On my 21st birthday, my mom told me my dad wasn’t really dead. For as long as I could remember, he had been dead. . ." A journey of self discovery begins the same way as any journey - with a single step. Devastating as the first piece of new seems to be, it is only the beginning. The story theme was "Picture This." Competing writers were given a choice between two photographs. I chose this one. We were to then formulate our story based on the chosen picture. I have been soundly trounced in "picture" contests in the past and this one was no exception - despite positive comments, it did not finish in the "money" and won no prize at all. In a Tavern On A Cold Winter's Night "Cristofor Kogalniceaunu opened the door to the tavern and quickly slipped inside. The wind swirled a flurry of snowflakes behind him as he hurried to close the door. The barkeep silently nodded acknowledgement at his entry and reached for two empty glasses, which he efficiently filled to the brim with beer." The setting is a tavern in Romania, the players include a Captain and a Gentleman. This is a tale of mood and shadow, a cold winter's night and two very different men meeting over a pint of beer, a bartender and an English speaking barmaid with a bit of a curious nature. The story theme was "Beer" and it was a topic embraced with much enthusiasm by the writers and readers on the contest board. Winning First Prize in its competition, it was one of 2 stories entered in the "Beer" category. Both stories won prizes in the top 3. Dughall Fionlagh's Wee Train Trip "The lads in the pub were having a pint and discussin' the time of day, when in walked Dughall Fionnlah, covered wi' bruises from head t' toe and bleedin' from more than one part of his body." Tavern + beer + curiosity= story. Doughall has some 'splainin' to do The story theme was "Beer" and this was the first of the two stories entered. It won third place, giving me a 1/3 sweep in this category. this story was not specifically written for the competition, as were most on this page. It was written in the mid-1980's after several visits to the North of England, where I actually met most of the characters included in the narrative. The Great Texas Cast Iron Locomotive Train Crash "It was the greatest train wreck the world had ever seen," Grandfather said, as he fumbled with the Mail Pouch envelope for his chaw. "Just imagine two 35 ton locomotives, each pulling 7 boxcars apiece, roaring down the track toward each other at more than 60 miles an hour." The old storyteller is just getting started and the boys were ready for a whopper. What they didn't know, was that Grandfather was about to spin a yarn about a true event. There actually was a town-for-a day called Crush Texas, site of the biggest event of the 19th Century. The story theme was "Iron" and it won second place in it's contest. A Coffee Break In An Out Of The Way Place Ever wonder what the principle warriors of good and Evil do in their off-hours? This off beat story explores a bit of role reversal between the Archangel Michael and the Prince of Darkness. The story theme was "Wrath" and it won platinum Honorable Mention in it's contest. We three friends were out for an adventure at the State Fair, involving Little Egypt and her "Dance of the Seven Veils." Turned away from that attraction, we were still bound to find mischief. That's how we came across "sideshow Alley" and the gorilla tent. One AOL reader termed this story, "an amazing trip backward in time..." The story theme was "lollapalooza" which loosely translates as "big thing" or "Big event." It picked up second place to a brilliant story by one of my most skilled competitors in the contests. Peter McNichol is being accompanied by an angel along a pathway between a sunlit hill and an enshrouded valley. He has a nagging feeling that he is supposed to be elsewhere and isn't getting a lot of explanation from his escort. Nonetheless, he has an appointment at "The Bridge" and it is crucial that he arrive on time. The story theme was "picture this." That is a contest where a picture is substituted for a word or phrase. Rarely have I ever been successful in a "picture this" challenge. But this contest was different. This photograph touched me instantly and the story, "The Bridge" was the result. It garnered more favorable comments than any story in a while. The story then won first place in its contest. The Bridge has been accepted by a regional magazine for publication in the summer of 05. I will link it if they put it on-line. “Time traveler wanted. Must be fit, quick-witted, and open minded.” in answering a simple classified advertisement, our narrator finds himself in anything but simple circumstances. The story theme was "stories about time." It won Third Place in this particularly difficult (for me) category. Although I am a card carrying science fiction writer, time travel has always been a tough theme to make plausible. Jesse Pomeroy is an evil personage, a demon in human form and a child killer, literally. he is both a child and a murderer of children. This vignette focuses on two pivotal times in Jesse's wasted life, an interview with an alienist* and his release from solitary confinement after 41 years. It is historical fiction (based on fact). The story theme was "notorious." It was the most difficult theme yet, because it made me have to reach deeply for something to write about. Killers of children were all over the news, so I "googled" the subject for some deep background. Up popped Jesse Pomeroy. This story won a hard fought second prize against some tough competitors. |
