Category: Mini-sagashortlisted
Academic Incentive
"ACADEMIC INCENTIVE" by the Crimson Kid [Category: Mini-Saga]
(All rights reserved. This is a present-day story.
[Note: I usually give this category one or two tries a summer, it's
hard for me to *get it down* right .]
Lucinda scanned her daughter's report card. "Bare-bottom walloping
time."
"You're kidding?" Connie was astonished.
"It's the only 'academic incentive' that works for Stacey. Wait
here." Paddle in hand, Lucinda headed upstairs.
Connie regarded the card: six straight A's.
"Sixty, Mom." Stacey smugly accepted the paddle.
Panties lowered, Lucinda bent forward...
{The End}
Alex Birch email
Hard to get something that makes you sit up and take notice in 50 words which is why I generally hate judging these. In this case though the writer has managed a neat little humorous twist with some skill and economy. Neat
Angie email
Wow! This was really funny and really cute. Nice twist and very good job with such a small amount of words. I had to re-read it because I forgot who was who, but on the second read I let out an "Ohhhhhhh!" and a big giggle. Very nice job!
Pablo email
Took me a couple of reads to get it - at first it seemed that Connie was Lucinda's daughter (perhaps Stacy's sister?) - but once I did it fell into place very neatly. It's an effective little gag. One misses the depth that more space would allow, but that's the nature of the beast.