Third Place Winner/On the Premises

Mini-Contest #50

The 50th OTP mini-contest launched in October 2021. This mini-contest asked contestants to write a story between 25 and 50 words long in which water played an important role.

We received 108 entries. Here are the winning entries, then the honorable mentions. Three of the six winners are new to OTP.

Third Place by Maggie Iribarne (new to OTP)

Throughout the scuffle, the stomping of boots, the jolt of the defibrillator, Walt’s glass of water remained, sitting there on his nightstand. A month later, a dust-covered mosquito floated on the top. Liza forced herself to carry the glass downstairs, dump it, place it in the dishwasher beside the others. 

 Second Place by Kathy Schilbach (published in mini-contest #29)

“Proof!”

Digging on Evrist, the only spot of land on the planet, Sea-Eagle brushed the earth from the fossilized bone. “They did exist.” 

Stories spoke of a race of creatures who couldn’t fly who’d once held dominion over all others. Frowning, Sea-Eagle looked across the shimmering waters. “So what happened?”

 First Place by Jessica Corra (new to OTP)

In a perfect world, my sister would still be speaking to me. I ruined her wedding, so it’s understandable. I never meant for my water to break during the ceremony, but I guess screaming at the groom that it was his fault for knocking me up was worse.