This contest has inspired one hundred and three stories and six new authors.

Cookie's Resolve

Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dawwgies rollin', Rawhide

Those of us old enough to remember Wishbone have a soft spot in our hearts for Cookie. If you don’t remember Wishbone you might remember a certain young ramrod who went on to have a bit of a career in Hollywood. This very good story by Rose features outstanding use of setting.

Working Break

This is another very good story by Steph C is a VIVID slice of life.

Catching Up

Who is what with whom becomes hard to discern in this above-average story about online “clickery” by Marissa Lynn.

Scrummy New Year

Let’s twist again. . .. SuziAuchentiber has written an above-average story that leads down a winding road.

How a Resolution Saved a Life

A man walked into a bar and . . .. Noname1 has taken this opening to a tired joke and spun it into an exceptional story. One man’s horrible misfortune became another’s salvation.

One Last Hail Mary

Marissa Lynn writes above-average stories, and this is no exception. This dark story makes a good case for parental licensing.

The Perfect Makeover

Sam leaped onto Dr. Frankenstein’s operating table and shouted, “Give me the works!” Will he become Frankenstein’s Bride in this very good story by Terry Volkirch?

No More Girls

Did Corazon Tenderheart “Bru” this story long enough before posting? It seems so because this is a very good story with delightful humor sprinkled throughout.

Hereby Highly

My wife and I will celebrate our silver anniversary in just over a month. This story struck all the notes I have felt for all those years. Gillan has written a very good tale.

Marking Your Card

Ms Wooly has created a supporting character with a heart of gold. This exceptional story blends luck with compassion. Wouldn’t being Eliza to Ms Wooly’s Professor Higgins be wonderful?

Why Is the Robotic Weasel on Fire

The main character in this above-average story is right out of Mallrats. Sunflowerchan’s depiction of teen employment reminds me of several young employees I had. One carried a huge switchblade and spoke fluent Russian -- just to be manacing.

Highs and Lows

Jamie’s friends help her find herself in Gillian Chambers’ above-average story. Her run with friends becomes complicated by a minor disaster around her home.

Someone I Can Believe In

Where do all these exceptional stories from RachelMnM come from? Kiara is a hero, but her true heroics are her concern about the world around her. The world decides it’s Karma’s turn. It’s written several notches above the Hallmark channel but if you care enough to read the very best . . . this is for you.

ALIVE Queer Café

Like many other tourists, I went to the Cheers bar on my first trip to Boston. The café in this delightful, above-average story from girlinthelight seems to be a place to go where everyone knows your name.

Fine Tuning

It’s hard to find a better plot or characterization than what is featured in this story. Steph C is at her finest in this exceptional tale about a folk singer. I was a roadie for a friend of mine in the early 70s. He “won” the Winnipeg folk festival on one of our trips. Chrissy seems to be cut from the same cloth.