TopShelf's September/October 2012 Reconciliation Story Contest Winners And now, the results! ...... *drumroll*...

 

 
 
“I know at least some of you go to my school, so you already know who I am.”

“Sissy Krissy,” Josh muttered with a laugh, quickly silenced by another sharp punch from Marie. “Ow!”

“That’s so not funny,” Marie admonished, bordering on a growl. She had already yelled at someone at school the day before for saying it. It wasn’t that she cared one way or another about Kristina in particular, but being half-black and half-white, she knew the sting of prejudice growing up, even in these so-called modern times. It was her father’s hard work and her mother’s dedication to medicine that got her where she was now.

Kristina frowned though, lowering her gaze. She stared intently at the flames, as if trying to find her focus there … Or perhaps simply trying not to cry. Suddenly, she glanced up again. She had found what she sought, and knew exactly how to proceed.

“What if you were in my position, only you couldn’t do anything about it?”

“What do you mean?” Marie asked, genuinely curious. Kristina smiled. She knew she’d gotten Marie hooked at least. She stood slowly, setting her gaze on each individual gathered now, before she continued.

“What if you were a boy being forced into dressing like a girl, acting like a girl, even going to school as a girl, and there was nothing you could do about it? For some boys, that’s tantamount to torture, and that’s exactly what my story is about.” She paused for dramatic effect, and the entire camp fell silent, but for the crackling fire.

 
 

 
 
“I’m sorry Joe; I never meant to hurt you like that.” I could hear her sniffling over the phone.

“No, I was a jackass I shouldn’t have done that at all…honestly Polly I just should’ve have believed in you from the start.”

(Sniffle-sob.) “Really?”

(My own sniffle-smiley-sob.) “Yeah…really.”

“Are you crying Joe?”

(Sniffle.) “Yeah…I miss you Polly.”

She’s crying too. “You do!?”

“Yeah…Dammit… (Ugly grown man sniffle.)…I never…never stopped being in love with you…”

There’s crying some hard crying on the other end of the line and sniffles and I’m smiling because…because I can hear her trying to breathe.

“Joe…?”

“Can I come home…?” God…oh god her voice is so tiny and hopeful and scared and sad all at the same time and my heart is just screaming at me to just say it…just man up and say it because she just called you home you jackass.

“….yes…”

 
 

 
 
“Well then,” she answered sneering down at me. “I’ll just give you to them first wont I? Or has it occurred to you little girl that I could just turn you into a toad. Or perhaps a fat little pig and then roast and eat you! I’ve already got a crackling fire ready!”

I must admit, that HADN’T occurred to me. Though it probably should have as many fairy tales as I was raised up on, and the post graduate education I completed in trashy fantasy novels. My mind was whirling as I tried to think up a viable counter and latched on to the first thing I could think of.

“I plead my belly,” I said looking Madame Inger hard in the eye.

“Your what?” she barked back confused.

“I’m pregnant, as you well know. All those stories I’ve read, many of them talk about a magical consequence of killing the innocent. Some of them have to be true. You may be pissed enough to do something to me but are you prepared to harm my baby?”

“For a former boy, you latched on to THAT excuse right quick.” She gave me an evil grin.

“What can I say,” nodding my head in acknowledgment. “I was always quick on my feet.”

“What do you want? You’re body back I suppose,” she questioned me tersely. While looking my current form up and down.

“Justice.” I answered insolently.

 
 

 
 
She led him to the kitchen and pulled out a beer, which he refused, so she got him a soda.

"So, what has kept you busy for almost a year that kept you from calling me on the phone to say you were still alive?"

"A lot actually." He said and he began to tell her the story of his last run for the old company. He didn't spare any details as he told her what had happened with the girls and their sisters.

"So you finally swallowed that silly male pride of yours and went to your sister. And it looks like those girls, all four of them, are in your debt for doing what you did." She stood up and went to him, then leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Now that shows that you're a good man."

"Liz, there's more." He said. "Like I said, I can't get you out of my mind. For the past year, I keep thinking of you and this may be a bad time, but Liz, I want to start seeing more of you."

"Any time you want to come over, you can." She said, knowing what he meant, but she wanted him to work for it.

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
I wish to thank Everyone who entered our contest! Every Entry was outstanding and the quality unmatched anywhere else! And I wish, also that I had enough money to award everyone who had entered!! I mean that! :(

I wish to thank our readers too for taking the time to read and vote for our contestants as well as supporting all of our authors with comments and kudos!

I wanted to do a different contest this year from the previous years by trying something new. I was not disappointed either in the least bit with our entries! Excellent, excellent writing! ^^
 
 

Now, for those wishing a more open contest, I'll have the official rulesheet up for the BigCloset TopShelf One Winter's Eve contest in a day or so. (Sorry for being late on this!@ >< )

The contest tag is already available to apply (December 2012 One Winter's Eve Story Contest). Unlimited story size, TGILB, Just have it snowing somewhere during Christmas Eve (try to make the snowing part meaningful to your story in some fashion.) Use your imaginations and try anything for it within the guidelines!!!

Contest submissions are from December 1, 2012 until December 24, 2012 Pacific Time.

This is the bulk of it. So Start writing now!

Sephrena