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Empty Mailbox at the R. F. Burton Library

** This contest has ended.  Please go HERE for more details. **

 

Ms. Capalini sat in her office in the back of the workshop, her leather apron and goggles hung near the door.  Frowning, she spread the five manuscripts out on the desk, each one still folded and sealed. 

“No peeking.”  a voice said calmly.  Canolli startled as she looked around, then relaxed as Mr. Tenk pointed to the folded papers.  “No peeking, there could still be some submissions tomorrow.”

“Evening, Big Man.” She slid the manuscript she’d been fingering the edges of across the desk.  Huffing, she got out of the chair and crossed the room to the window, her frustration apparent.  “Do you realize we had 17 submissions last year?  Illustrations..  It was.. so..  oh I don’t know.. encouraging.”  She leaned her forehead against the dirty glass, her breath making the window pane fog a little.

“You gotta have patience.  Could be last minute entries..” 

Canolli stared out the window for a few minutes, watching the plumes of smoke from neighboring factories rise over the skyline.  Sighing, she began to turn from the window.  “I just feel like no .. one… cares…..” her voice trailed off as she realized she was standing in the room alone.

 

Reminder:  The 3rd annual flash fiction contest concludes midnight tomorrow..  Read guidelines for it here http://cityofnewbabbage.online/reader/node/1085

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25 Comments

  1. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer December 14, 2010

    There will be more.  Trust me.  :)

  2. Sky Netizen Sky Netizen December 14, 2010

    *Plops down in the bookstore with Scottie and doesn’t intend to move until their entries are complete*

    Yes, never fear! At least two more are on the way…

  3. Jedburgh30 Dagger Jedburgh30 Dagger December 14, 2010

    *cue sounds of cursing, tearing paper,  pens striking brick walls, and breaking coffee mugs from high in the loft of the Aether Salon*

     

    Jed’s shopping list:

    1 quire paper

    10 pen holders

    10 nibs, fine

    1 doz. ceramic coffee mugs

    2 bottles writing ink, black

    4 plugs tobacco

    2 lbs dark roast coffee, expresso ground

      • Jedburgh30 Dagger Jedburgh30 Dagger December 14, 2010

        OMG!

         

        ((of course I like the red shirt that says “Expendable” on it.  It may make an ideal gift for some folks…))

    • Sky Netizen Sky Netizen December 16, 2010

      *Walks into the Salon after meeting the deadline the night before. Goes eyes wide at the mound of broken mugs, wadded up paper and pens stuck in the wall.*

      What the…?

      *Raises her voice since she knows Jed is somewhere within shouting distance.*

      Congrats on beating me out in the mess department! And if you think I’m cleaning this up you’ve got another thing coming…

  4. Phineas Frakture Phineas Frakture December 14, 2010

    *Bangs head against wall repeatedly*  knew there was something I had to do!

    • Canolli Capalini Canolli Capalini December 14, 2010

      You still have until midnight tomorrow night, Sir!

  5. Glaubrius Valeska Glaubrius Valeska December 14, 2010

    I am given to understand that some folks who fancy themselves writers let the deadline tell them it’s time to stop working on it.  O dear, what is this on my desk?  What day is it?

  6. Canolli Capalini Canolli Capalini December 14, 2010

    And by the way.. that is Midnight, Eastern Standard Time, Dec. 15. 

      • Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer December 14, 2010

        Eastern works for me!  I’m not stayin’ up to 3 am doing this! 

         

        Er, maybe… depends on stuff.   *eyedart*

        • Jedburgh30 Dagger Jedburgh30 Dagger December 14, 2010

          “stuff” (air-quote stuff, no doubt)

          • Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer December 15, 2010

            Ceejay sashays away from the RF Burton Library where she’s just dropped her story in the mailbox.  

             

             

  7. Queer Hermit Queer Hermit December 14, 2010

    Miss Capalini you shall find an entry from me submitted directly to you.  I hope you find it to your liking.

  8. Osric Worbridge Osric Worbridge December 14, 2010

    I will make an attempt for the deadline.

  9. Jimmy Branagh Jimmy Branagh December 15, 2010

    OY WILL BE SUBMITTING TOMORROW! barring a fist through the monitor tonight.

    8D

    • Jimmy Branagh Jimmy Branagh December 16, 2010

      “Jimmy runs full speed into the library, drops the manuscript into the funny looking box, then turns and runs at full speed out of the library.  He doesn’t stop running until he reaches Jefferson Street.”

      ((My first flash. Was fun, and hard as I naturally lean toward bloated verbosity. Thanks for doing this Miss Olli!))

  10. Canolli Capalini Canolli Capalini December 15, 2010

    Just a reminder, the deadline is tonight at midnight, EST (for those of you on SLT time, that would be 9pm SLT).  Please make sure you have RFB3 in the title of the notecard and any illustrations. 

    • Griffin Snowpaw Griffin Snowpaw December 15, 2010

      A submission from me will be dropped in the box tonight. It’s all done just have to wait until I get off of work to drop it off.

    • LoPxie Artful LoPxie Artful December 16, 2010

      * darts up to the letterbox… posts her stories, hoping one of them may
      be rather better than the other, and wondering if she oughtn’t have
      posted the first one…  scampers away nervously, before she may quite
      regret posting anything…*  ((thankyou, canolli… that was fun! ))

      • Canolli Capalini Canolli Capalini December 16, 2010

        Grins.. oh no, LoPxie.. the fun is absolutely mine.  I’m addicted to reading flash fiction and this is a great way to do it.

  11. Canolli Capalini Canolli Capalini December 16, 2010

    Please remember also, if you are submitting illustrations, they must be full perm.  I make my books out of SL..  Extensive Photoshopping goes into each volume.

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