WINNER(S) OF THE 15-WORD HUMAN & BIRD STORY CONTEST!

Over 30 international entries and so many of them were wonderful. It was impossible to pick favorites but I had to narrow it down. Please note how important great titles are in these tiny pieces. The title can MAKE the story work.

Cheryl Snell and Louella Lester have tied for First Place. 2nd and 3rd go to Federico Escobar and Frances Gapper. Honorable Mentions: Kapka Nilan, Karen Walker, Liam Kerry, and Alistair Millar.

Winner(S)

FIRST PLACE:

I Watch the Cup of Netted Twigs as the Bird Lashes One End of a Ribbon to a Branch and Weaves the Satin Through

She worked this way for hours, singing. Like courage had nothing to do with it. - Cheryl Snell

*

FIRST PLACE (TIE):

A Blue Jay Lands In a Tree and Sits Still as Painted Glass

I climb on—it flies me back home to Mom’s shelf above the wood stove. -Louella Lester

*

SECOND PLACE:

The woman at the drugstore with a beautiful parakeet on her shoulder and a splash of gray poop on her back notices I’m staring

“He’s called Dreamer.”

“The poop?”

“Don’t mind that.”

“Oh?”

“My bird, my feed, my poop.” - Fedrico Escobar

*

THIRD PLACE

City Waddle

Cars honked their horns, men stared in a feathery way. Me and Goosey took flight. - Frances Gapper

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

A Bearded Woman with a Bird Arrives in the Village

A red chequered umbrella, corn silk hanging from her chin. All male birds are interested. -Kapka Nilan

*

Privateer Micky the Moron and his contemptuous Macaw

"I can't see' exclaimed mickey.

'that's because you're wearing two eye patches.' Responded his macaw. -Liam Kerry

*

Brown Duck, Potters' Mill Pond, Brynby Green, Lincolnshire LN12

Here, only gulls for company. Some large, but all strangers. Please reply. How are you? - Karen Walker

*


How Dreams Are Kept Alive

Outside the bars, the finch pecking crumbs is unaware of its importance to the prisoner. - Alastair Millar

Photo by Caitlyn Wilson on Unsplash