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The Beguiled: Southern belle thriller [50]
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55 FICTION IS HERE, AND THE WINNING SHORT STORIES TO BOOT [10]
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Buellton considers ban on feeding wildlife [6]
ARTS
C Gallery shows work of Lisa Gizara in Los Alamos [47]
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Dave Dascomb explores the grape with Dascomb Cellars [52]
55 Fiction I
Tales of murder, intrigue, and scandal—short and sweet at 55 words each ILLUSTRATION BY LENI LITONJUA
t’s here again, like clockwork. For the last 30 years, around July 4, the Sun and New Times has brought you reader-submitted short stories for the annual 55 Fiction contest. Death, love, disgust, and fear all make appearances, and 2016-17 even brought out a little politics. This year’s judges included New Times Arts Editor Ryah Cooley and staff writers Chris McGuinness and Peter Johnson, who prodded the stack, refining it until it held the chosen few that we just had to print. Woven in between these short masterpieces of fiction are five pieces of art, inspired by the story of each artist’s choosing. —Camillia Lanham
[Untitled]
Forever
She hated numbers. The clock showing her she was late. The check showing her she was underpaid. The scale showing her she was fat. But the worst was 8/22/13—the date she married Harold. Dana Istre Lompoc
Kisses are just the beginning. Moonlit dreams and smoky harmonies promise eternity. But like so many times before, the dance grows stale and eternity taunts me. Embraces evaporate and hatred begins. Now she hangs in my cellar, along with the others. I visit them when the music is nostalgic and seal forever with another kiss. Joseph Opp Chicago, Ill.
Aha Moment He had no doubt it was important. It weighed on him day after day, tugging at him. It would not let go. It was constant and unceasing. But what was this relentless pressure he felt? Then it hit him. Right on the head. And all at once Isaac realized the gravity of the situation. Bob Ingraham Avila Beach
Dinner Table 2017 … so, like, no way yes way … just do it I’m 2 busy right now no U R not don’t tell me what I am. U R not my boss. But I’m your bro though So what? So put down the phone and pass the peas can’t … busy texting ugh … wtf Cuong Tran California Men’s Colony
Perspective He jumped out from a dark alleyway, grabbed me by the lapels, shouting: “Why are you following me?” “I’m not! … I don’t even know you!” “Really? … I was walking about aimlessly. Whenever I looked you were lurking somewhere in the background. … How can you explain that?” “I was following the woman who was following you.” Edwin Vartany Glendale, Calif.
Every year She searches through old boxes stuffed in out-of-the-way places. Treasured memories spill out. She thinks she hears a long sigh, and then a voice … “Is it time for the Renaissance Fair again? Do I have to go?” “Yes,” she answers without turning around. “Yes, you do.” Candice Mueller Atascadero
10 • Sun • July 6 - July 13, 2017 • www.santamariasun.com
Utmost Sincerity
A quick conversation “Why?” Lana said. She tossed platinum tresses from her eyes. “I don’t know,” Lance said, gazing upward. He lit a cigarette. She removed a pearl-handled revolver from her purse. “No!” he cried. Lana pulled the trigger. Lance fell to the bedroom carpet. Blood oozed from his chest. “Why?” he gasped. “You know,” she said. Tom Corona Los Osos
“He’ll be missed.” “He was always so thoughtful.” “A wonderful man … ” “A great guy … ” “If only God would bring him back.” “Look! There’s a cloud above the coffin!” “Is that God in the cloud?” “I’ve heard your prayers. Dry your tears. I’ll bring him back.” “Wait a minute!” “Hold it!” “Not so fast!” “No! Don’t!”
Steve Recchia Reno, Nev.
ILLUSTRATION BY SASHA GRIFFIN
Eulogy for My Mountain Climbing Hunny
ILLUSTRATION BY GENEÉ TOY
“I warned her that it was a dangerous climb in October, even for seasoned climbers. If she hadn’t sprained her ankle, we could’ve beat the snowstorm and made it back down. I testify in this courtroom, before God, she was a good woman, but, it was her fault, and the rest of us were hungry.” Roger Dale Pack Tucson, Ariz.
Portents Jim projected a profound sense of doom, of danger. It lingered in the vacuum that was left when he departed. The strength of it filled Kathy with unease, as if an event were about to happen that would stop everything. She looked around and saw the world covered in ashes, with everyone choking for air. Jay P. Botten Minneapolis, Minn.
Hallucination She shouted: “I heard something from the kitchen! … No, I am not imagining things! Stop saying that! … There is someone in the kitchen! I’m sure! … Don’t argue! Go and check!” The crazy woman was in her bedroom, talking to someone who wasn’t there. I was in the kitchen, thinking about what I should do. Edwin Vartany Glendale, Calif.
Why waste time? “Thanks to all of you for taking the Paradise Senior Living tour today. If you have any questions … ” “My wife just passed. Could I try one of your apartments tonight?” “We might be able to arrange that.” “My husband left this world last week. Could I share that same apartment tonight?” Steve Recchia Reno, Nev.
Me
I looked around the curio shop. I’d never seen so much strangeness. Creepy statues. Peculiar tools. Disturbing amulets. “Wow,” I said to the man behind the counter. “What’s the single weirdest thing in here?” He grabbed his neck, yanked off his head with a pop, and handed it to me. “Me,” the head said, grinning.
James W. Harris Rydal, Ga.
The Biglier They Are Though obtuse in most matters, the real estate tycoon rose to the top, much like curdled cream. As the collective fog cleared, authorities tried repeatedly to oust the Teflon tyrant. Only a charge of obstruction stuck. “How do you plead?” “Fake judge,” he Tweeted. His lawyers avoided trial by arguing diminished capacity. Diane Smith Arroyo Grande
Serial Trimmer
She could still remember her old doll, the shiny, blue eyes absentmindedly staring at her. Its hair was cut short in odd, choppy angles, just as hers was now. Dull anger overcame her, but was momentarily interrupted as the next customer (victim?) appeared. “Just a little off the bottom please,” requested the unsuspecting lady.
Tina Niebuhr San Luis Obispo
They’re Favored This Time “I’ve booked Dad’s trip with Time Travel Tours. Reservations were tight, because time travel is still so new. The only date available was Thanksgiving.” “Oh, no! He’s cheered for the Detroit Lions every Thanksgiving for decades!” “It’ll be OK. He’ll be in the Roman Coliseum 2,000 years ago. He can still cheer for the lions.” Steve Recchia Reno, Nev.
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New Times established the Stephen Donnellan Moss Memorial Scholarship in Journalism Fund to honor our founder by providing scholarships to deserving student journalists enrolled in Cal Poly’s journalism program. In 2017, student Megan Schellong took home the $1,500 award for the second year in a row. Applications are available to Cal Poly journalism majors during the winter term and the scholarship fund is held with The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. Make a contribution to the fund by finding 55 Fiction volumes at the Amazon Kindle ebook store. Proceeds from ebook sales go to support the scholarship fund. To find out more about the scholarship, visit cfsloco.org.
SWF Take stock! I’m blindfolded, gagged, feet and hands bound and a deadly taste of bile in my mouth. Panic engulfs. Fear festers. What happened? How did things go so wrong? “Tired of the same old lines? Want a real man to sweep you off your feet?” The ad had seemed so dreamy. Doreen Shea New Milford, Conn.
Anything Helps
He comes out with rain. With his sopping hooded sweatshirt. With his dark eyes frowning, glistening. With his cardboard sign, bent, barely legible. “Anything helps.” He approached my car. I stared forward. “Turn green,” I thought. It stayed red. “I don’t have any money,” I thought. I gave him a nervous smile. Anything helps, right? Michael O’Konis Los Angeles 55 FICTION continued page 12
www.santamariasun.com • July 6 - July 13, 2017 • Sun • 11
ILLUSTRATION BY EVA LIPSON
Last Summer We Had a Bag Lady
Graciapapi He was walking down the line toward me and said something to the chef in passing. He winced when the chef yelled down the line, “Speak fucking English Flores, I can’t fucking understand you.” “Why you take that shit from him?” I asked. He gave me a sad, wry smile. “I got six kids, bro.” Matt Foote San Luis Obispo
“You leave Garbage Grandma alone,” we were told when she dug through the neighborhood trash cans. Our moms canceled the Salvation Army trucks. The day she died, we snuck into her rundown shack, finding photos, toys, and trophies our parents had tossed. And the sign: “Welcome, My Family.” A cop said her name was Evelyn. Kim Favors Santa Barbara
ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN DUNN
The Current State of the Chess Set
The knife
“This chess set is unusual. The pieces are in business suits, hospital gowns, and white coats.” “The Health Care Set. The larger pieces, the suits, are executives, politicians, and accountants. The small pieces, in gowns and white coats, are patients and physicians. They’re the pawns.” “How much is it?” “That depends. Call this 800 number.” Steve Recchia Reno, Nev. 55 FICTION from page 11
There’s No Escaping Love Superman was lying on the summit of the tallest mountain on Earth, exhausted. Still, he couldn’t escape the screams of
He reached for the knife, razor sharp, grasped the leg, and with a deft, practiced motion, sliced the meat straight and deep. Idly, he thought of the coming evening barbecue with friends. Contemplating his work, he studied the tendons, muscle, bone, and blood before him with intellectual curiosity. “Nurse, suction please.” “Yes, of course, Doctor.”
the countless victims in need of his help. “To hell with them! I need rest. If the world was under attack, I wouldn’t move to save it!” “Wait … Lois is in trouble! Damn it woman!” Roger Dale Pack Tucson, Ariz.
Eric Bishop Paso Robles
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12 • Sun • July 6 - July 13, 2017 • www.santamariasun.com
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