Each year the SCWC*SD has a writing contest in which all conferees are invited to participate. The rules are simple: Write a piece in any form you wish of no more than 250 words based on the topic announced Friday night. The topic for the 18th annual conference was either "Pears" or "Pairs." Blaine C. Readler of San Diego, CA is the writer of the number one most outstanding entry.
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The pairs of animals stretched away across the valley and over the far hill. As far
as Noah knew, the line could very well extend all the way to Egypt. Maybe the last of
them would die from hunger or thirst before reaching the arc. Noah knew that God might
not favor such thoughts, but, damn it, how the hell was he going to fit them all on?
"Water Buffalo," his wife called out, as the two huge animals clomped up the
ramp.
Noah checked page 2,056 of his list. "Is that Bubalus carabanensis, or Bubalus
bubalus?" he asked.
His wife shrugged wearily.
"Bubalus bubalus" he proclaimed.
The male buffalo gave him a startled look.
"Bubalus carabanensis" he corrected.
Noah's headache was dragging him to his knees.
"Unicorn," called out his wife.
Noah thumbed to page 10,745. He checked off the entry, and heard dual whinnies
pass by.
"Ant, camponotus obsuipes," intoned the Missus.
Noah found the ant entries. Two hundred down, eight thousand ant species to go.
Something about the unicorn whinnies nagged at him; they sounded awfully alike.
He held up his hand to halt the python couple. "Were both the unicorns female?" he
asked his wife.
She turned her bloodshot eyes to him. He'd seen this look before: it was often a
prelude to arguments that thundered on far into the night.
"They're gay," she said. Her tone dared him to object.
Noah peered at the snakes and flipped to page 89,648. "Python, African spotted."
| Copyright 2004, Blaine C. Readler. Used with permission. |
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