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." Ken Rudman of South Pasadena, CA is the writer of one of this year's runner-up entries.
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As he began unpacking his weapon, the Old Lady's parting shot was still ringing in his ears.
"What kind of schmuck has to work on Valentine's Day?"
He scanned the group near the fountain. The dude was there, looking lumpy and out of place, as usual. But
where was the girl?
Wait, there she was, the sun glinting off her sweater. Same goddamn one as last year, chubby little sequined
cupids rampant on a field of airbrushed clouds. He decided to shoot her through one of the cupids.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, with impatient longing. She and the dude made clumsy eye contact, then he
looked away.
"Fucking amateurs." The grip of the weapon was slick with sweat. The pair was almost next to each other now.
Sweater Girl started to smile, her hand going up in shy greeting. The dude was easy, clean shot, right through
the heart, but the girl had somehow tripped over the hot chick in the mini-skirt to her left.
He cursed and fired while she was still falling. He watched the dude catch her, a look of deep tenderness on
his face. But the arrow had missed her and the girl recoiled in horror from his touch.
"What a cluster fuck." He shouldered the bow and spread his wings. With a last look back at the couple —
now walking away from each other — he wondered if they would be back next year. He rose into the air, hoping
he would pass a flower shop on the way home. "What kind of schmuck works on Valentine's Day?"
| Copyright 2004, Ken Rudman. Used with permission. |
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