So, the 2024 NYC Midnight competitions have started. This year there seem to be more categories than ever to enter. I’ve opted for two; The 250-word Microfiction Challenge and the Short Story Challenge.
The 1st Round of the Short Story Challenge took place in January. On the 19th I received my category and had to submit my 2000 word (max) story by the 27th. My Genre was Political Satire (yuk!). My Subject was A Check Up. My Character was A Free Spirit. I struggled with the genre but managed to get something submitted by the deadline called Stop the Boats – you can guess what it’s about. There are over 6000 entries this year and I’m not feeling very hopeful about getting through to the next round. But, we will see. The results of the 1st Round will be published on the 9th of April.
I’m feeling more positive abut the 250-word Microfiction Challenge. The 1st Round actually took place between the 8th and 10th of December 2023. My Genre was Romantic Comedy (yuk again!). My Action was Shoveling Snow. My Word was Measure. Again, I struggled with the genre but managed to get my story A Shovelful of Serendipity submitted by the deadline. This time there were over 4000 participants and I was delighted to learn, on the 7th of February, that I had made it through to the 2nd Round with abut 1000 other writers.
For the 2nd Round, my Genre was Action/Adventure, my Action was Warming Hands and my Word was Hitch. It took me a while to come up with an idea that I was happy with, but I submitted There’s Something I Haven’t Told You on the 11th of February and will get the results on the 3rd of April.
In the meantime I am able to share my 1st Round 250-word Romantic Comedy, A Shovelful of Serendipity, with you. I hope you like it!
A Shovelful of Serendipity
Ezra was sweating inside his parka, despite the cold. It was going to be worth it, he thought, shovelling snow from around the car tyres. He’d already cleared the vehicle itself. This was the final measure of the grand gesture that would finally capture the attention of the new girl at No. 26.
He looked at his watch. She’d be out soon. He rehearsed his line. I was doing mine, so it just made sense to do yours too.
The door to No. 26 opened. His heart quickened. She emerged, aloof and beautiful as ever even swaddled in her winter clothes. Dark curls escaping her beanie. Cheeks rosy, Sapphire eyes looking … straight past him?
The door to No. 28 opened and old Mrs. Barker shuffled down her path, hunched and frowning against the chill. She looked at Ezra standing by the snow-free car and her wizened, whiskery face broke into a grin.
“Ezra! You are a good boy!” she cackled.
“That’s alright, Mrs Barker.” Ezra’s smile was tight. “I was doing mine, so it just made sense to do yours too.” He almost choked on the words, shrivelling with frustration and disappointment.
As Mrs Barker drove off, he turned to see the girl from No. 26 intent on clearing snow from her own windscreen. He was still invisible to her.
He started the miserable trudge to his own car when she lifted her head and looked at him. Saw him.
“That was really kind,” she said.
And then she smiled.
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