Lori Meier Several weeks ago we asked our beloved readers to put their creative juices to work in the Simi Valley Acorn's second annual "Fiction in a Nutshell" contest. The response was gratifying, as nearly 90 entries were submitted. The stories, limited to 100 words, covered a wide range of genres: science fiction, romance, comedy and adventure. We had animals, emotions, danger and despair—and several surprise endings that left us howling. Somewhere there's a novel out there. Entries were judged on writing style, creativity and story line. The first-place winners each received a $50 prize. To all the contestants we say, "Thank you."

FIRSTPLACE

Over 18

Untitled

It was a Tuesday. I waited in the rain to meet her. Steaming, soggy cup of Starbucks in my hand, my heart pulsating in my chest reminding me I had no need of caffeine. I thought to run, catch the 17 bus to Broadway and disappear. It seemed a perfectly fitting end to this saga. What would she care, anyway? I hadn't seen her in 19 years. She probably wouldn't show. The tires of the 17 squealed to a stop in front of me. Fate. I dug in my pocket for change.

Jessica Parker Then a voice.

"Sara?"

It was my voice.

Lori Meier, Simi Valley

FIRSTPLACE

Under 18

Untitled

I remember the first time I saw you. I was cold and wet and everything at once.

That Dog had charged off into the white unknown, sniffing out an adventure when all I wanted were the newspaper headlines and coffee. My fingers were numb from searching snowy bushes, and I felt the wet creeping into my socks. And then you were there.

"Is this yours?"

I turned and That Dog was in your arms, wagging her tail. I could tell she was happy.

"Is this yours?" you had said. And I wanted you to be. Jessica Parker, 16 Simi Valley

RUNNER-UP

Over 18

Phil

"So, you can see me?" "Phil, everyone can see you." "…Crud." "Yah." "So you think I should put some pants on?" "I think that would be smart." "…My invisibility juice didn't work." "…Trust me Phil, we noticed." Judith Hoeflinger Simi Valley

RUNNER-UP

Under 18

Untitled

"Ready?"

"In a moment. I want one last look."

Morse's wife looked, too. "One final glimpse of good old Earth. Wasn't so good, towards the end."

"Think—to never see grass again." He touched the window. "Or blue sky."

"Only stars, now."

"I've been counting down. Last month. Last week. Last day. Came to the last hour, and suddenly, it didn't matter anymore."

"When you're never coming back, does it matter where you've been?"

He turned from the window. Pressed buttons, primed engines.

"Last glimpse," said Morse, as the ship leapt into space. "Last chance." He didn't look back. Sarah Barson, 16 Simi Valley

HONORABLE MENTION

Over 18

The Knight vs. The Dragon

Fear absorbs me as I stand silently awaiting my opponent. An experienced warrior, but never against an adversary of this size and skill. Breathing deeply to conserve my strength I recall years of training and dedication leading to this moment. Reminiscing about family and friends taken by him and his kind. He appears out of the shadows like a spy waiting for the precise moment to attack. Fearless he lunges toward me at full speed. Leaping forward I feel a surge of energy reassuring myself I can win this battle. After all he is only human. Tony Ward Simi Valley

HONORABLE MENTION

Under 18

Simi 2200 A.D.

The telescope dug from the mound worked. Hidden, Faustus spied the guards on the pass. Darkness, his ally to reach the secret burrow on the gargantuan mound.

Faustus can't find what's wrong. The old book's instructions were followed. Right base plate; right temperature of torch from methane piped from the mound. He's been producing black crystals; he made jarfuls.

The guards discovered Faustus: blindfolded and hands bound. Then the Despot, whose scepter's crytalline head Faustus wants imitated, thrashed the burrow. When he bashed the jars, an intense flash fried everyone's eyes.

Faustus escaped, bearing new knowledge for harnessing light.

Ridan Arellano, 14, Simi Valley

Lori

Meier

Lori Meier, 34, moved to Simi Valley from Los Angeles a year ago to be closer to family in Thousand Oaks.

"I love the Acorn. I read it all the time. I thought it would be a lark to enter the contest," Meier said. "It was such a surprise to win."

Meier said she writes for her own pleasure—short stories, plays and poetry. She also writes for her band, Flower.

"I've always been interested in creative writing," she said. "I'm in a band and do all the lyric writing."

Meier is single and works in office management. She's studying graphic design at Moorpark College and plans to have her own design business.

Writing a piece with only 100 words was a challenge Meier enthusiastically accepted.

"I wanted something 'impactful' with a beginning and an ending," she said. "I thought of a story about child who has lost her way and reconnected. I did a couple of drafts and they were way too long."

After some editing, Meier came up with a winning piece.

—Angela Randazzo Jessica

Parker

The Acorn's Fiction in a Nutshell under-18 winner, Jessica Parker, said this was the first time she had entered a writing contest.

"I'm so excited. This is the first writing contest I've ever entered," Jessica said. "And the first time I've won."

The 16-year-old is a junior at Simi Valley High School. Jessica said she likes to write short stories and poetry about nature.

"I want to be an author when I grow up. I write short stories and poetry for my friends," Jessica said. "I was working on a short story and sent in a piece of it—that's what won."

Jessica's mother, Karen, encouraged her daughter to enter the contest.

"Jessica has been writing since she was about 8 years old," Karen said. "Jessica saw the article in the Acorn. She is a very good writer, so I said, 'Go for it.'"

The Parkers have lived in Simi Valley for 10 years. Jessica's dad, Matt, is a consultant in the automotive industry. Karen is a busy stay-at-home mom, with three children in addition to Jessica: Sarah, 12; William, 9; and Alex, 1.

"It's nice to know the public thinks I'm good enough," Jessica said. "This will definitely give me the inspiration to keep going."

—Angela Randazzo