| January 2006 Winner: Tony Stoklosa, The
Argument
Honorable Mention: Mike Dunn, A
Shining Mistake
Honorable Mention: Carol Gandolfo, Topaz
Morning
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Write 4 Food catalogue of winners & honorable
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January
2006
Honorable Mention
Topaz Morning
by Carol Gandolfo
In the predawn light the footprints appeared topaz
blue where they crossed the bridge and ended where I stood. A light snow
still fell and was beginning to fill the impressions. I raised my eyes and
looked at the house on the other side of the creek. A faint light appeared
in the kitchen window. I watched in silence. The light wavered and undulated.
There was a flash and I knew the alcohol spilled around the room had ignited.
No one called for help. Nothing moved. The house came alive with light as
the fire moved from room to room. I watched in fascination and horror.
What had I done?
I stood rooted to the spot, my back braced against an old tree. A window shattered
and black smoke spiraled out window and into the sapphire sky. Still, I waited.
Nothing moved.
Was it over?
Slowly, I moved away from the tree. I gasped from the pain in my chest.
A rib was probably cracked or broken. The frosty air had deadened the pain
in my jaw, but I had trouble seeing as my right eye began to swell shut. Slowly, painfully, I moved away from the tree and turned my back on the burning
house and the footsteps in the snow.
I turned toward town. A sliver of sun peeked over the mountains. The sky
was filled with ruby and citrine hues. Like the fire behind me, the colors
blazed on the morning snow. I began to walk toward town, ready to turn myself
in.
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