Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 14:51:02 -0500 From: BARBARA HARRIS Subject: INT: F: HHR: Contest Winners Announced! -- [ From: Barbara Harris * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] -- Barbara pulled herself from BT's side as her patted her shoulder gently , and looked nervously around the now-crowded Hall, clearing her throat. Hagatha and Bunny were supposed to help make the announcements, but were nowhere in sight. She decided to just go ahead up to the podium and start. As she stepped onto the platform, the band stopped playing their music, the drummer beat a drumroll, and the dancers stopped and turned their attention to her. A hush fell over the room. That made her so nervous that she dropped her list of winners, but it didn't matter. She was sure she had them all memorized anyway! She looked around the room and cleared her throat again, and suddenly realized her memory had gone totally blank. The microphone screeched as she took it in her hand, and she took a deep breath and smiled. Fortunately, she saw a lovely brown-eyed brunette crossing the room. The woman had a colorful bird on one shoulder, and Jacob's Dragon, Jewel , was flitting about her other shoulder curiously. The woman's dress had intricate cross-stitched embroidery across the bodice and edging the sleeves. Barbara also knew she had moved her Pegasus into the stables with the Haven's Unicorn, and hoped someday her alter-egos Rufia and Grindstone would stay at the Haven long enough to weave them all a tale. Smiling at Michelle, for that's who the visitor to the Ball was, Barbara said, "Hi everyone! Well, the first thing I want to say is that I could *not* have managed this contest this year, given my shoulder injuries, without the very, very appreciated help of my Able Assistant, Michelle Hakala, aka Winebird! She stepped forward and volunteered her time and energy, and has been an absolute treasure, picking up the slack when and where ever I needed it, often without being asked to do things. .. just jumping in and assuring what was needed got done. I couldn't have asked for anyone better, and I hope you'll all show her your appreciation... she did a fine, fine job! And one of the nice side- benefits for me has been getting to know this lovely person a little bit better during the course of the contest!" Applause rocked the room, and Barbara paused briefly and took the moment to pick up the list of winners. She was beginning to think she should have taken that public speaking course that she never thought she'd need. She cleared her throat again, and said, "Okay, first the Essay category ! There were only two entries in this new category, and I'm very appreciative to both for trying something new. The Essays entered are: 'For Women Only' by Pat Fish, and 'Can Valentine's Day Be More Than An Obligatory Romance Day' by Maria Murphy. And, this year's WINNER in the ESSAY competition is:" she paused for a drumroll... "MARIA MURPHY!" Barbara again paused and took the opportunity to take a sip of water as applause filled the room. She looked up just in time to see Bunny come in the front door with Alcmaeon, and motioned her to hurry up to the podium. Alc hopped along behind Bunny, and took a front row position. Being only two-foot tall had it's disadvantages in a crowd. Barbara handed the sheet of winners and the microphone to Bunny, who with great ease smiled at the crowd, and said, "One-Act Plays also had only two contestants this year. This category has always struck me as one of the most difficult to pull off; I wouldn't even feel capable of trying it yet! So I greatly admire anyone who does! The entries are: 'Till Death Do You Part" by Carolyn Farkas and 'The Lake Trip' by Dr. Alcmaeon Frog. Bunny smiled down at the now-impatient Alc bouncing in front of her and said, "and the WINNER of this year's ONE-ACT PLAY competition is DR. ALCMAEON FROG!!!" Applause again rocked the room, and Barbara spotted Hagatha whispering in a corner with the Secret Elephant. She impatiently motioned her to hurry up, and Hagatha left SE's side and came to the podium. On her way , she thought she spotted some Octopus-like creatures and that Odd Lupine Creature sparkling into the transporter area, and Hagatha was glad to see they'd finally made it to the Ball. In another part of the room, two peculiar fellows seemed to be trying to tear Snow White in half. Beauty was snuggled back in Beast's arms looking decidedly content with the whole situation. TJ was there with his wife, seeming far more mellow than he used to be. The List Curmudgeon and the List Mommy were lurking quietly at the back of the room. The whole room was filled with an interesting bunch of people and creatures, and that always made Hagatha smile. She was one who loved a good story. "Hi guys!" Hagatha positively sparkled. She didn't seem to have a shy bone in her body, and Barbara watched her wistfully. "I'm going to announce the Short Story category, always one of the favorite categories to enter! The entries are: 'Tribute' by Paula D. Smith 'Belinda' by Michael J. Hultquist 'Always, Forever' by Robyn Meta Herrington 'Mary's Love' by Coyote 'From the Heart' by Barbara Vaughan 'Cupid and the Cardinal' by Pat Fish 'Why' by Youngblood Brasket 'The Final Gift' by Catherine Berchtold 'Roses and Weeds' by John Anderson 'Levee Break' by Michelle Hakala 'Snowflakes' by Maria Murphy 'The Princess Finds A Stone' by Xprincess 'The Corsage' by Christopher Vaughan 'Heart's Desire' by Dee Churchill 'Tranquillity Tower' by Raini Madden (with Christopher Vaughan), and 'Immaculate Sex' by John Brinkman " Hagatha paused a moment for dramatic effect. "The FIFTH place winner in Short Stories is: 'Tranquillity Tower' by RAINI MADDEN (with Christopher Vaughan)!" "FOURTH place goes to: 'Always, Forever' by ROBYN META HERRINGTON!" "THIRD place is awarded to: 'Cupid and the Cardinal' by PAT FISH!" "SECOND place goes to: 'The Final Gift' by CATHERINE BERCHTOLD!!!" Hagatha paused for the drumroll and smiled radiantly. The hush in the room intensified. "And the FIRST PLACE WINNER in this year's SHORT STORY competition is: DEE CHURCHILL with her wonderful story, "Heart's Desire!!!" Applause again filled the room, and Barbara took her place at the podium, though she wished mightily that Hagatha would just finish the announcements, since she was so much more at ease. "Okay, now the Poetry competition... boy was this one a tough call for everyone this year! So many entries and so much fine work! The entries in the Poetry competition are: 'The Boy Who Cried for Roses' by Kennedy Dane 'The Orange Juice Poem' by Pam 'Loves Lost' by Cami Jo Keller 'A Valentine Ball' by Pat Fish 'Buffer' by John Brinkmann 'Soul Mates' by Teena Shields 'Star Struck' by Roz Shoshonna 'Still' by Carol Hair 'Surrender' by Melissa Anne Morse 'Evensong' by C.K. Tower 'Michael' by Jeffrey A. Watts (Jarakis) 'Forever' by Steve Cripwell 'Banyan Tree' by Ashok Gupta 'Today' by Youngblood Braskett 'Mastectomy Whimsy' by Sue Hunter 'Knowing' by Audrey Friedman 'Love In The Lights' by Christopher Stolle 'Renascence' by Donna M. Buschmeier 'The Woman' by Pat Maloney 'Hearty Limerick' by Barbara Vaughan 'Song of Cybercupid' by Carolyn Farkas 'The Rose' by Diane (Jade Cow) 'For Peter' by Anitra Freeman 'Nightwind Confession' by Tori Wilfred 'Two Lovers' by Micheal J. Hultquist 'Dog Love' by Sharon Moskowitz 'Complete' by John Anderson, and 'Comfort' by B. T. Murtagh " Barbara paused after that long list and took a big gulp of water. "Boy , there were a lot of entries," she repeated nervously. "And this race was really close, so much so that there are a few runners-up whom I think deserve mentioning. "Anitra Freeman actually tied for fifth place if we went strictly by point count, but she was one first-place vote less than the person who won. Very close behind her in point count were Sharon Moskowitz and B.T . Murtagh. They all deserve credit for such fine work even though they didn't quite place! They all came so close that another vote or two could have entirely changed the balance." She took a deep breath. "And the FIFTH place winner in this years Poetry competition is AUDREY FRIEDMAN for her poem 'Knowing.' "FOURTH place goes to PAT MALONEY for his poem 'The Woman!' "THIRD place goes to C.K. TOWER for 'Evensong.' "SECOND place goes to TORI WILFRED for 'Nightwind Confession." She paused again while the drumroll shook the room. "And, this year's FIRST PLACE WINNER in the POETRY Competition is: CAROLYN FARKAS for her poem 'Song of Cybercupid!!!" She paused and took a deep breath, knowing that in a flash, the word of the contest winners would be out all over BarkerVille, even to those who hadn't been able to make it to the Ball. What a wondrous age they lived in! Communications could take place almost instantly at very long distances. Applause rocked the room, and she motioned Bunny and Hagatha back to her side. "We want to thank all of you... entrants and voters... without you there couldn't be a contest. I also want to sincerely thank Tink/ Mike Barker for so kindly keeping all of this contest hoopla updated on his web page! It's so much easier when the entries can be accessed so easily by the voters. "Congratulations to all the winners! I'll be contacting the first place winners about their prizes tomorrow, and I'm also going to make a gift for Michelle, to show my appreciation for all she's done to help out. I hope everyone doing this had fun!" The Three Faces of Barbara bowed and left the stage open for acceptance speeches and congratulations.... (I'll post a short-form list of winners to ALL in a little while... just to be sure everyone who wants to know gets to see it! And truly... thanks to everyone who participated! Later, I'm gonna see if I can't get Granny Roz Frog back on her rocker... and the rest of you should party, Party, PARTY!!!) Love & Light, Barbara -- @>-->-->------ Love & ------<--<--<@ Light, Barbara, wishing Spring would get sprung! @)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence only increases in an arithemetical ratio. -Thomas Robert Malthus (1798!) (He said that without seeing "The Trouble with Tribbles"!) --'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ Barbara Harris ~ TCZJ32B@Prodigy.com "The A-Bomb enables no man." -Bigfoot Heh, and I thought the *Adam* bomb caused the population explosion! -Hagatha, wielding Eternal PUN-ishment.