Fiction in a Nutshell




Taylor Boyd

Taylor Boyd

Once again we asked our readers—those with an active imagination and a knack for writing—to put their creative juices to work in The Acorn’s eighth annual Fiction in a Nutshell contest. The response was gratifying as more than 60 entries were submitted. The stories, limited to 100 words, covered a wide range of topics: 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 receive a $50 prize.

To all the contestants we say,Write on!”

First Place

Under 18 Years

“The Final Movement”

The cello sang. The musician waltzed with her bow, choreographing wood and resin, painting Bach gigues and Beethoven sonatas on the bombed-out streets, the war-torn sky. She came daily, performing music of her conservatory-trained youth, hoping to bring a small bit of joy to the survivors who had lost so much, to witness beauty in this least beautiful of places. It always worked—toddlers twirled and grandfathers smiled. She had her eyes closed, face raised to the heavens in a crescendo, when the sky darkened. A high-pitched shriek, a spurt of crimson, and there was song no more.

— Taylor Boyd, 16
Calabasas

18 and Over

“The Leaper”

He runs, pushes off into the air and jumps. He dreams of his narrow gray face gracing a Wheaties cover.

A summer filled with munching on insects, climbing walls, and pumping out push-ups in the sun has come to this.

A gust of wind lifts him up. He is weightless. With wings, he might fly forever.

But, alas, the leaper has no wings, just four legs, a dream and a tail.

The wind stops as he splashes into the sandbox.

His moment in the sun is over, so he sighs: not a bad jump for a lizard.

— Michael T. Best, 45
Oak Park

About the Authors

Taylor Boyd

By Sylvie Belmond
belmond@theacorn.com

Music is a universal language that can bring comfort and hope to people anytime, anywhere.

Taylor Boyd, 16, said her 100-word fictional tale, “The Final Movement,” was inspired by the idea of finding beauty in a horrible place.

Evoking the sights, sounds and emotions of a sad, yet striking scene, the author injects crescendo and suspense into her story before leading it to its powerful conclusion.

“Music can bring comfort to people. I have experienced this many times in my own life,” said Taylor, a Calabasas High junior who ends her tale on a poignant note that leaves the reader yearning for more.

“Stories of this genre require a dramatic twist ending, which is where I came up with the idea of the death of the cellist,” said Taylor, who credits her English teacher, Kathy Kreycik, for helping to develop her writing skills.

Known for her colorful personality, Taylor said “The Final Movement” exposes a darker side of her character, which she doesn’t often reveal to others.

Penning powerful prose is nothing new for Taylor, whose fictional tale, “In With the Rain,” also won first place in The Acorn’s 2013 Fiction In a Nutshell contest as a 14-year-old.

Taylor said she is “excited” and “shocked” to learn she is the first twotime winner of the contest.

The daughter of Mark and LaRaine Boyd, Taylor is a member of the jazz and marching bands at Calabasas High. She hopes to be a physician some day and currently works at Calabasas Pharmacy in Gelson’s market after school.

Michael T. Best

By Stephanie Bertholdo
bertholdo@theacorn.com

The lizards that bob and weave on his backyard wall became a point of fascination for Michael Best of Oak Park. The nimble little creatures inspired Best to write a 100-word Fiction in a Nutshell contest entry titled, “The Leaper.”

Best imagines the lizard as an aspiring athlete with hopes of appearing on a cereal box cover. He also sees the creature as a sweet child who flies weightless for a moment before it “splashes into the sandbox.” Not until the end does the reader learn that our protagonist is but a humble little lizard.

Having grown up in Massachusetts, Best didn’t see many lizards in his backyard. Maybe it was too cold for the little critters.

Now, every summer when the little leapers come out to sunbathe in his Oak Park backyard—on the wall and in the sandbox—Best imagines they are preparing for competition.

“ All summer long they’re doing pushups,” he said. “It got me thinking about an athlete that was a lizard.”

By day, Best works in market research (writing a lot but sticking to the facts). By night and on weekends, he lets his creative instincts soar as he writes fiction, nonfiction and historical stories.

He did self-publish a sci-fi ebook several years ago and is finishing up another ebook—this time a fantasy tale for middle school children.

Best moved to Oak Park with his wife and two sons in 2011, and dreams that one day he will be tapping out stories full time.

Keep reaching for the stars, Mr. Best. We think you may be getting close to quitting that day job.

Honorable Mentions

Under 18 Years

“Life Begins”

She stood by her side as the cries began. So many different voices and orders, all from different directions. Emotions filled the room as the gasps and claps got louder and louder.

It was definitely the start of something new. She was no longer the center of attention and no longer the youngest of the house.

How is it supposed to feel when your whole life changes in an instant?

She didn’t know either, but it happened. Now she looks back at it as one of the happiest days of her life.

— Shani Levanon, 15
Tarzana

“Train Set”

A child had a train set. After the child grew up, he lost interest in it, so the bugs took over. The bugs charged other bugs lumps of sugar to arrive at an island of food. The bugs that attempted to arrive there without paying were eaten by toads.

However, those that used the train for this purpose were safe, because the toads were afraid of the trains. It went on like this for a while, but, eventually, the train’s battery ran out, and, as a result, the train was, once again, abandoned.

— Alex McGovern, 17
Calabasas

18 and Over

“American Beauty”

The youngest are small and swaddled, their potential hidden from sight. The mature, cast aside carelessly, seem withered, wilted and bruised. Nearby, the youth, just beginning to open to the possibilities, reveal a glimpse of what they have to offer.

Some rise above the rest, defiant, divulging too much and commanding that all take notice. In contrast, there are those that join safely together, each looking much like the other.

In the end only the most beautiful are put on display, far from their roots, destined to survive but briefly, in a tall crystal vase down the hall.

— Janice Winters, 53
Westlake Village

“Free Range”

Looking out her window in a sterile retirement home, the green of summer reawakened Greta’s memories of youth where she decided to remain. One cold snowy evening, a tray of mystery meat with lumpy potatoes was placed on the table next to her.

Greta heard her father call for dinner, and ran to the picnic table outside with her sisters. She practically inhaled her barbecued chicken, potato salad, and peach pie.

Next morning, an aide found Greta sitting with her eyes closed, a smile on her face, and an empty tray on the table next to her.

— Robin B. Stockton, 62
Agoura Hills


Michael T. Best

Michael T. Best

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