2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist
Dreaming in Deli by M'EL (a Short Story Contest entry)
I dreamed that I was in an intensive care unit. I heard the doctor say “We are running out of treatments”. “Although this is still an experimental therapy, perhaps an egg cream infusion using an IV will work.” “It is worth a try”, but there was a critical shortage of Fox’s U Bet. The last words I heard before awakening were “maybe pastrami poultices with mustard will be a cure”.
4,378 by Christina Shaker (a Short Story Contest entry)
I always believed time travel existed and I was on a mission to prove it. I was finally ready to test my invention and stay in my youth forever. I fired it up, loud noises and explosions of light surrounded me until all I saw was black. Finally, I had arrived into the future! I marked this entry 4,378, the days I’d been stuck here.
Beat the Odds by Priti Kandlur (a Short Story Contest entry)
Emily was walking briskly, enjoying the rare morning sun on her face. The smile on her face was genuine. Her little shop with books from all around the world was finally doing well. The quaint village where she lived had supported her dreams. After losing both her parents at a young age, she had relied on the kindness of her community who had helped her rebuild her life & beat the odds.
Bobby wrestled independently in New Jersey. He loved performing for fans. This hobby cost him money , after travel costs. Bobby worked the midnight shift at CVS . Three mornings a week he trained at a local gym . He had met his true love at a match eighteen months ago . Vicki didn’t pay as much attention to him as he wished she would but loved to slow dance with him in his wrestling robe. Ahh life.
Indie Love by Phil Luchun (a Short Story Contest entry)
Bobby wrestled independently in New Jersey. He loved performing for fans. This hobby cost him money, after travel costs. Bobby worked the midnight shift at CVS . Three mornings a week he trained at a local gym . He had met his true love at a match eighteen months ago . Vicki didn’t pay as much attention to him as he wished she would but loved to slow dance with him in his wrestling robe. Ahh life.
Order delicious Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and support East Brunswick Public Library! Order by June 9.
The universe desired to know what became of the world it had given to humanity, so it took the shape of a mortal and walked upon the earth.
A rose, vivid as a nebula, caught the universe’s eye. In its excitement, it forgot that its mortal form could be injured, and pricked its finger on a thorn. A droplet of blood fell from the wound.
Lightyears away, a single star vanished.
There was no fuss that Saturday morning, Alex had just come downstairs. Lawrence was standing at the front door with his friend Liam. My Father was in the scullery washing his breakfast dishes. " I'm going now " I said to him . He nodded but didn't say a word, he continued washing his dishes. I said goodbye to Alex Lawrence and Liam, and I hurried to the waiting taxi . I was going to America.
She is amazing with many feathers in her cap. Everyone wonders how she does it all and still smile. Its ok if she falters from time to time or needs a break for herself. Because she is beautiful with all her imperfections & we love her just the way she is. She is a mother, a sister, a wife, a friend, a professional. She is all that and more. She is a woman.
You like lines, I prefer designs, like a spiral in a spiral, or a box within a box, over hills and over clover, over sticks and over rocks and over and over and over and over all over the summer and fall, and it just keeps getting higher, it's already way too tall, and you squeeze by trees and wheeze and sneeze and you allergies put you in disease and that's not to mention the doggone bees, when you home and you moan alone. The dogs are rude, when you moan alone where they just pooed. Oooooh, I think I got someone my shoe.