2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist
Mom, did you hear the news about the school shooting?
My heart skipped a beat & I hugged my young, scared child. I prayed for all those who lost their loved one. I prayed for the world of my dreams, where there is no violence, no war, no weapons and no greed. Everyone just loves and respects one another. Somewhere over the rainbow, my dream world exists. It has to.
Second Generation
Decades ago I attended a Second Generation group for the children of Holocaust survivors. Our gruesome legacy, woven into the fabric of each family, bonded us.
At age eight, my mother escaped Vienna on the Kindertransport, an organized effort to rescue the innocent children of Europe from the horrors of Nazi persecution. She was eventually orphaned.
Although we hadn’t personally experienced the Holocaust, it was indelibly imprinted on our psyches.
Rewrite the Darling by T Gilbert (a Short Story Contest entry)
Little Bear cornered her forever nemesis on the slick of a clean page. She was tired of their humdrum ending. Her violated bed, stolen porridge, and busted up chair never led to a fairy tale finale- only injustice of a home destroyed. Goldilocks screamed as the paw shadowed her face. Little Bear whiffed the airborne fear; her claws flexed to erase. Time to rub out this darling – and it would be just right.
My Vision Was Less Than 20/20 by William Best (a Short Story Contest entry)
Born in 1947 to two native New Yorkers. I attended PS 197 starting in fourth grade when it opened. I never knew my eyesight was below par until my fifth-grade teacher gave me a note to give to my parents.
The contents: I could not see the writing on the black board.
Next stop – ophthalmologist’s office for my first pair of eyeglasses.
It was as if a new world existed beyond what I always knew as normal reality.
Earth2 by Shikhar Dixit (a Short Story Contest entry)
USS Encounter’s four man crew had two woman astronauts. Encounter launched from Cape Canaveral. No sooner had acceleration reached 1/3 lightspeed, than they had to begin deceleration burn. The micro-fusion drive meant the ship met all their needs for 44 years. Their first low-orbit survey revealed a continental layout identical to Earth’s. Encounter was met by a new ship—four man crew—called Encounter. The astronauts prepared to meet themselves.
""I was sorry to hear about your wife's passing.""
""It's still hard for me to realize she's gone.""
""I was lost when my husband died.""
""How long ago did he die?""
""A year now. Although it seems longer.""
""Does it get easier with time?""
""Some days are still hard.""
""I still haven't packed up her clothes.""
""You won't be alone for long.""
""Would you like to go to lunch?""
""OK""
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”.
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.
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.
Little Bear cornered her forever nemesis on the slick of a clean page. She was tired of their humdrum ending. Her violated bed, stolen porridge, and busted up chair never led to a fairy tale finale- only injustice of a home destroyed.
Goldilocks screamed as the paw shadowed her face.
Little Bear whiffed the airborne fear; her claws flexed to erase.
Time to rub out this darling – and it would be just right.