The Word Vault Flash Fiction Contest

[Q Wands]

This is a reminder for those of you who have already downloaded Issue 20 of WBQ, and a general shout to the rest of our members, that entries for The World Vault Flash Fiction Contest must be in by 1 January 2009.

For those who are wondering what this is all about, The Word Vault is a new feature of WBQ wherein we highlight some seldom used words that we like. The contest challenges you to write a piece of flash fiction (maximum 250 words) using at least one of the words listed in the current issue. The more words you use (correctly!), the better your chance of winning. The winner will be published in Issue 21 of WBQ, scheduled for release on 1 February 2009.

Interested? Want to know what the current words in the Vault are? Well, you'll have to go here to download Issue 20 of WBQ.

Cheers!

[SW]

Let's kick start this, shall we?

***
Professor Green snorted with derision, the crepuscular light of the setting sun giving him a horrid, eldritch appearance. He looked down on the new lecturers, their mouths constantly moving. He allowed himself a small smirk. Such was tachydidaxy.

Green headed down the steps. Anger contorted his face, barely controlled, as he saw one of the new recruits lazing on one of the tables.

“Get up!” he snapped, kicking the wretched recruit. “You don’t pay to quamby all day!”

One of the other lecturers rushed over to him. “Professor!”

“What?” Green turned around angrily. “Go back to work!”

“Please, Professor,” pleaded the lecturer, “let him go!”

The recruit sat up, evidently annoyed. “Yeah, sir! All you do is grouse! We don’t have freedom to do anything!”

Green turned back, slowly. His face crumpled. It looked as if, for the first time, the man was going to cry. The student and the other lecturer looked at each other in amazement. Could Green change? Was it possible?

And then the Professor smiled. “So,” he said softly; dangerously, “what is it you want me to do?”

Without waiting for a reply, he yelled, “Get back to work! Another complaint, and you,” at this he twisted to face the lecturer, “and your imbecilic saviour will both be kicked out of the academy!”