Contest

We haven't had any takers for contests lately so I thin I'll make it easier. Today (4/28) let me know if you plan to enter the contest. The final submissions will be due by Friday, May 7 at the end of class. Here are the rules:

1. Choose a "story starter"
2. Write a response in essay form to one of the subjects
3. Response should be no more than 1,000 words
4. Winners will receive guaranteed cheap, disappointing prizes

1. "Slowly, the black sail appeared over the horizon off the stern. The mast, as an ominous finger pointing skyward, and rocking, gained height and horror in the captain's eyes. Heretofore, it had been an easy journey and even the extra marines detailed to assure the safety of the nondescript, teak box double locked in a table in the captain's cabin had been lolling about the deck, bored.
"The Lord Chamberlain has really out-thought himself this time," the captain sighed, his right hand reflexively resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword.
"Send the Fire of India, the ruby the size of a giant's fist, unescorted, by fast ship, lightly armed. They'll never suspect! They'd expect a flotilla bristling with guns... BUT THEY DID SUSPECT!"
The captain winced. The tailing ship, full in view and cutting water faster than a hot blade could cut curled cream closed on the sloop. Unless they could outrun the blasted devils or a lucky shot blow them to kingdom come, the jig was up! It was time... only a matter of it...
"Pour on sail!", the captain shouted to the crew, seemingly frozen in fright. "And heave the penantu from the hold. It may be our only hope!"
"But sir...

2. Queezle ambled over to where the world lay, still spinning, right where the Quan had kicked it. Gently, he lifted the tilting planet and brought it to eye level. "Quan, are you remotely aware of how many denizens of this orb, this lovely blue orb you might have crushed with your silly tantrum?"
"Mummy gave me dat planet for my birthdiddyday and it is mine! I can throw it or kick it or hold it under widderwaddder for a zillions zishies if I've a mind and there ain't a thing you or anyone on that piddle planet can do about it. Gimme it, Queezle... I wanna kick it good!"
Unfortunately for Quan, he was not QUITE correct in his statement. Oh, the blue planet HAD come into his possession on his special day and he PROBABLY had the right to do with it as he pleased. Those are conceded. The part about no one stopping him however... for at the moment Queezle was grudgingly and gently handing back the object of Quan's forceful foot, several dust mite-looking specks, scampering about the blue orb, were gathering. On that abused planet, those dust specks were known as "rocket scientists". And at that moment they were bolting onto the top of an almost imperceptable stick, a device. The stick happened to be a rocket; the device, thermonuclear.