Wordsworth

A collection of strange and troubling tales filled the inbox this week, as readers were invited to submit a very short story, beginning with: There was a secret meeting.

David Wort, Bay of Plenty: There was a secret meeting of farmers driven to despair by the Famous Five turning up uninvited for scones with jam and cream, and lashings of ginger beer. Next afternoon, the Five were directed to the “shortcut” across Devil’s

Fen, just an hour before darkness and snow began to fall.

Andrea Levarre-Waters, Auckland: There was a secret meeting happening in the break-out room. Carla craned her neck, staring intently at the closed door. It was too quiet. Surely not another restructure. She jumped as the door flung open violently, expelling a cloud of balloons. This was much worse. They knew it was her birthday.

Yvonne Moosberger, Hamilton:

There was a secret meeting. The farmer’s 50th approached and his wife planned roast bird. Hens in survival mode. Chelsea suggested praising Rudi’s early, loud crowing. A narcissist, he woke next morning at three to show off his voice. The hens found one anaemic comb and two gnarly feet amidst their morning maize.

Kathryn Smits of Hobsonville is the winner: There was a secret meeting in the microwave. The members of our sect (flat, humble, brown and many-legged) squeezed through the cracks, requiring neither light nor door. We found delicious fare on walls and floor. We praised the

Great Provider in whom we steadfastly believe, and feasted until dawn.

For the next contest, send us a fourline poem including at any point the phrase ‘how’s your father’. You may interpret the phrase any way you like.

Entries, for the prize below, close at noon on Thursday, September 20. Submissions: wordsworth@listener.co.nz or Wordsworth, NZ Listener, Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141. Please include your address. Entries may be edited for sense or space reasons.