New Deal Writing Contest Winners
These three short stories were selected out of submissions from all around the world. This year’s painting is “In the Paddock” by William Dowling. These pieces bring us into three imagined worlds of this painting.
Connor Galain had never been overly fond of horses. They were far too large for him to be quite comfortable standing next to one, especially with his rather miniscule stature. There was an unpleasant intelligence in their eyes as well.
“Just supposing she does win,” Milston speculated about the gray horse Anna was combing.
“I do suppose that and more,” Anna replied. She was angered with the young man’s persistent negative innuendoes. Oh, he was handsome enough, educated, his breeding was of the finest in all the Finger Lakes. Anna was not of this ilk. She was farm hardened one might say, as tall as Milston and probably stronger. And razor tempered.
“I’ll make you a personal wager,” Milston stated.
Anna turned to square off at that remark.
“You’re out,” said Doc Pritchard to Jimmy John. “She ain’t right.”
Jimmy John saw Doc Pritchard cross something off his clipboard and figured he was crossing Bamboo Curtain off the list of horses for the race.