There was an even stronger array of entries this year than last year, with nearly half of our students having a go (and several of them submitting multiple entries - a few of them even in French as well, thanks to the prompting of M. Biret). And, as last year, our three judges failed to reach much consensus (I think I'd better keep them anonymous, for their protection).
I'm sorry there couldn't be more prizes, and I hope people who missed out on one won't be too disappointed. There were a number of strong entries that didn't quite make the eventual 'top six'.
In the end, our Distinguished Runners-Up prizes (50 RMB each) went to.....
Karis Tao
She applied her lipstick in the mirror, admiring the way it was the color of blood -- a deep, deep red. A shout from her friends came from outside the bathroom, and she took her bag and got ready to go, checking her reflection one last time. As soon as she turned her back, the reflection smiled.
Chee Ling Wu
It has been watching me for over a week…a shadow behind the door, a reflection on my computer screen, a whisper by the windowsill… My sister told me not to be afraid of the whisper, but the whisper told me I never had a sister.
Gabby Tam & Shanyu Hou
Every night when I tuck my daughter into bed, she’d always ask me if monsters ever existed, I’d say no. Tonight she asked me to check if there were monsters under her bed. I went down on my knees and peered under. I was met by my daughter’s pair of eyes. She said, “Mommy, there’s someone on my bed.”
Vinay Hirani
Every corner I turn I come back to the same place. Not moving at all, always in the same position. I am ignored or I am not being seen. I never recall past moments, no one notices me. I look into the mirror, I see me. Other people see nothing.
Georgina Savage
I keep hearing chanting from the children's room. I open the door to look. A doll was sat in the middle of the room, its glassy eyes dull. It's cracked fabric lips were moving, chattering: "Roses are red, Violets are blue, I've got a knife in the children's room." It rose to its feet, a knife in its hand dripping with blood. It said, "Roses are red, Violets are blue, Now the door's open, I'm coming for you."
But THE WINNER (with a 200 RMB prize!) this year was......
Ingrid Leong
It has been watching me for over a week…a shadow behind the door, a reflection on my computer screen, a whisper by the windowsill… My sister told me not to be afraid of the whisper, but the whisper told me I never had a sister.
Gabby Tam & Shanyu Hou
Every night when I tuck my daughter into bed, she’d always ask me if monsters ever existed, I’d say no. Tonight she asked me to check if there were monsters under her bed. I went down on my knees and peered under. I was met by my daughter’s pair of eyes. She said, “Mommy, there’s someone on my bed.”
Vinay Hirani
Every corner I turn I come back to the same place. Not moving at all, always in the same position. I am ignored or I am not being seen. I never recall past moments, no one notices me. I look into the mirror, I see me. Other people see nothing.
Georgina Savage
I keep hearing chanting from the children's room. I open the door to look. A doll was sat in the middle of the room, its glassy eyes dull. It's cracked fabric lips were moving, chattering: "Roses are red, Violets are blue, I've got a knife in the children's room." It rose to its feet, a knife in its hand dripping with blood. It said, "Roses are red, Violets are blue, Now the door's open, I'm coming for you."
But THE WINNER (with a 200 RMB prize!) this year was......
Ingrid Leong
I look into the mirror, and looking back at me is the reflection that I see every day. My face, however, looks different. It looks thinner and paler. Then I notice its unnatural stillness. When did I ever stand and stare like that?
Her hand - my hand - reaches out of the mirror and closes around my throat.
Many congratulations to you. And big thanks to everyone who took part.
Don't have nightmares....
