2026 FCWC JUST DESERTS AWARD

Third Place in the Short Story Category. The title of my story: THE LETTER.

A World War II B-17 pilot, Joey Clement, receives a shocking letter from his state-side sweetheart. After months of corresponding, she now confesses that she is pregnant with his baby, due next month. To save face, she entered into a "Name Only" marriage with a man he hates.

His next mission deep into Germany is the most dangerous of all. What will become of his Ellie and their child if he doesn't return?

* * *

Receiving Third Place is humbling when you deem your work to be worthy of First Place. So, pride must take a back seat (or be dumped inside the trunk) while I study the piece and re-write it to bring it up to First Place standard and submit it again next year. That's what we writers do - rewrite, then rewrite again, and again... ad infinitum.