I like the way you wrote the story and wouldn’t change anything. It has been left open to continue if you so chose. Stories that leave you hanging are great stories because they leave you wanting to know more.
I wish I could be better at explaining what I mean. The best I can describe it is, in stories that have a child being the victim, you want the abuser to get worse in return. It’s not about the story lacking anything it’s more that it creates questions such as “how could a mother consent to her child being abused?” You have left what his fate was up to our imaginations, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Pink Anvil Weakness. Written two years ago as an exercise. Yes. That seems like it might do. Probably some of my best work. I’m certainly capable of tip tapping out my best work at any moment. Let’s submit it. Who cares what happens?

The stories have been going up for weeks. People are angry, in the comments, about marketing for votes. I see what they’re doing wrong….

My story! Round five! Finally! I’ve been checking every week. Now that I’ve read it, though, it isn’t very good. The others aren’t very good at all, but it seems a shame to waste my story. I don’t think any of the others really deserve to win. They snoop around here though. Try to ferret out if you’ve petitioned votes. I’ll have to be quiet about this. Perhaps just a small e-mail to the Union County Writers Group. Just to let them know I’m in a competition, story number seven, called ‘Pink Anvil Weakness’, voting enabled at the bottom of the page. Please read them all, but remember to vote for me.

My goodness! Look at my story go! Ten times as many votes as any of the others. The comments praise the hilarity. It’s obvious. I’m the best writer here. And I’ll tell all my friends to look at how well I’ve done. Everyone will be quite impressed — a little jealous perhaps — but they have to admit my stories win.

I’m not looking back now. I can’t bear to.

The variety and different viewpoints make this a much more interesting contest than if we all had to write in the same genre. I like to see the world through different character’s eyes. I’ve loved reading everyone’s work and look forward to the next batches.

Thanks for offering this contest, Daniel.