May 2021 winners

Congratulations to the winners of our May competition. Feeling inspired? Have a go at this month's prompt.

Adult winner

Helen Billam

After twenty-nine minutes my mind is muzak-melted, the window breath-fogged.

“You are now number 1 in the queue.”

Outside a figure blurs to the ground as a man rips away her handbag, kicks.

Someone ought to call the police. It’s just, you know, I’ve held on so long already.

Gaelic Winner

Dougie Beck

Dhùisg mi, an rùm fuar ged a bhuail grian an t-samhraidh am Velux fad an latha. Chaidh mi sìos an staidhre airson am fòn a fhreagairt, an gliongadh gam stiùireadh. Stad mi sa chidsin, fallas air mo dhruim, seirm a' fòn nam chluais: chan eil fòn againn san taigh.

Translation by Gaelic Books Council

I awoke, the room cold although the summer sun hit the Velux all day long. I went downstairs to answer the phone, the ringing guiding me. I stopped in the kitchen, sweat on my back, the phone’s tinkling in my ear: we don’t have a phone in the house.

Young writers (12–18) winner

Abbie Morrison, age 15

Clara hid in the safety of the trees, her fate soon decided by the bounty hunters she knew only too well. The ear-piercing silence was interrupted by the scream of her cell phone, as footsteps grew nearer she began to run, adrenaline pumping through her body. The countdown had begun.

Young writers (5–11) winner

Louis Lau, age 8

When the phone rang, I picked it up. A voice said "hello" and I replied back. Every word I said, smoke came out. Five minutes later, the house was on fire. I grabbed all my stuff as fast as I can and ran away. A moment later, there was a loud 'BANG!'. It knocked me off to a place I had never known. And I never came back.