~ Winner for June ~

THE RUTABAGA OF BABA YAGA
by James Swingle

Vasilisa felt three sharp tugs on her dog collar. She tried to hide her sigh. Mistress Baba Yaga, your humble servant requests the insertion of the rutabaga. The S&Mpersonals.com entry had said Baba Yaga was an older mistress, but still, nothing had prepared Vasilisa for this.

“Bend over,” Baba Yaga croaked. “And present yourself for the insertion of the ruta... Oh, darn, I dropped it. Get that for me, will you, Dear? This arthritis...”

Vasilisa crawled under the table, picked up the rutabaga.

“Do you have it?”

“Yes, Mistress Baba Yaga.”

“Ok, then get into position.”

Vasilisa leaned across the table, raised her skirt. She felt the rutabaga poking her halfway up her thigh.

“Damn it,” Mistress Baba Yaga croaked. “Where the hell are my glasses?”

Vasilisa decided that going forward, she definitely needed to click the “Photos Only” search option.

© James Swingle 2006

BIO: James Swingle

James Swingle is a consultant and personal growth trainer.  His fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in From the Asylum, Byzarium, Wicked Karnival and other publications.  You can find out more about his writing at http://fiction.jamesswingle.com .  In addition to his own writing, James publishes and edits Noneuclidean Cafe, a webzine devoted to personal growth and the arts, at http://www.noneuclideancafe.com .

~ RUNNER UPS ~

2nd Place - Jamie Hill

Jenny drew back as the old woman reached for her long braid and stroked it. The gypsy smelled of rotting meat and foul breath. Squirming as she saw a rat scurry across the floor at the woman's feet, Jenny looked around frantically.

"Tell your fortune, my pretty?" the old gypsy asked.

The girl tried to pull away but the woman held firm. "No, I was looking for an exit." The traveling carnival was closing down, and Jenny got separated from her friends. She was desperate to find the gate.

"There is no way out," the old woman replied, and cackled.

© Jamie Hill 2006

3rd Place - John Irvine

Pretty Thing

Come now,
my pretty,
do not be afraid,
it is your time.

Your destiny
and your lover
await.

See him here
in my hand
he is anxious
to wed you
pretty thing
to bed you
seed you
breed you
become you

won’t you touch him
pretty child
I think he likes you
stroke him
encourage him
to become

shall I release him yet
pretty virgin
or do you want
more wine?

© John Irvine 2006

Prizes and Picture for June were:

The picture this time was of an old hag touching a young maiden’s hair.  Prizes awarded for the flash fiction contest this time were:

1st - A copy of Worlds Within...Worlds Beyond....The Magical Realm of Twisted Dreams poetry chapbook.  Signed by me and also including poems from yours truly.  Plus a free download copy of the upcoming FEAR anthology from Whiskey Creek Press.

2nd place and 3rd place received a free download of FEAR.

And all winners receive publication on my blogs and the flash section on my website. 

But you have to be a member of Dark Prose ~ Decadent Delights to enter!