The 5th edition of the Radio Lanzarote Short Story Contest already has winners. The jury has already issued its ruling and has decided to award first place to the text by María Dolores Fajardo Espino, a plea against gender violence that in turn recognizes the courage of women who fight to get out of it. Mei Morán and Plácido Romero have won the second and third prize.
In this fifth edition, the participating stories had to mention the radio and Don Quixote, in commemoration of the fourth centenary of Cervantes' novel. The winner, María Dolores Fajardo Espino, receives as a prize a tasting lunch or dinner at the Sushi Bar Minato Restaurant in Puerto Calero. The second classified with her story 'La Mancha', Mei Morán, will be able to enjoy a tasting meal for two people at the Turkuaz Turkish Restaurant, in the Jameos Playa Shopping Center in Puerto del Carmen. For his part, Plácido Romero has obtained the third prize with the text 'La Espera', which has earned him a voucher for two people in the spa circuit of the Spa Costa Calero, in Puerto Calero.
In addition to the three winners, the jury formed by journalists from Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero has selected, from among the more than 70 stories received, another 7 finalists. Below, the awarded and finalist stories:
First prize, by María Dolores Fajaro Espino:
As always, the radio woke her up. In a place in Madrid, the reading of Don Quixote began. It was the twenty-third. Her cheek hurt, but her loneliness hurt more. She noticed "the pillow wet".
In the shower she tried to practice the "attention to the present" exercises that the psychologist recommended, but her mind wandered.
Another April, far away, she had chosen to read aloud the paragraph in which Marcela asks:
"why do you want me to surrender my will by force, obliged only because you say you love me?"
No. This time she was not going to say that she hit herself with the door.
Second prize, La Mancha, by Mei Morán:
The old woman turned on the radio in the middle of the afternoon. With the chatter of advertising, she scrubbed the last pots before settling on the sofa so as not to miss the chapter. The local station had insisted on instructing the population and spreading Cervantes' work. The woman had become accustomed to the nonsense of the knight of the sad figure, to Sancho's blunders, to that misplaced love for Dulcinea. The day she heard the story of the windmills, she could not help but think of her children, petty. In the battle of titans they waged against her.
Third prize, La Espera, by Plácido Romero:
Old Aldonza, while crocheting and listening to the radio, sometimes thinks of her old love. One day, many years ago, he sent her a letter full of words that she found difficult to understand. The truth is that he was a bit strange. However, old Aldonza still hopes that one day he will show up at her house. She will prepare him a coffee, give him some pastries and will not let him escape because, although Alonso Quijano wasted part of his assets like crazy, he is still a good match. Old Aldonza waits while crocheting and listening to the radio.
FINALISTS:
A German defeated Don Quixote, story by Rebeca Rodríguez dedicated "to those whom Alzheimer's defeated":
On the small table, the old radio that can barely be heard, a worn newspaper, a glass of water and time, a lot of time.
In his mind, he still rides like Don Quixote, but without his Sancho.
He got lost looking for a better place.
Alone on the road, he cannot find a sign that tells him how to return.
What battles will he fight inside? The grandfather left one day forever, without getting up from the armchair.
Sansón Carrasco defeated him disguised, this time, as a German.
Dulcinea listens to the radio, by Mercedes Negrín Sanginés:
Dulcinea listens to the radio, her favorite song is playing, she closes her eyes, a yellow blanket of wheat in summer, a black blanket of sand in winter, her story and that of her Quixote playing in a song. Dulcinea cries for what could have been and was not. It relieves her to listen to her favorite tune. When her song is broadcast, she can touch her Quixote, she can feel her Quixote. Brief minutes of happiness...
A Quixote in trouble, by Reyes María Concepción Betancor:
He knew it was not enough. He would fall, for sure. But, he tried.
He felt stupid perched on top of the tree.
She looked at him, her eyelids narrowed, scared, blushing, ashamed... She didn't remember how she had climbed up there.
-Help her now, man!
Hot afternoon.
Music on the radio. He felt reckless, brave, quite an adventurer, a Quixote helping a beautiful lady in distress. His inseparable chubby friend below... was he his faithful... Sancho?. Then she... was she his... beloved ¿Dulcinea?...
Their eyes met. His hands trembled holding her waist...
...And the two fell from the tree.
Inside you, by María del Pilar Bethencourt Campodarve:
Feel me inside, breathe with me, let your body envelop and welcome me, take care of me and love me, as I already love you...mom. I am part of you, I am in you and I live from you. Maybe I'm not what you expected, you dreamed of being the beloved Dulcinea of a gallant Quixote, of living your story of princesses and radio novels. But here I am, I am a tiny being that lives in you, and I want to be part of you, even if you think I am a giant like a threatening windmill. Really mom....don't do it...
"Faithful" friend, by Rebeca Rodríguez:
With no more belongings than what he was wearing, a pocket edition of "Don Quixote" and the old transistor that had kept him connected to reality every hour on the dot, he crossed the door, the last of the doors that guarded him.
Nobody was waiting for him.
No one was there to hug him or welcome him to freedom.
His sad figure advanced down the street, with the only company of his shadow.
In his head resonated the last words of his "faithful" companion Sancho:
-Alonso, friend!, friend!
and those of his beloved Dulcinea:
-Honey, it's not what it seems.
Untitled story by Elena Navarro Asensio:
The inmate in room 17 believed himself to be Don Quixote since he had heard that wonderful radio version of Cervantes' novel. He was immersed in a deep melancholy because he missed his faithful squire, and as he barely ate out of sadness, his stylized figure made him look more and more like the authentic knight. But one morning, the beautiful nurse Dulcinea introduced him to his new roommate, short and chubby, whom he immediately baptized as Sancho Panza, which the other accepted willingly, and so, finally together, they would ride to fight against the giants anchored in his mind.
Untitled story by Cristina:
With a distraught face, she stared into infinity from inside her car. The radio was playing, but she was no longer listening to it. She had made the decision. Tired of fighting windmills, she decided to take flight. The car crashed into the rocks. The friends of this Quixote mourned his death, they had tried to help him, but he confused them with giants. His mind, treacherous, killed him.
