The editors of Radio Lanzarote have already received the first texts for the call for the XIV edition of the Radio Lanzarote Summer 2024 Short Story contest. On this occasion, the contest pays tribute to the writer Miguel de Unamuno, as it marks the centenary of his exile to Fuerteventura. Unamuno arrived on the island of Majorera on March 10, 1924, and said of it: "These bare hills look like camel humps and the outline of these is cut out on them. It is a camel-like land."
On this occasion, participants must submit a micro-story that must not exceed 100 words, not counting the introductory text that we will provide below. The stories will have the same beginning, which is one of the first sentences from the beginning of his work Niebla: "In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it..." From this beginning, participants must imagine what happens next.
Each author may submit a maximum of five stories, which may be signed with a pseudonym, although they must always indicate a name and contact telephone number. Also, the stories will be sent to the address: concursorelatos@lanzarotemedia.net. Once again, the Tourist Centers are collaborating with the contest, whose deadline for sending the texts is next August 31.
A jury composed of journalists from Radio Lanzarote and La Voz de Lanzarote will choose three winning stories and seven finalists. The decision of the contest will be made public in the second half of September. The winner of the first prize will get a dinner for two at the Jameos del Agua restaurant, while the second prize is one of the unusual experiences for two people in Montañas del Fuego. Finally, the third prize is a brunch in the Cactus Garden. All prizes are for adults.
As the stories are received, they will be published in La Voz de Lanzarote. The name of the author will not appear in the publication. Only after the decision will the names of the winning and finalist authors be known. These are the first short stories that this literary contest has already received:
Story 1
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it, without knowing how or why, he began to walk behind, following her through the crowded streets that he came across as he advanced unconsciously as if it were hypnosis. After advancing several streets they arrive at a small coastal house, apparently abandoned, where she enters. Augusto, unable to do anything about it, enters behind the young woman, who was no longer inside. Behind him, the door closes with a crash that made him come out of his trance. He looked at the door, but there were no doors or windows there. How could he not realize?
Story 2
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it. What he did not know how to read in the air, is that tragedy was brewing behind the next corner, the others were waiting for him. They not only stole his bag, they also took his life. While he exhaled his last breath he kept thinking. How would her kisses taste?
Story 3. Arrecife 1924-2024
"In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it... he looked at himself in the reflection of the glass of the candy store on the corner and victoriously felt that he was no longer Augusto, but Augusta. He blinked timidly to feel what it had cost him so much to achieve. That lowering of eyelashes had a high price. He wanted to turn his head, but he couldn't, the treacherous and playful wind in Arrecife boycotts. He sits on a bench on the Paseo to look and be looked at. He closes his eyes and thinks: "in this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street..." Now the young woman was her.
Story 4. Woman from behind
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it... He did not hurry his pace with his shiny shoes brought from the capital. An unknown tickle took over his stomach. How was it possible that a stranger made him feel so many emotions? The incredulity gave way to the belief in God because, who else but He could have put that charming creature in his path? Woman from behind. I wish her eyes would look at him... Elegant when walking. She wears decent women's clothing. Skirt covering her knees, gray blouse, flat shoes, black hair tied up at her nape.
- "I have fallen in love with her nape,...because her eyes do not look at me..."
Story 5. Augusto's last kiss
"In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it." And it would be said that it happened like this or that when writing it I imagine Augusto walking Niebla, his dog, in search of other dogs and other people to sniff to feel less alone in the world of the living. Silence. The curtain opens. Voice over: The lady of death would like to talk about love without envy blinding her judgment. Augusto kisses death. The curtain closes. A blind dog barks in the front row. Death wipes her mouth with the edge of the scythe. I have tasted sadder kisses, she murmurs walking away into the night.
The one from the dock
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes,
as if magnetized and without realizing it. He didn't know what it was, but he felt that he
knew her. He had seen those eyes before.
- Excuse me, do we know each other? - Augusto asked.
- I don't think so, I'm not from here - the woman replied.
- I travel a lot through the islands, maybe we have seen each other somewhere else - he insisted.
- I'm sorry, I don't know you and I'm in a hurry - she said as she walked away slightly bumping
against Augusto.
Alone again, trying to remember, Augusto fell. Of course, the one from the Las Palmas dock.
Unforgettable those eyes. The thief who stole my watch.
At that moment, he realized. His wallet was missing.
Story 6. She
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it. They were turquoise blue eyes. Witch's eyes. She was the foreigner. Augusto lost his will with a single glance she gave him, of that there is no doubt, Mr. Judge. That woman since she arrived in the town only brings evil. The other day Fermín and I beat each other up because of her. He looked at her lasciviously and I felt that I had to stop him. I think she is doing something to me too. I have no appetite. She is always in my head. I feel that she is attracting me to her. The judge nodded as he signed the restraining order.
Story 7. Augusto's dream
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it, Augusto, who followed the steps that the woman's heels pierced. Wide-eyed, like Béthencourt when he first set foot on the island of the Maxos, Augusto noticed the appointment with his friend the writer, but it mattered little, because this exiled author would not reproach him for the lateness, because he had become accustomed to the leisurely pace of this parsimonious town, of peaceful people, who lived in a paradise of arid landscape. Augusto stopped, watching that young woman walk away, whose swaying resembled the walk of a camel. He smiled, and thought of his friend Miguel, who would undoubtedly laugh at this absurd occurrence.
Story 8. An arid walk
In this, not a dog, but a dashing young woman passed by in the street, and Augusto went after her eyes, as if magnetized and without realizing it, Augusto, who followed her, like a brazen shadow, until the intimidated woman gave him the slip. Augusto, engrossed in his thoughts, walked through the arid landscape, until he saw in the distance his friend Miguel, with his hurried walk, which clashed with the parsimonious steps of the one who is in no hurry. There, like a salt statue, the writer noted in his notebook who knows what words, although without a doubt, a majestic reflection of the town that welcomed him. Augusto decided not to interrupt him, because when the muses speak, mortals must remain silent. And, with another sway of hips, Augusto continued on his way.
