The 9th edition of the Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero Micro-story Contest, dedicated to César Manrique on the occasion of the centenary of his birth, already has winners. Josefina García Laynez has won the first prize of the contest, organized in collaboration with the César Manrique Foundation, and will receive a television valued at around 300 euros, a pack of products from the centenary of Manrique and a pack of books published by the Foundation.
The jury of the contest, to which 125 stories inspired by the artist were submitted, has decided to award the second prize to Sonia Vega for her story 'The island and the little devil', consisting of a tablet valued at around 200 euros, a pack of centenary products and a pack of books published by the FCM.
As for the third prize, it went to 'One Hundred Words' by Santiago Betancort, who will receive wireless headphones valued at around 100 euros, as well as a pack of centenary products and a pack of books.
As in previous editions, in addition to the winners, the jury has chosen seven finalists who are 'Poor Devil' by Teresa Vera, 'Untitled' by Magdalena Cabrera Cejas, 'Father' by Yanire Álamo, 'Illusions' by Fabio Carreiro Lago, 'The Letter' and 'Manrique' by Txuso Gallego and 'Untitled' by Paula Lorena Iurman de González.
Winning Stories
First Prize: 'Untitled', by Josefina García Laynez
From her mound she scanned the horizon in case she felt him arrive. Rarely did her playmate miss the appointment.
Will you come running today, happy and full of energy, making me lie down with your embrace, or tired and without the strength to climb on my back?
Will you make me shudder with stories from the other side of the ocean, from other lands and other people, or will you stay by my side silent and almost motionless?
I am used to your mood swings and I am not surprised by either your laughter or your rage. After all, I'm just your toy, wind.
Second Prize: 'The Island and the Little Devil', by Sonia Vega
On a Canary Island lives a little devil who runs naked on the beaches. He spends the afternoons drawing and discovering small beings in the lava rivers that cover the landscape in black and red. He plays with the wind, hides in caves of amazing colors and talks to blind crabs.
When someone dares to damage the island, he gets angry and roars with the force of a thousand volcanoes. When he laughs, you can hear him in the waves of the sea.
They say that the magical island is Lanzarote and that the little devil Manrique, in every corner, will accompany you.
Third Prize: 'One Hundred Words', by Santiago Betancort
? They asked me to write a micro-story about you ?I told him. César put on his seatbelt.
? A micro-story?
? A short story. Of one hundred words.
He started the car in silence, reflecting.
? One hundred words are not many ?he concluded at last.
? No. But I think they may be enough.
He looked at me for a moment, before turning his gaze back to the road.
? And what are you going to talk about, if I may ask?
? I'm going to narrate this moment. It has its importance.
It took him a while to understand. But an instant before it happened he knew. Just enough time to reveal a smile.
Everything was fine.
Finalist Stories
'Poor Devil', by Teresa Vera
Cornered, exhausted, barefoot, shirtless and still with the pitchfork in hand as his only defensive weapon, he saw a black sea of volcanic rocks appear that, under that scorching sun, incited his sore feet to continue fleeing.
Perhaps he could cross the badlands that separated him from his freedom.
Fleeing the bad country that persecuted him for his ideas was his only option.
He could, finally, feel the stinging of the sea on his bloodied feet and observe in the distance the Mountains of Fire before being shot down.
'Untitled', by Magdalena Cabrera Cejas
Come? Let's enjoy a trip with the aroma of fig trees and the taste of saltpeter. We will arrive at my beloved Famara, with its "Cliff" reflected on the wet sand...
Look, above, "El Mirador" extends its arm through the "River" that leaves us speechless and offers us its silence. Don't stop and we will arrive at the "Jameo" with its blind pearls in its crystalline lake. We continue towards "La Cueva de los Verdes", a gift from the La Corona volcano.
Let's go to "Timanfaya". Spectacular, right?, volcano and earth colors...
Now I must leave. In Haría I retire to rest.
-By the way, who are you?.
I am César, one more conejero.
'Father', by Yanire Álamo
With Mother Lanzarote,
César had offspring,
he loved and cared for them,
like the good father he was.
Jameos the oldest, deep and mysterious, he enjoyed it since he imagined it.
Then came Monumento, white and green peasant, in the center of the island, where the heart beats.
The third was Montañas, Timanfaya La Quemada, mysterious and silent, burning her insides.
Daring Mirador appears, camouflaged...offering its vision.
Castillo the contemporary, majestic in the Bahia, sailor is his gaze.
And the small and pampered one, Jardín the desired one, where nature celebrates, that César has
created.
'The Illusions', by Fabio Carreiro Lago
Until reaching the precipice he had walked discreetly among the group of tourists. He was fascinated with the Cueva de los Verdes until he felt a deep vertigo for that terrifying beauty and decided to end his life once and for all by throwing himself into the void. Stopping him was impossible. He moved away from the group, ran a little, shouted and broke free from a hand that tried to hold him. Unfortunately he was soaked, sprained his ankle and splashed everyone. The guide knew well that it is as difficult to deceive as it is to prevent someone from destroying their own illusions.
'The Letter', by Txuso Gallego
César, how much I miss you!
Those endless walks through Famara. Your body free of prejudice feeling wind, earth and ocean. I know that now you rest with me, and that fills me with pride. I long for the passion and strength that I could feel when you worked and, above all, when you defended your land against the pretensions of soulless people who wanted to destroy what thousands of years remained virgin, pure and wild.
Thank you for loving me without measure, for sculpting me with such delicacy and affection, and for always carrying me in your heart.
How much I miss you, César!
Always yours:
Lanzarote.
'Untitled', by Paula Lorena Iurman de González
From the huge window of his room he saw a parade of vehicles destined for the construction of houses and hotels. The pristine white of the walls of his home was impregnated with the black dust of so much picón scattered throughout the island. The businessman replaced the farmer and the humble fisherman on the front pages of the newspapers. The accumulated garbage covered his paradisiacal views. Alone, sunk in the deepest sadness and defeated by his own neighbors, he turned on the radio to be able to listen to the waves of the sea from a musical curtain.
'Manrique', by Txuso Gallego
He snorted and, indignant, folded the newspaper. He was furious. He put his hands to his head and
with tearful eyes he asked:
- Why are they so stubborn? I feel the island, I listen to it, I can merge into it. It is unique in the world and our Canary Islands; natural jewels that the universe created. Don't they understand that beauty resides in its own nature? Why is it so hard for them to see it as I
see it? Why don't they appreciate it?
I hugged him and replied:
- César, their mistake lies in limiting themselves to looking with their eyes at what you observe with your heart
