The February 2018 tcwg Short Story Competition. Where to find the stories and how to vote.

All tcwg site members (and any other interested parties) are invited to read and enjoy the stories entered in the February 2018 creative writing competition.
If, having read all the stories, you would like to register your vote for the winner and placings please follow the voting instructions set out below. This is not obligatory, but if you choose to join in, your participation will be very much appreciated.
JUST FOLLOW THE LINKS TO ALL THE STORIES (which are listed below), AND YOU WILL FIND EACH STORY IN TURN.

The deadline for entries into the February 2018 Creative Writing Competition passed at Midnight on the 2nd. of March 2018.

The topic for  February was set by the winner of the November 2017 competition, Chester B’ Goode who chose the topic “Education, School, and Teaching”.

Chester B. Goode was inspired by the following thoughts  by Alan Watts …

“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate and the governor is out of the country and there’s no chance for a pardon. Write like you’re clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your last breath, and you’ve got just one last thing to say, like you’re a bird flying over us and you can see everything, and please, for God’s sake, tell us something that will save us from ourselves. Take a deep breath and tell us your deepest, darkest secret, so we can wipe our brow and know that we’re not alone. Write like you have a message from the king. Or don’t. Who knows, maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have to.”

9 entries have been accepted and links to the stories are set out below.
Sincere thanks are due to all those who have posted entries, and it was pleasing to see entries from previously active members who, for one reason or another, have not been able to compete regularly of late. Also, a big thank-you in advance to all those group members and/or followers who I hope will now support the competition by reading the stories and registering their vote in the form of a comment below.

VOTING PROCEDURE.
As in previous months, when recording their vote it will help if voters will make sure to quote the name of the story when posting.
Voting can now commence and will continue until 11 p.m. on  Sunday the 11th. of March 2018.

There are no restrictions as to who is allowed to vote, all that is asked is that the voter reads all the stories and votes according to their preference. A brief reason for the choice is welcome but not mandatory.
Voters are requested to vote 5 points for first place, 3 points for second, and 1 point for third place. Votes should be registered in the reply box below.
Please do not submit any other point combinations such as 3/3/3, 4/4/1, 5/2/2, etc.
Writers are requested not to vote for any of their own entries, and voters are asked not to comment at length about the stories or record any thoughts that you may have on them, until after voting closes.

There will be no detailed summaries posted as to how the voting is progressing throughout the voting period but as soon as possible after voting closes a tabulated list of results will be posted separately and the winner declared. Voters who may wish to describe in detail the reasons for their choices, or comment at length about some or all of the individual stories, will be given the opportunity to comment on a separate page that will be set up at the end of the voting period and after the result has been posted.

Here are the links to all the stories. (If I have inadvertently missed any entries, or if anyone has difficulty with the links, please advise).

Lessons. Written by Christophertrier.

https://christophertrier.wordpress.com/2018/02/10/lessons/

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A Teacher’s Nightmare. Written by Gazoopi.

http://gazoopi.com/?p=209

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Jamie and the Tiger. Written by Araminta.

Jamie and the Tiger

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Out of the Mouths of Babes … Written by Atiller.

https://atiller16.wordpress.com/out-of-the-mouths-of-babes-and-sucklings/

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Broadening Horizons. Written by ExpatAngie.

http://angiefiction.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/broadening-horizons.html

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Mr. G. goes to School. Written by Chester B. Goode.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hWAKdsxDtLdSyvTeAygnszBdmLItUJbZqYRYeT2ULMU/edit

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Mrs. Winston. Written by AmericanMum.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18PTl-AXM_v9255N800wwlsptS7HSfvQGmuvS-pwP_LY/edit

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The Odd Couple. Written  by Bleda.

https://bleda22.wordpress.com/the-odd-couple/

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Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane. Written by Seadams.

https://seadamsblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/02/till-birnam-wood-remove-to-dunsinane/

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Pleasant reading everyone, and please remember to vote.