BEST
SHORT STORY
::Naavah and Nyperold
walk out on stage, Naavah pulling him by the hand. Nyperold is obviously reluctant::
NAAVAH:
Come on!
NYPEROLD:
Why am I doing this?
NAAVAH:
Because the lectern is too tall for me and we forgot to get a stool.
NYPEROLD:
Well... okay. But only because it's you.
::Nyperold gets on his hands and
knees behind the lectern::
NAAVAH:
Good.
::Naavah takes off her shoes and
carefully steps up onto his back. Nyperold grunts a
bit under the strain::
NAAVAH:
Stories. Stories can take you many places and express ideas in a way that a
reader finds it easier to take in. Since nearly the dawn of language, sentient
beings have been telling stories.
::Nyperold looks worried::
NAAVAH:
The first storyteller--
NYPEROLD:
NAAAAVAAAAH!
NAAVAH:
...Yes?
NYPEROLD:
Skip to later in the speech, willya?
NAAVAH:
...Oh. Okay!
::Naavah looks over the first page,
takes it, and puts it in back. Then she does the same with the second page, and
a third and fourth. Then another three..::
NYPEROLD:
Naavah, what's keeping you?
NAAVAH:
I'm sorry, but I wrote it for an inanimate footstool. Or for
not needing a footstool. Ah, here's a good place.
NYPEROLD:
I'm glad.
NAAVAH: A
good long story can be a wonderful thing, but that's little consolation when
you have little time to read. And that's where short stories come in: giving
readers a good story without the massive investment of time.
NYPEROLD:
Speaking of time, I think mine's up! Get off or you'll fall off!
NAAVAH:
Oh!
::Naavah turns and hops off. Nyperold gets up and stretches. Naavah
puts on her shoes and stands off to the side of the lectern.
NAAVAH:
Sorry, Nyper. I'll give you a backrub later.
NYPEROLD:
Oh, thanks, that'll be nice.
::Nyperold takes the mike out of
the holder and holds it, switching between pointing it at himself and at Naavah as they speak::
NYPEROLD:
The nominees for Best Short Story are:
“Mr
Mole's Christmas” by KSharbaugh
"Cheese
Checkers" by
“Little
Bright Star – A Ranger Tale Of
"A
Swing and a Ms" by Dynamoe
“Gliding
Light” by Lilacstarprint
"Piece
#1", by The Nobody
"Flying
to the Light", by TinManNFO
"My
Dearest Little Gadget" by
“The
Trials of Cooking” by nutsforbrains
“Small
Change” by Indy & Chris Silva
“Requiem
for a Reprobate” by Mr. Spumoni
::The drum for the drum roll is heard, but the drummer only
strikes the drum 5 times::
NYPEROLD:
...Any more short jokes this presentation?
::The envelope is lowered on a string... but it stops just
out of reach::
NYPEROLD:
I guess that answers my question.
::He jumps for it, but the envelope is pulled up. He's
obviously being teased::
NAAVAH:
Hey Nyperold, let me try.
NYPEROLD:
Wellll, if you really want to.
::Nyperold stands aside, and Naavah stands where he was. The envelope lowers not only
within her reach, but at chest level. She grabs the envelope and removes the
string, which is pulled up and away. The drumroll
starts again in earnest::
NAAVAH:
And the winner of the Best Short Story award goes to...
[i]::She breaks the seal, opens the
envelope, and reads it.::[/i]
NAAVAH: Cheese
Checkers by
NYPEROLD:
Come on up!
::A gray wolf gets up from his seat
in the back of the theater and shakes the paw of the canine sitting next to him
as the wolf makes his way to the aisle. As Dog Years by Rush plays in the
background Erik Ice Berg ascends the stairs leading to the stage and walks in
back of the podium shaking Nyperold’s hand and then
turning to face the audience::
::The wolf’s eyes adjust to the
bright stage lights::
::Smattering of knowing laughter
from the audience::
There is one canine though in particular I must thank from the bottom of my
heart. TS! Thank you so much for not only being an amazing editor who makes my
stuff worth reading but also for being a great friend. Much of this award
should go to you for being there and giving me help on all of my stuff no
matter how bad or good it is you’re always there to take a look at it, and I
really appreciate that. Beyond that you’re a great friend which I appreciate
even more. Thanks again TS, and can we get a round of applause for our
California Canine?
::The crowd gives an inspired applause to TS before
settling down to let Ice continue.
::He takes a deep breath::
Monty (in the audience): Hang on, mates, he’s going for the
storyteller’s breath. And I oughta know…
However it is a difficult thing to always be so open and welcoming so I challenge us all to continue to try to be even better at welcoming those who we do not know, or have not seen for a while, into the arms of the fandom. Let us remember those at both the Acorn and at CnD as well as those outside those two forums. Let us try and be the most inclusive we can and join people together not just for the Rangers but for people, and in order to allow people a place to call home and a place to belong.
I also challenge everyone here to try and get to know the rest of the fandom better. If you don’t have an Acorn account grab one, if no CnD account grab one. Visit the RR Database or Indy’s page, or the Russian Ranger Head Quarters. Growing the fandom isn’t just about outward growth but growth on the inside as well. Get to know everyone here better, meet new people, forge new friendships and continue to do the great work you all have done in order to make such an amazing place we call home.
::He smiles out on the audience,
who reflects that smile back::
::As the audience applauds, Nutsy is still in shock in her seat. She was completely
shocked to hear her name called a second time. The microphone already is within
easy each by the time she ascends the stage again::
Nutsy: Wow!
Wubbzy (in the audience): Wow, wow, wow!
Nutsy: I know we are supposed to
keep our acceptance squeaks short, which shouldn't be too hard since I'm really
not sure what to say, except thank you all, again! There are some wonderful
writers, a lot of talent on this forum, and I am truly honored to receive this
recognition for my first attempt into the Rescue Ranger fanfiction
realm. Thank you!
NYPEROLD:
Great work, both of you!
[i]::The two start offstage as the
winning authors leave. As they're almost off::[/i]
NAAVAH:
There sure were a lot of short jokes in this presentation.
NYPEROLD:
Yeah, but at least that should be it.
::The lights briefly experience a short. The two stop::
NAAVAH:
"Should"?
::The two continue off into the wings::