The inaugural Story Slam competition brought together a group of area writers to tell their stories, promising the prize of total glory to whoever brought the highest score from the panel of five judges. Writers young and old took part in the inaugeral event.
Eight writers had five minutes to tell their tale. Going over the time limit meant a one point reduction. Going over a second limit of eight minutes caused a gong to ring and the story to be halted, though only the final writer ran up against this time limit. In the end, Dion Walker took home the “total glory” promised with his story, Eddie the Paratrooper, printed below.
This was Walker’s first time doing anything like a Story Slam, and he’s honored to have been picked by the panel to have had the best story of the evening.
While honored to get the top prize, Walker says that the best part of the evening was hearing everyone else’s stories and points of view.
“I know what I wrote, what about the other people, how do they see the world?”
The writers ranged from the very young to the elderly, and Walker views the number of kids reading their stories at the event as a positive sign.
“It was neat to see a lot of the young kids, the youth giving their hearts out.”
Walker admits that he hasn’t written much since his university days 20 years ago. The local teacher started to write a bit more over this summer, and the Story Slam might be the encouragement Walker needs to start writing again on a regular basis.
“Maybe I will start getting that creative bug biting, and get going again.”
Walker wants to participate again, and he will have a chance. The plan is to make the Story Slam an annual event.
Eddie the Paratrooper
Eyes flashing, filled with life. We were sixteen and grown half-men; too big to partake in the fullness of the festivities but we could still dress up.
For a change Mother Nature decided not to dump the white stuff on us before November, so this October 31st saw a plethora of pirates and princesses parading door to door. We were too big to pass off as kids, but there was a lot of fun to be had without begging for candy.
Since we were teenage mercenaries, Dave, Kris and I decided to costume ourselves in full combat regalia: boots, fatigues, face paint, the whole gamut. All that was left was a plan. What could three teenaged boys do on Halloween that would be more fun than getting free candy? Stealing candy was quickly vetoed by Dave’s mom, as was egging houses due to lack of ammunition, and another veto. We had to get creative. The operation began to unfold.
Dave’s house was one storey high, so from the roof to the ground outside the front door was perhaps nine feet. We could descend upon unsuspecting goblins and Power Rangers invoking terror and wreaking havoc on all who dare to pass. Mom suggested not jumping as she did not want to make three trips to emergency and posited constructing a dummy to do the jumping for us. We put our 48 years of combined experience together and came up with Eddie: a pair of snow pants safety-pinned to a jacket, all stuffed with newspapers and a cushion for a head. He would fall upon our prey. He would fight our battles. He would be our champion: Edie the Paratrooper.
We ambled up onto the roof, Eddie in tow, and laid in wait. This was gonna be great! A pack of girly costumes approached. Eddie’s inaugural jump was at hand.
Ding-dong, “Trick or treat!”
Instantly we leapt to our feet and yelled at the top of our lungs, “DEATH FROM ABOVE!” Eddie flew with ferocity towards the paralyzed onlookers, wild limbs spewing horror in every direction. After the kids stopped hyperventilating and blubbering, they retrieved their now scattered treats and went on their not so merry way. We laughed so hard we cried. We had to do this again!
Once more we towed Eddie to his perch, patting him on the back for a successful first strike. The second would prove more challenging.
A long wait ensued for a group to come along that was not under the supervision of someone who could beat us up or call the cops. Finally! Three young males. Our next target approached. We even let them get their candy before we sprung the ambush. They turned and pleasantly thanked Dave’s mom. Then, out of the blackness of the night…
“DEATH FROM ABOVE!” Again Eddie flailed through the air, invoking havoc and mayhem on the unsuspecting children. Then things went horribly awry.
One of the battle hardened little vagabonds had the presence of mind enough to grab Eddie and run. Kris and I watched in a horror of our own as we witnessed Eddie being taken prisoner. But not Dave. Oh no. Dave was a half man of action.
Leaping the nine feet to the ground, Dave erupted into hot pursuit. Seeing he was now in trouble, the Eddie-napper relinquished his prisoner and kept running. Now if you know anything about my friend Dave, you’ll know that for him there is no such thing as good enough. The chase continued.
The little trick-or-treater’s legs were a flurry of blurry action: step-step-step, step-step-step. Dave’s legs were considerably longer and every time he drew close enough he planted a steal toed combat boot into the misfortunate would-be Eddie-napper’s backside: STEP-STEP-BOOT, STEP-STEP-BOOT. The assailant turned victim’s stride altered: step-step-OUCH, step-step-OUCH. Dave punished that poor kid for over two blocks.
While this was all taking place, Kris and I gingerly hopped down from the roof and gathered up Eddie. Relief! He was unwounded. After the whole ordeal was done, Mom would not allow us back on the roof, but that was alright. Eddie had gone through enough. Two missions and a POW, Eddie the Paratrooper retired a decorated and proud warrior. He was an honour to serve with. His memory will live on forever.
-Dion Walker
