Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Speech Contest



SO HERE IS MY ENTRY INTO A TENSION BUILDING CONTEST hosted by:

http://callyjackson.com/

http://www.rachel-morgan.com/2011/05/power-of-tension-blogfest.html

THE SPEECH CONTEST by Tina Lindsay

Fifteen minutes prior to his second attempt at winning the world speech championship, Claude wasn't sure what he was going to talk about.

Two years ago he placed fourth in the competition. He limped around the stage covered in bandages, improvising life lessons about his near death experience. For this second contest, he had no such advantage. His polyester suit didn’t fit him that well and his scarred face shone with sweat. He was desperate and his desperation was not going to win his sick step-daughter,  Ryder, a liver.

He considered getting up on the stage and speaking (no, begging) about how Ryder needed the $10,000 prize. But he needed to buy a liver off the Mutant Black market. That wasn’t inspirational. That was illegal. Talking about it might alert the authorities.

Claude sat with the rest of the contestants in the front row. He turned around and picked out Ryder in the audience. It was easy to do. Her jaundiced skin had yellowed in the past few months and to make matters worse, she wore fuschia lip stick and blue eye shadow – the make-up colors that any eleven year old would pick out if given a choice. What was Misty thinking of when she gave Ryder access to her box of cosmetics? Then again, maybe Misty wanted Ryder to have a taste of adulthood - in case he didn't win.

He cleared his throat. Words would come. They always did. But this time he had to pick the ones that would blow the judges away.

The speaker on the stage finished and bowed a little at the foot-stomping applause. The announcer called Claude’s name.

16 comments:

  1. Oh TINA! You ended that perfectly. Here's an injured battered man trying to save his daughter's life and he doesn't even know what to say. I think you had a TON of tension there! Also, welcome to the blogosphere!

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  2. That was great, I really liked it! :)

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  3. The stakes were so high in this, the tension was great! Well done.

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  4. The title seemed so innocuous, and then you back a powerful punch with all this heartjerking story. Very well done.

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  5. Oh, nice! I'm all concerned, wondering if he'll win to save his step-daughter's life. Great tension. And his step-daughter is so
    heart-breakingly enduring with her blue eye shadow and fuchsia lip stick. Wonderful job! :D

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  6. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. I agree with Brenda, the detail about the make up was great. Good luck!

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  7. Please find the words! Great tension. I desperately hope he wins!

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  8. Wow, that was powerful. Terrific tension. Left a lingering question, what did he say?

    Great job!

    I'm dropping in from Rachel's fest. Nice to meet you!

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  9. I hope Claude wins; he deserves to! You did a fantastic job of conveying the nervous tension whilst he waits. Superb!

    Power Of Tension Blogfest

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  10. Sheesh, Claude must be feeling pretty tense as he gets up there!
    Thanks for entering :-)

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  11. Awww, wow. I hope he wins the contest! Goooo Claude!! :,-(

    Very well done!

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  12. Oh, I hope he can win the contest! I'd be all sweaty-palmed and too nervous to speak if I were him. Great entry!

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  13. A very creative story line, from this little tidbit. You already have all of us rooting for him and his daughter. Good job!

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  14. Oh, wow! I hope he comes up with something good. What a struggle he's facing for his 11 year old (sister? friend?) Intriguing entry, great ending!

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