Glorious are weekly writing contests... but only if you can keep up. I had to call a hiatus for one week, then the next week I couldn't keep up with my own contest. So, this week, my best friend's contest was a little more managable: 

Condensing Thoughts   

In 200 words or less, you must ...   

~ explain the unique way a child was transported to another world (made up by you) to have an adventure;   

~ explain a fictional idea of how a custom or phrase came about, such as a story behind the name of something we use now;   

*So, I found this contest for sci-fi or fantasy short stories or novelettes (under 17,000 words) and winners get scholarship money. Not much, but every little bit helps. So I thought up a slightly vague idea for a story (fantasy, I've never written science fiction and I'm not about to enter a competition on a first try). I hope you all like it...here goes nothin'.*