The spark of imagination meets the tinderbox of experience in the 22nd annual Palo Alto Weekly Short Story Contest. This year's first-place stories read like a cross-section of popular literary genres, including a swift fantasy, a bittersweet teen romance, an inspired period piece, a surrealistic personality sketch and a bristly relationship tipped over the edge. It's a lot of inspiration from this bayside 'burb best known for its technical minds. Maybe because time seems so scarce in the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto writers will take inspiration wherever and whenever they can get it. For some, the source is a favorite book or author; some credit former teachers and school writing programs; some even received that elusive nudge of motivation in their dreams. Judging by the sudden procession of cars into the Weekly's parking lot and the out-of-breath authors rushing to our doors at 5:29 p.m. on deadline day, some of that inspiration came at the very last minute. Our thanks go out to you, and to our event's co-sponsors: Bell's Books, Kepler's Books & Magazines, Linden Tree and Palo Alto Online. Happy reading.

First Place
Chistine Chua,
The End of the Party

Second Place
Noelle O'Reilly,
Agnes in Light

Third Place
Shelly King,
Stone Cabin

Children 9-11

First Place
Elisabeth Yan
Marguerite

Second Place
Sabrina Lui
Too Late for Joy

Third Place
Langsi Wu
Wilderness

Teen 12-14

Second Place
Jeremy Laufer
No Homework, No Hockey

Young Adult 15-17

First Place
Ellery Dake
The Party

Second Place
Molly Bolten
Unless Corn Colors the Candidate in Candor

Third Place
Sara Reihani
Verisimilitude