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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
All Tommy wanted was some peace and quiet. Was that too much to ask for? He grunted as he leaned back into his lazy-boy chair. Cicada’s bassinet was blissfully silent.

He grinned and took a long swing of his soda before turning his attention back to the game on the television. Cicada’s mother was gone—went to the store three months ago and hadn’t returned.

The brat wouldn’t stop screaming.

The doctors said it was colic. There nothing they could do for it. A flicker of an ironic smile flashed across Tommy’s face; the brat’s colic went away on its own—only with a little bit of help from him. That showed what the doctor’s knew.

He had been so frustrated and thought that one good shake would make Cicada stop crying.

It worked.

Now, nothing could make the smell go away. Air fresheners, candles, even baking soda couldn’t even mask it anymore. Tommy had tried everything he could find to make the stench of his hidden sin go away.

Tommy stood and slowly walked over to the bassinet. He hesitated before looking down into the cradle. Tommy wept at the sight of what he did.

He sank to the floor, cradling his phone much like Cicada deserved to be cradled before finally dialing the cops. It was time to come clean.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Patty Wysong
02/22/08
How heart breaking--even more so because I know this happens. The baby's name threw me off and made me think you were personifying the insect cicadas. This is powerful--I just wish it never happened.
Cori Mann
02/22/08
A very heartrending story. Sadly, this really does happen.
Good writing!
Seema Bagai 
02/22/08
Sad and a bit creepy. A well-written piece.
Debbie Wistrom
02/24/08
WOW, bold submission here and right on topic! Thanks for the walk on the dark side.
Glynis Becker
02/24/08
Very sad story. And yes, true colic only lasts for 12 weeks, but I had a baby with 'colic' for 10 months :) Good job with a sad topic.
Sally Hanan
02/25/08
Short, impactful, no more words needed.
Holly Westefeld
02/27/08
If you were trying to cause a most unpleasant feeling in the pit of the stomach, you succeeded.

Red ink: I have come to expect better editing in Masters. I presume you meant "a swig of his soda."
"There nothing they could do for it."