PaulMcComas.com

	Published 02/2008 - The Permanent Press. Hardcover original, 6"" x 9", 224 pp., ISBN 978-1-57962-160-5

First Prize

The weirdest date I was ever on was October 10, 1986. My boyfriend and I were talking about our childhood and reminiscing about the carefree days of our youth when having fun included a coloring book and a new box of crayons. We were also discussing going on our first date. Wex decided to see if we could recreate that "carefree, youthful" feeling so after seeing a movie (Crocodile Dundee) we went to a nearby store and picked up the only coloring book they had (The Three Stooges) and a big box of Crayola crayons. We went back to his apartment, spread our loot on the floor, laid on our bellies and colored. The smell of the crayons brought back memories but it wasn't the same. I felt a little foolish, especially when I needed help getting back up! Well, the experiment ended a little differently than what we had expected but not too badly. I married the guy who bought me crayons on our first date and we've been staying young together ever since.

Lisa Enz of Toms River, NJ

Second Prize

This story takes place back in high school when I was young and stupid. No, I won't tell you how long ago it occurred, but I will tell you just how stupid I was. I was in love with a boy who we'll call Big Headed Jerk. Now, BHJ was a singer in a hard rock band that he and his friends put together. They weren't very good, but that didn't matter to me or BHJ. To get his attention I shaved my head and had someone (temporarily) tattoo the name of their band on my head. What I thought would get him to fall in love with me just elicited lots of laughter from him and his band mates. Needless to say we didn't go out but I did have fantastic accessories all year long. Hats!

Barbara Duncan of Charlotte, NC

Third Prize

This story takes place back in high school when I was young and stupid. No, I won't tell

When I was in college I was head over heels about a guy who I did not think knew I even existed. He worked at Sears and I worked at the Bake Shoppe inside Sears while we were both in school. He was in college and I was still in high school. I could not even eat in the same cafeteria as he made my heart flutter. I finally got the nerve to ask him out. We ended up going to a Holiday on Ice show and following that, he, in turn asked me to go to a fraternity party.

One weekend we were supposed to go out and he called me to say he was sick and needed to cancel. I ended up making him soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and drove them over to the fraternity house where he lived. There I found old high school friends of his had come to town and there was a big party in the works, without me. I guess you might say, I eventually won his heart as his friends thought I was terrific for not being angry and they all ate my food that I had brought over. I can't even remember if I stayed to enjoy their fun, but I was included in future parties and eventually did win his heart.

We have now been married for 30 years. Last year we celebrated by going on our first cruise!

Debbie Futrell of Louisville, KY