Runner Up: Carrie Hulce
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Congratulations, Carrie!
Carrie’s Bio:
Carrie Hulce is from Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She is the mother of 3 boys, 2 dogs and 3 cats and that doesn't include all of the other little pets running around the house. She also works every day to help those in need at a homeless shelter.
After studying business for a couple of years, she decided that it wasn't enough, she switched her efforts into writing.
Carrie has been writing and submitting stories for over 12 years.
"Life is full of stories, you just need to listen to them."
Carrie has contributed to WOW!’s Inspiration column. You can see it here: www.wow-womenonwriting.com/7-inspiration.php
She also wrote WOW! a letter that you can see on our blog in January 2007!
CLICK HERE (Good job Carrie! We’re proud of you!)
The Sign
By Carrie Hulce
Tina put the stamp on the last payment for her car. “YES!” She danced around the living room. She grabbed a quarter, flipped it. It went high into the air. “Who shall it be? Heads Mary; tails Rose.”
The coin hit the floor spinning on its edge. The coin fell into a flat spin. But, she decided not to look at it, just yet.
She had hung up a map of the United States under a dartboard in the family room. She grabbed a dart. Tina inspected the point, making sure that it was sharp. She backed away from the map, closed her eyes, and then, let the dart fly. The point bounced off of something. She sank quickly to the floor.
A moment went by; she lifted her head and opened her eyes.
Looking around the room, the dart was stuck in the nose of a teddy bear. “I don't think there is a place called teddy bear.” She walked over to the bear, pulled out the dart.
Repositioning herself, Tina closed her eyes once again. Releasing the dart, she heard it stick into the map. She opened one eye, but, the map looked a little blurry. She opened the other eye, still blurry; she walked over to the map. “Montana? What on earth is in Montana?”
Tina walked back to the quarter lying on the floor of the living room. Tina picked up the phone and dialed a number. “You have won a fabulous week long vacation to... Montana. The beautiful state calls you! Be at the home of Tina by nine o'clock tomorrow to begin your adventure.” She hung up the phone laughing.
At nine o'clock the next morning, the doorbell rang; it was Tina's sister, Mary.
The women packed the car then climbed in. Tina turned engine of the car over, but it didn't start. Tina looked at Mary and gave a slight giggle.
She then tried again, letting out a sigh of relief as the car started.
The women drove through New Mexico heading north to the great state of Montana. They had decided that they wanted to go to Yellowstone National Park.
They stopped in Denver for a shopping spree. “It's on me, Sis,” said Tina smiling as she took out her credit card. “It's so nice not having a car payment any more.”
On the border of Colorado and Wyoming, the engine of Tina's car began to smoke. The car crept to a stop on the side of the road. Tina could only laugh with frustration.
Mary smiles at her big sister, from the trunk of the car; she pulled out a box top, grabbed a pen, and writes: “MONTANA OR BUST!”
A semi-truck pulled up, a woman climbed out. “Need some help?” Tina smiled with relief.
After hearing their story, their new friend Alice, decided to take them to Montana.
A week later, sitting at her desk, Tina wrote out the check for the first payment to her new car.***