299 WORDS CONTEST

MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD

June 22, 2008

Write a story exactly 299 words in length 

and 

 include the words "jump" and "otter"

Honorable Mention

Paul Henry, Carmel, CA

 

It was just before quitting time when I got the word my editor wanted a short article about otters. Now, I know practically nothing about otters other than having watched them cavort among the rocks along the coast.  I will need to learn much more than that.

I have no idea how I’m going to do this but my years as a newspaperman taught me one thing: When the editor says, “Write about otters”, I write about otters.

That night, still bothered, I fall into a restless sleep.

In my dream a man appears.

I ask, “Who are you?”

He says, “Do you know Ogden Nash?” 

“The poet?”

“Are there other Ogden Nashes?”

I point out, “But he’s been dead since 1971.”

He replied

“From what you’ve read

They say he’s dead

But rumors like that can kill ya.

He could have been in Brazilia.”

I told him, “All right, I believe you. Do you happen to know anything about otters?”

He paused a few seconds and said,

“A strange sort of chap is the otter.

He eats more clams than he oughta.

He lies on his back,

Gives the clam a good whack

And the shells go back in the water”

I was amazed. I said, “You really are Ogden Nash.”

“I’m not.  Don’t jump to that conclusion.  I just hang out with him over here.”

“Over where? Over where?”

“It’s time to get up. Wake up. You have things to do?”

It was my wife gently shaking me. I told her, “You won’t believe the dream I had.”

“I might. Try me.”

“In the dream I needed to write 299 words and include the words “jump” and “otter”.

“You weren’t dreaming. Yesterday you told me that was worrying you.”

“Well, it’s no longer a problem. Not now.”