I started writing the story using the leather vest with a phoenix embroidered on it that a friend of mine wears.  He's known by it at professional conferences. His daughter picked it out for him at the Topsfield fair, or some such event with random vendor booths.  I started the story as being something about the daughter being dead, but it did not sit right.  I'd be taking a living person and killing them off, and a kid to boot.

Further down the page I wrote the first line of the story that became Egg.  It was done in two bouts.  It needs more editing than it got (none, and no outside eyes, which I deem essential).  Direct references to HuSi might have had a blatant pandering element, and I"ve been rightfully slammed for it.  I almost named the guy after a real user, but that would have gone too far. 

Thanks to those of you who voted for it, able to see beyond the parts that went klunk.  I think the competition was stiff, and I still think She Said is better.

So by the rules of the game I get to host the next one.  I'll give it a week or so, but not so long that the deadline interferes with NaNoWriMo.

I've been writing fiction off and on for about 10 years.  I appreciate the crits and the compliments.  Maybe it's time to start shopping stories.

So, er, thanks.  I'll go be embarrassed over there for a while.