Author: Moderated by Gary Jordan
Title: The Silver Clitorides Awards, 2004, May
Part: 5 of 2004
Universe: The Silver Clitorides Awards
Summary: The Silver Clitorides Awards are a monthly adjunct to the
Golden Clitorides Awards.  Their object is to promote good stories
and good authors.
Keywords: Stories, Links, Awards
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The May 2004 Silver Clitorides Awards Presentation

"What are you doing?"

I must have jumped a foot out of my seat. I hadn't heard my Muse
come up behind me. Not that she was sneaking - the background noises
of La Taverna would have drowned out the average person's steps.

Muse waited patiently for my heart rate and breathing to slow, then
asked again. "The Fish Tank," I finally gasped.

Muse glanced at the old 100 gallon aquarium. Air bubbled up from
concealed tubes. A lone sucker-fish was and some plants were the
only current inhabitants. Just like the old days, the lid of a
treasure chest would occasionally open to release trapped air,
revealing the treasure inside.

She turned back to me. "What about it? Nobody uses the old Fish Tank
anymore. The new one upstairs in the Function Room is ten times
bigger, and has lots of fish in it. Des seems quite pleased with
it."

"Oh, I know! I chatted with Desdmona earlier today. It's doing
really well."

"Then why are you staring into the old Fish Tank?"

I considered how to answer, without coming off as a complete voyeur.
I mean, as an author, there tends to be a little of the
exhibitionist in me, I suppose, and as a reader, there's some
smattering of the voyeur as well. But nobody wants to be thought
just an old perv - well, not just an old perv, anyway.

So I hedged a little. "It's very pretty, and it draws the eye."

"What in particular draws your eye?" she asked.

Had she been reading my mind again? I leaned closer, and caught that
gleam in her eye that told me I was being teased. "You know darn
well what I'm looking at, and why," I thought at her.

She just laughed. "There's no paint on those stones," she told me.
"They are either colored stones, crystals, or glass. Paint would
harm fish."

I sighed. She was right, of course. Anyway, it was time to announce
the winner of last month's Silver Clitorides Award. As I got up to
go to the podium, I would swear I saw figures moving in the Fish
Tank, but when I looked back - nothing.

I tapped on the microphone. Everyone does, and everyone else cringes
or flinches as feedback squeals and sends shivers up and down
spines. I shrugged an apology, and launched into my announcement.

"If I could have your attention, please..." I waited as the noise
level dropped in La Taverna's main parlor. Welcome once again to the
monthly Silver Clitorides Award Presentation. Yes, it's that time of
the month again..."

"Too much bloody information," a heckler shouted. I ignored him.

"The winner of Silver Clitorides Award for the month of April, 2004
is It Was Sexual Right From The Start by Gentle But Firm. So, I'd
like to congratulate Gentle But Firm and all the authors and
finalists."
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Story                       Author              Status
________________________________________________________
A*F*T*S                     Russell Hoisington  Nominee
/files/Authors/Hoisington/AFTS.TXT

Death By Email              Hungry Guy          Finalist
                            and Romangirl
/~Kristen/@/death.htm

Extended Family Closet      Number 6            Nominee
/~number_6/extended.html

I Want to Watch You Do It   Mike Kimera         Finalist
http://www.cleansheets.com/fiction/kimera_05.12.04.shtml

It Was Sexual Right From The Start GentleButFirm WINNER
/~gentlebutfirm/It%20was%20sexual%20right%20from%20the%20start.htm

Rebel 057: Sister           Old Bill            Nominee
http://assm.asstr.org/Year2004/47984

Rechargeable Batteries      Strickland          Nominee
/~strickland83/Rechargeable%20Batteries.htm

Snap Shot                   M. Millswan         Finalist
http://storiesonline.net/
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