Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 The July 2004 Silver Clitorides Awards

   The Presentation

   It's Tuesday afternoon in La Taverna.  Not as crowded as a weekend
evening, but all the regulars are here.  Having finished tallying the
votes, Gary is enjoying the "free lunch;" apple-cranberry baked pork chops
and nude potatoes (nothing on 'em but their skins.) Just a few minutes
until the trophy of Argent Tina is engraved and the Certificate Suitable
for Framing is inked.

   Outside, the wind is howling and rain is beating on the windows and
doors, at least on the side of the building that opens into the U.  S.  of
A.  (Not all of them do, you know - it's kind of a magical place that way.
Some doors open into England, or Australia, or South Africa, or New
Zealand, or somewhere else...  why do you think all these 'Mericuns get
their Joggraphy so screwed up?)

   Gary's Muse appears on the platform by the baby grand and waves.  She
has the statuette and the award certificate.  She waves.

   Gary waves back, and is about to make his way there, when he is
distracted by a change in the sound of the rain beating on the door. 
Almost as if someone was pounding for admittance...  He goes to the door
and opens it.

   There, as though rising from the depths of a storm-tossed sea, is a
vision of loveliness.  A nude vision of loveliness, with long windblown red
hair and sea-green eyes, sea-foam clinging everywhere but where John
Ashcroft would prefer it, standing in what might almost appear to be a
giant oyster.  She speaks...

   But the words are drowned out by the wind.  Gary leans close.  She cups
her hands against his ear.  Gary holds up a finger and turns to La
Taverna's patrons.

   "Anybody here order the clams?" No reply.  He turns back to the vision,
shaking his head.  She holds up a brown paper sack (miraculously warm and
dry) so that he can read the address.  Smiling, he points to the left and
yells, "two doors down!" She smiles her thanks and Gary closes the door
against the tempest.

   That distraction disposed of, Gary rushes to the stage, where Muse is
waiting patiently.

   "If I may have everyone's attention," he announces, "I'd like to go
ahead with the presentation of this month's awards.

   "The winner of Silver Clitorides Award for best story of the month of
July, 2004 is Tight by Alexis Siefert.  So, I'd like to congratulate Alexis
and all the authors and finalists."
/~Alexis_S/Alexis___4.htm

   Story Author Month Status Angel Arty July, 2004 Finalist Chicago Hotel
Adventure Lothario the Great July, 2004 Finalist Deep Sea Fishing Dryad
July, 2004 Finalist Dragonseekers Ice Phoenix July, 2004 Finalist Dress
Code JSZ July, 2004 nominee The Favor MWTB July, 2004 incomplete Need-Leash
Mike Kimera July, 2004 nominee Painting Over Number 6 July, 2004 Finalist
Six Times A Day Spacer X July, 2004 incomplete Spitfire and Messerschmitt
Gina Marie Wylie July, 2004 incomplete Tight Alexis Siefert July, 2004
Winner Triangle World Sydney Lauren Beier July, 2004 nominee

   For links to these stories, go to
/~Clitorides/SCA_Archive_D.htm#0407