Hi! It's me, Sri. :D
Okay. Because I'm in the mood, I'm hosting my first ever CONTEST! *cheers* (I've entered three in this July already, and I decided it was time I hosted one. xD)
Topic/Theme: Grace. Not gracefulness, Grace Cahill. Your story has to center around any one event in Grace's life that she supposedly experienced as she's experiencing it; examples would be Hope's or Amy's birth, or Grace's own marriage. I've put in a short oneshot below the contest details as an example, too.
Rating: The rating can be anywhere from K to T. No M fics.
Length: Just one-shots, but if you need another chapter to finish up the story, that's perfectly alright. No stories with three or more chapters, please.
Number of Words: Anywhere from 500 up.
Other:
1) The contest will be withdrawn if there are less than four entries.
2) Review this if you are going to enter, and PM me after you post your story, please. Also, mention that it's an entry in your summary.
3) If you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the reviews.
Prizes!:
First place: The typical oneshot by yours truly on whatever you want that's 39 Clues-related, and a review on every 39 Clues story you've written. :)
Second place: A drabble on your favorite 39 Clues couple, and a review on any five of your 39C stories.
Third place: A poem on anything 39 Clues-related you want, and a review on any four of your 39C stories.
Consolation prize: Reviews on any three of your stories.
Last date to submit contest entries: August 26, 2013.
Winners will be announced on:August 31, 2013.
Example Oneshot
Grace was, for once, at home in Boston, enjoying a peaceful summer afternoon with a glass of mango juice. She was sitting on the porch with her daughter, Hope, watching her grandchildren play in the grass just below them.
"How did you and Arthur do in Australia, Hope?" Grace enquired for the millionth time, eager to find out what exactly had happened.
Hope sighed. "Mother, I already told you- everything went according to plan. All Cahill business-" she lowered her voice here- "was taken care of. The world will not see the full serum assembled any time soon. The only thing Arthur regrets is not being able to see Shep, his cousin."
Grace smiled. "He must go see Shep soon, Hope. All this Cahill stuff will wear him down by inches."
Hope laughed. "But look at you, Mother! You've been doing 'Cahill stuff' all your life, and you're still strong and healthy, aren't you?"
Grace chuckled and changed the subject. "The dear children look so well, don't they?"
"Yes, Amy's already showing great responsibility, even though she's just six. Dan's still playful, but after all, it's his time to have fun."
"Let them enjoy their life while they can, Hope." Grace sighed. "You and I both know this world holds far too much for them to handle in the future."
~~~###***###~~~###***###~~~
Ian Kabra peered cautiously around the bush. He recognized Grace and Aunty Hope, having seen them at reunions before, as well as Amy and Dan. He bided his time, waiting for the right moment to strike.
He thought back to his conversation with his Mum back in London.
"Ian. This is the first mission I'm giving you- don't worry, there will be many more to go," Isabel had said sweetly.
Ian had grinned expectantly. "My first mission? What am I to do?"
"We are going to Boston, Ian, where that old bat Grace lives."
"Another reunion?" Ian's expression dropped a bit. Reunions were not fun, especially since Natalie had grown old enough to walk and was constantly tagging behind him, losing her expensive little purse and crying for it.
"No, not a reunion." Isabel smiled. "Your job is to find out where Aunty Hope and Uncle Arty came back from a week ago."
"Can I... just go ask them?"
Isabel's face darkened. "For shame, Ian. This is a job for a master spy. I would have sent one of my more experienced agents, but I thought you needed more training than you've gotten so far, and as they say, experience is the best teacher."
"Alright, Mum."
And so he'd flown to Boston with his Mum and Natalie. Now he was snooping around the mansion alone, trying to eavesdrop on their conversations.
This is no good, he realized. I have to get into the mansion to listen properly.
He remembered a window in the library, and ran around to the side to find it, carefully staying just inside the trees. He found the window and scrambled up onto the wide ledge, disconnected the alarm carefully with a twig, opened it, and climbed in. He found a big shelf to hide behind and crouched down.
Minutes passed, seeming like hours. Finally, he got up and decided boldly to step outside the library and sneak around a bit. No sooner had he crossed the doorstep, though, than he heard a voice around the corner, humming.
Instinctively, he turned to the other side, preparing to run. The person got closer... and closer... and turned the corner.
Ian caught a glimpse of jade-green eyes and red hair as he fled. Behind him, he heard a startled yelp. "Ian Kabra?!"
Not bothering to answer, he ran to the other end of the hallway, cursing himself. He turned the corner at top speed- and bumped into someone.
~~~###***###~~~###***###~~~
Grace looked down in surprise at the dark-headed British six-year-old. She caught him by the shoulders firmly before he could run away again, and faced him.
"Ian, dear? What are you doing here?"
Ian looked at her, gorgeous amber eyes wide and a tiny bit scared. "Um, we were in Boston, so I c-came to borrow a book from your library."
Grace was impressed. Just six, and already an expert liar. "Oh, Ian. Then why were you barreling around the corner in that manner?"
"B-because I saw Saladin..."
Just then, Amy ran up. "Ian?! What are you doing here, and why'd you run from me?!"
"Uh, I thought Saladin might be with you," Ian finished lamely. He knew the game was up.
Grace sighed. "Ian, follow me. Amy, I'll come to the library later to talk to you."
Amy nodded and went back to her precious books. Ian looked up at Grace. "Yes, ma'am?"
Grace led Ian to her study and bade him sit in a chair in front of the desk. "Alright, Ian. We can talk here, and whatever you tell me shall never reach other ears."
"Wh-what do you want to know?"
"I already know why you're here," Grace said. She knew Isabel had sent him, hungering for information.
"You do?!"
"I do. I believe you want to know where my daughter and her husband came back from a week ago."
Ian stared, open-mouthed, forgetting his guard for a moment. Then he sighed. "Please, tell me. My Mum..." He shuddered at the thought of going back to her empty-handed.
Grace's heart ached for the poor boy, but she couldn't risk giving away the right information to Isabel. "Ian, you could have just asked us. We would've told you. There's no reason to go snooping around the house for this. Hope and Arthur went to New Zealand."
It was close- too close- to Australia. Grace sighed again. "Alright, Ian. You may go back to your Mum now, and tell her they went to New Zealand. Remember, this meeting never happened."
Ian nodded fiercely. "This meeting never happened."
Grace escorted Ian to the back door of the mansion and watched him set off into the distance, back to the five-star hotel his Mum was staying at. She searched her heart, and realized she wasn't exactly sorry for giving Ian such a valuable clue, even if it might get her family in trouble. Her deed of kindness toward Ian lifted her spirits, and she watched the sun set over the woods peacefully.
Have fun Remembering Grace! :D Again, feel free to PM me with any questions, or just leave them in the reviews. :)
~Sri