Trifextra: Week Thirty-Three

Many of the entries this week really made us think and consider what actually constitutes radical behavior or thought.  To inspire that kind of dialogue and introspection, we feel, is the heart of the radical spark.

In first place this week, we have Glass of Fancy, with a radical twist on a familiar fairytale.

It was a tiny thought. Simple in its execution, radical in its scope. Grand ideas were not for people like her. Some might say that she’d lost the right to those ideas when her father had died. She thought it had been earlier, the day her mother had died and her father had hastened into marriage with the elegant widow and her two merciless daughters. She was only a person for small ideas now. This one, though? It was hers, and once it had her in its grip, it was strangely reluctant to let her go. 

It was a good position, so she was continually told. She must be grateful. She must be. With no proper upbringing, she was unused to those finer feelings that my lady prized so highly. It must be gratitude that formed the hot knot in her chest when my lady sent her to muck in the pigs’ stalls so that the prince in the parlor could dine with her stepsister uninterrupted. Gratitude that left her devoid of speech while her stepsisters tore her mother’s old gowns to rags to stop their courses. She was lucky that there was this place for her. 

She stood in front of the cold fireplace, fire neatly laid and waiting, ashes from the cleaning still on her hands. Then she looked at the room around her, the rich silks and tapestries, the ornately carved chairs, not a single thing of her parents’ left but their daughter.
Standing there, she lit the match and let it burn.

Taking second, Linda Vernon impressed us again with her humor, her staccato-like word play and her fantastical style reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut.  Rounding out the Trifecta is newcomer, Barbara Gildea, with her piece that any parent of daughters is bound to cheer.

Congrats to our winners and thanks to all who participated.  Speaking of participation, have you stopped by our critique tab this week to leave some constructive feedback for your fellow Trifectan?  You only have until Sunday night to do so, so please take some time and lend your voice to the group.  Remember you can still submit your own piece for critique, but our calendar is filling up fast.

The Rule of Three is a writing principle that asserts that, in writing, groups of three have the most impact. This week's challenge is to write 33 words using the Rule of Three somewhere among them.  It is up to you to interpret the rule, just make sure to use exactly 33 words.

This weekend's challenge is community-judged.

• For the 12 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.  
• In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link.  To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
• You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
• Voting is open to everyone. Encourage your friends to vote for you, if you wish, but please don't tell them to vote on a number.  The numbering of the posts changes regularly, as authors have the ability to delete their own links at any time.
• You have 12 hours to vote.  It's not much time, so be diligent! We'll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.

Good luck and we'll see you back Monday.