Storytelling in 140 characters is a weird business - pretty soon you're sweating every-single-one. In the event 21 storytellers entered our little competition, and more than 150 votes were cast. Every story received votes, but over time four pulled ahead and raced each other right to the wire.

Your Winner

Kudos and respect to @LeePorter, for his deliciously clever murder story. Not only did it receive more votes than anyone else, it left us in no doubt which character was the Rat! Congratulations Lee, a worthy winner.

"How? I dusted her keyboard with rat poison. It should've taken longer. But she was a nail bitter. Such a disgusting habit."
@LeePorter

Runners Up

And then, tied with each other, and just two votes behind Lee, we have @mikebreed & @dangennoe. Well done fellas, I wish I'd written both these stories... and I call that joint 2nd.

He was so proud of that lawn. Tended it. Preened. It spread like an emerald counterpane. Richly fed by all those sleeping silently beneath.
@mikebreed

“Small skinny decaf latté?” repeated the girl behind the counter. Samantha nodded. “Small skinny decaf latté? Do you even like coffee?”
@dangennoe

And an honourable mention for @WarwickFoster, who was snapping at the top three all the way. 

Remembering his wedding day, the birth of his boy. A look at blue-green Earth. Eyes tearing, throat burning. "Houston, we have a problem".

Your Storytellers

But what about everyone else. Here are your stories, properly credited but in no particular order.

Like stepping off a plane, the climate change was instant as he entered the party. Fidgeting, he adjusted his garter and took a deep breath.
@sparklypips

"What an extraordinary animal!" declared Jenkins. "Here it comes!" Wickham turned away, unconvinced. "If that's a werewolf, I'll eat..."
@baffled

With the last few dollars in his account, Hank called the 800 number and ordered two Madoff collector plates and a Slanket. He was done.
@scottrcrawford

The moment she realized power to create life as she desired, Gaia began to roll seductive hips, release creative flow, birth the world.
@SensualStories

I called him Paulsy from that day on. His name was Mike, but each shock made him twitch a little more and I was never spelling bee material.
@twelfthman

With a surprise buss she made a series of fortunate discoveries, leaving the room, searching for her ending, missing kisses along the way.
@somethinglemon

She slapped him, hard. But it wasn't what he said, it was the way he said it. He would never understand what made her tick.
@mstaires

At 30 his criticism was still tinged with humour, at 40 all that was left was bile and venom.
@matthew_goddard

Years of planning and dreaming were starting to wear on his soul. Yet how to overcome the security of a lifetime of inaction?
@duckbeaver

They'd given their hearts, their souls, their mortgage. This was their last chance. They sat in silence waiting for the blue line to appear.
@elinoroberts

They were on their honeymoon. He took her picture, stepped back and fell over the cliff. The journalist said" how do you feel?"
@Vivdora

It was ironic that on the day my father told me to stop 'living in a fantasy world' he was dressed as an elf in Santa's grotto.
@rob_enotions

Looking passionately at him, Angie gurgled "Goo goo baba". It was only then that Brad realized that his affliction was contagious.
@srisankaran

Tiny cafe, first date. Eyes locked, rapt attention. Beneath the table furtive fingers. Will she or not? Now he's alone. Her tweeple said no.
@coyotetoo

Ohh! That feels sooo good. I love you so much. Ohh Ohh hold on, hold on just a minute. This tweet is so funny. I just have to respond to it.
@StarlingJane

Quitting the Rodeo was damn hard. The agency needed my services and I figured I was doing it for God and country. This could end very badly.
@joedorn

"Tracking the scent retrieved many memories. There was a comfortable familiarity, but a newfound adrenaline rush too."
@daschick

Parting thoughts...

I cocked a few things up this week.

I had an idea Monday morning, floated it Monday afternoon, and jumped in with both feet (and no clue) Monday evening. I mislaid entries, missed messages... and even forgot to add one writer to the poll (sorry again Paul).

But then again, preparation can be overrated. Years ago I agreed to sail across the Atlantic in a 30 footer - blissfully ignorant of what that would entail... if I'd have known there might have been no adventure. Knowledge can paralyse, so I'm kinda glad I never really stopped to think how this would work. Might never have happened.

I hope you'll forgive me for making it up as I went along. I think we had fun. Maybe we'll do it again sometime.