Joys of Quiddler

• Zak and Lauren were in the area over the weekend for one of Zak's bicycle races. We got to see them for a good part of Monday afternoon and evening. We fell into a couple of rounds of Quiddler, naturally. Doesn't everybody.
  
  At the beginning of the second round, Zak piped up with this great idea, wherein the co-conspirators at the table agreed. (Kathryn was teaching a student.) Here's how it shakes out.
  
  Zak, Lauren, Austin, and Dad have to write a short story using each and every one of the words on this list, which were those arrived at in a single round of Quiddler played 22 September 2008. The stories must be completed not later than 6PM, Carrollton time, Monday, 29 September 2008. The stories will be submitted to the family to be judged for "literary merit." Hah! Your ballot will count as
• most excellent – 4 points
• merely excellent - 3 points
• damned good - 2 points
• hell; I could’ve written that - 1 point
  
  Points (4,3,2,1) will be awarded as well for shortest story (mercy, indeed) as well.
  
  The winner has bragging rights --- this time. Till the next game.
• bah
• ale
• this
• pile
• clew
• dud
• torn
• them
• to
• fid
• sox
• the phrase "pile of sock" (don't even ask)
• bier
• lax
• tin
• cuter
• on
• quark
• ghost
• weiner
• ire
• agave
• om
• clingy
• jug
• bold
• hind
• yid
• rib
• is
• queer
• fey
• pew
• then
• arse
• range
• zoea
• they
• doves
• clank
• quart
• mum
• uv (we allowed this one)
• gripe
• unity
• beard
• lathe
• gut
• nicotine
• oh
• if
• jingled
  
  The stories will be posted on the Patriarch’s blog: http://www.moondogdelight.blogspot.com/.
  
  Vote Early; Vote Often. (Only once counts.)
  
  If you want to write your own - you may, of course. All entries must be emailed to the (Senior) Alpha Male of the family in time to be posted. I will put them out simply as numbered pieces - nobody will know for certain-sure who wrote which till the balloting is over.
  
  Please get your ballot in by Monday, 6 October, for tallying.
  
  Pax, y'all.