February 2026 (Issue #46)
The premise for Issue #46 was
THE RETURN OF…
We challenged contestants to write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which:
Someone or something important to the story returns after a meaningful absence.
We received 507 qualified contest entries. Of those entries, six stories won prizes and one was published as a “guest writer” entry.
Four, or maybe five–that’s up for debate–of this issue’s prize-winning stories are speculative fiction. All seven authors in this issue are new to OTP.
CONTENTS:
Harold Calder had been gone for twenty-two years.
FIRST PLACE: The Quiet Return of Mr. Calder, Zoe Dixon’s real-world story about a husband’s unexpected return. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
“What exactly,” Father Andrew asked, his voice careful, “would we pray for?”
SECOND PLACE: What We Asked For, Anya Lotun’s story about the end of a long drought. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
Those of us who make their living from the sea know there’s nothing pretty about heading out against the cold winds before dawn.
THIRD PLACE: Seaworthy, N. D. Hall’s speculative story about a crab fisherman who can’t get along with anybody–especially his daughter’s new boyfriend. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
I ignore the voice in my head insisting I’m mistaken…. I know it was him.
HONORABLE MENTION: That Old Familiar Feeling, Andrew Giffin’s speculative story about a man who is afraid the vampire he once served is coming back. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
Merry interrupted my description to suggest we actually touch the brick.
HONORABLE MENTION: Touch, Quincy Lee’s story about a professional assistant to a deaf and blind woman. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
How’d cops get anything done sitting around ‘enjoying the little wins’? On the street, we’d just do it.
HONORABLE MENTION: Blues ‘N Twos, Todd S. Jones’s speculative story. When street hustler Rubi is sentenced to the Peace Officer cadet program, she’s desperate to reclaim her old life until a string of robberies pushes her to the razor-thin edge between order and chaos. (New OTP author.)
______________________________________________________
They had not spoken since she clutched the handle of a rolling suitcase that was missing a wheel and staggered out of the storm drain—a somber silhouette—one year ago.
GUEST WRITER: Moving Metal, Matthew O’Brien’s real-world story about two people who, both separately and together, are trying to get their lives in order after some extremely difficult times. (New OTP author.)