The world still needs human authors to generate wild ideas.

May 31, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. EDT

Illustration by Michelle Kondrich/The Washington Post; iStock

Here are three facts about me: I stand 6 feet 2 inches tall. My laughter is distinctive and can be described as piercing. I also do not apologize to inanimate objects.

These traits make me relate deeply to Auntie Marsha, the protagonist in “The Serpent in the Grove.” This story is among the five regional winners of the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.