On the Occasion of the Golden Hustler

The legend of the Golden Hustler is now lost to memory. Remaining tales imply some impish cross between prognosticating groundhog and tooth fairy?some conniving creature that may see, in you, an item or essence invisible to the rest of the world. With a mere golden flash, the Hustler would take what it saw, forever marking the target for a fate that could be either wondrous or terrible, the exact nature determinable only through a complex astrological divination, a technique long forgotten. In any case, those marked would be fortified in one way: a new one-hundred dollar bill always appeared, neatly folded, within the wallet.

Today we honor that legend with our own dispensation: a prize for the very best work of fiction in our latest issue. After over a year of reading, editing, and uploading The Ear Hustler, we have only one regret: that we can't pay our authors. Like the Hustlers of legend, we have been taking mysterious, valuable things. Unlike them, we have given nothing in return to those who now go toward uncertain fates. We hope that this award of $100, in keeping with ancient tradition, both puts to rest the spirits of Hustlers past, and allows the winner to throw a decent party.

The winner of the prize is C.J. Arellano, whose story, “Fantasia of an Eight-Year-Old Pianist,” begins this issue. Although there could only be one winner, every story here is worth your time, your attention, and your thought. We are continually grateful to the writers who entrust us with their work, and to you, the readers who entrust us with your time.

Thank you.

The Editors,

Graham and Katie