No worries Doc, we can wait until the storm has passed. And thanks for all the effort you've been putting into this, I can imagine it's been chewing a lot of time away from you. Take it easy, we'll still be here with our shed building tools and ready to lend a helping hand if you ever want to come back to it. All the best mate.

Don't worry, Doc! Wish you all best!

I prayed for you DOC. I hope whatever the problem is in your life will be gone forever for good. You are just a kind soul for everybody here. Not only because of generious also you are friend of us and kicking heart for forum culture.

There's no need to apologize Doc, real life comes first. You have given us so much throughout these years, there's no way we can ask more from you. I hope that everything goes well. Wish you all the best.

Without knowing you well enough, you seem like a legit good person. Those are uncommon in real life and even less on the internet.
In that case, it is my pleasure to meet you Doc0075 and I hope your situation improves soon. A beggar can't choose, however, in my case I could not accept a prize knowing that my clown only participated a fifth of the competition. Feel free to remove my name from the list or, as multiple participants already said, postpone the competition until your time availability improves. I wouldn't mind waiting for the talented and generous person you are. Merry holidays Doc0075 and thank you.

Real life always comes before everything else. Thanks for organising such creative GAs Doc!

Ah, real life. I've had that before too. I hope it's nothing serious.
Don't worry about the giveaway. You already gave us more than we deserve ;)

I'll just echo everyone else and thank you for your efforts and say I hope the hecticness doesn't mean any serious problem and hope everything will turn out all right. And please don't be in any way disappointed on account of us. But if the disappointment is entirely because you had this all planned out and wanted to write the short stories for all the rounds, I see no reason why it couldn't just be paused and picked back up at some later point. I hope I speak for others as well when I say we, and the prizes, can wait.

It was an extreme unseen anywhere else event, I thought I was funny but I saw funnier than me here : ) Go with the flow Doc! Replenish and return... How about supporting a clown known as Santa Clown? right. You are already there.

Doc, don't worry about us.

Make sure to take care of yourself first and your needs! :)

Thank you for the messages.

I am going to complete round 1, give out the prizes and then maybe I'll be able to get back to doing the other rounds at a later date.

(71) Teddy sways and prances, plays and dances and the children of the tent flock around him and his infectious smile.
He waltzes his way down to his car, Snookums.

(23) Bonzoo - Evil mastermind grins as he sneaks up on two Baathrazoor children holding balloon animals. He grins as he produces a sharp needle and pops the balloons, struggling to contain his laughter for the tears that are sure to follow.
His mirth turns to puzzlement as the kids giggle and hug him. It's then that he notices that the balloon animals release a spiritual essence when they burst that fills the children with vitality and joy.
Bonzoo sulks as he trudges towards Mr Whuffles, cheers of "Uncle Bonzoo" ringing in his ears.

Snookums paintwork magically takes on a striped/ spotted pattern as Teddy drives him. From above falls three always hungry, very bitey Munchkins. The jovial Teddy climbs onto the car roof to meet them.
He juggles them all the while dancing in order to avoid their snapping mouths. A couple of painful bites later, Teddy emits a colourful rainbow that soothes the Munchkins tempers and puts them to sleep.

Bonzoo drives like a maniac, numerous schemes being mulled over in his mind. He hears the whistle of a bomb falling from above, its fuse already lit.
He juggles it like a hot potato, waiting for the right moment to throw it and cause maximum carnage. Muttering "soon all will recognise my evilness" to himself, he lobs the bomb towards the crowd.
Much to his frustration, some idiot teddys rainbow bounces the bomb off course and it instead lands on a malfunctioning candy machine, blowing it up and scattering chocolate bars and other yummy treats all over the tent.
To his torment, thousands of young voices join in the chant of "Uncle Bonzoo!" in appreciation for his accidental act of kindness.

No worries Doc, all the writing you and others have already done is tremendously impressive, the clown school's first round is already a great achievement. Best wishes for managing this hectic period in your life!

My evaluation of Stranger and Abdullah Oblongata performance is:

Stranger: 4
Abdullah Oblongata: 3

Real life comes first. Don't worry about us clowns.