Welcome to the 2026 Kerth Quiz: Super Short Story 
SPIFFY DISCLAIMER THINGY!: All the stories featured in this quiz qualify for a New Author story, but this quiz is not a stamp of recommendation for nomination. There are more fantastic stories which qualify for this category, but this quiz only covers 6 randomly chosen ones.
(Instructions are blatantly copied/linked from previous Kerth Quizzes.)CATEGORY: Keep in mind that this quiz highlights a specific category to help remind us of which stories had kisses, revelations, new characters, etc. They help when voting since sometimes categories (like kiss and waffy and even dramatic) can start to feel like they overlap, but they do all have specific distinctions! And you’ll want to nomination and vote based on what best matches each category!
- This quiz is Super Short Story: One of our few predetermined nominee categories,
these are stories that are approximately 900 to 1,800 words (which is usually approximately 6-10kB).
RECOMMENDATIONS: Don't forget that recommendations for other favorite eligible stories are *very* welcome and encouraged! So don't forget to add these in a section after your guesses!
QUIZ RULES: One point each for getting the story and author from the quote. Plus, shiny gold stars for those who recognize their own stories. Please don't forget to mention which number you're answering. Rule recap: Open hard drive and open boards (+AO3!), *don't* forget to snip out the excerpts in your replies, and don't forget the spoiler tag when you post in the replies thread.
The DEADLINE for entries for this quiz is SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026, by 11:59 p.m (Eastern Time Zone), which is when the this quiz AND the Double Fudge Crunch round answers will be posted, ending the quiz portion of Kerth prep!
Here’s the full list of
Eligible Stories.
Here are the full quiz instructions:
Countdown to Kerth Quizzes Extended Instructions and Disclaimers.
Please post your answers
HERE.
Good luck!
Evie
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EXCERPT #1:While he sounded ‘okay’, he didn’t quite look it. To be honest, he looked to be falling into some sort of bizarre routine of automatically putting on a brave face.
“So, you're okay?” she gently inquired again.
“I'm better,” he answered after some hesitation.
Lois nodded slowly, happy he at least wasn’t saying ‘I’m fine’. She kept her gaze on him, silently asking him to elaborate. He didn't.
“It must be very . . . jarring at times,” Lois said after a long moment. “I mean, coming back to work right after a rescue. Isn't it?”
“Actually, to be honest, it's more of the reverse,” Clark said, exhaling slowly.
Lois stilled, processing his words before hesitantly asking, “You mean, going to a rescue?”
Clark nodded. “It doesn’t happen as intensely now, mainly because I don’t let it – I can’t let it – but the first time . . . I had just finished writing up a puff piece for Perry when I heard a weather advisory. I got there in the middle of it.” Clark paused and looked through the window before continuing. “I stopped its progression, but it had already cut halfway through a neighborhood. An EF-5 tornado. I’ve smothered tornados before, but this one. . . . When I began searching for survivors . . . it was so surreal. So – like you said – jarring. While I had been fretting over how to close out a paragraph, these people had been scrambling for cover and lost their homes in a blink of an eye. I found one family under a mattress and beside their water heater.”
Lois pursed her lips. She remembered that tornado. There had only been one EF-5 that involved him dispersing it as it entered a town. She could still recall the images. If he hadn’t stopped it, it would have driven right through the heart of the town and decimated its most populated areas. Thankfully, he had prevented that tragedy, and he had gotten to those less fortunate in time to get them help. It had been a miracle. No fatalities, though several homes had been completely wiped from their foundations and the roads had lost pavement.
“It really–” She struggled for the words. “It really brings perspective.”
“It does.” He sighed before looking back at her, and it was clear to her that he was grudgingly acknowledging something to himself. “But you're right. Rescues don't always turn out well, and in those cases, when I return . . . I tend to . . . distract myself.” He frowned, his words uncertain as he continued. “I know that's not exactly healthy, but—” He shrugged helplessly.
“Well, if I may be so blunt, dwelling on those sorts of things isn't healthy either,” Lois dared.
“No, I suppose not,” he agreed softly, and he looked relieved that she understood.
She took hold of his hand and gave him a smile. “But remember, you don't always need to pretend everything is alright anymore. It’s okay if things aren’t okay. If you need a break or just, I don’t know, a reminder of what we've discussed here, let me know.”
EXCERPT #2:“Nope! Nuh-uh. Perry, you can’t be serious?!”
“Now, Lois, take it easy. I’m sure Clark’s a total professional, and he can handle it. Right, Clark?”
“As his wife, I’m vetoing this idea. It’s just not okay!”
“Need I remind you, Lois, of the time you went undercover and ended up in a skin-tight chicken costume with bright yellow feathers?”
“Butt out, Jimmy, no one was asking you!”
“Lois, I think we should let Clark speak for himself on this one.”
The whole room turns to me. Lois has that look—the one that says if I don’t agree with her, she’s never going to speak to me again. Jimmy’s just…grinning. And Perry, well, he looks like he’s confident I’m going to agree.
I don’t think I’ve ever liked an idea less than this one. But we’ve been chasing this story for weeks now, and this is the first real lead we’ve had.
“I, uh…”
Lois’s eyes narrow. If she had heat vision, I’d be a pile of ashes right now.
“Don’t say it, Clark.”
I grimace and back up a step. And she shakes her head, because she knows what I’m thinking.
“Ah, I—”
“Clark!”
“Lois, it’s the only lead we’ve got. It’ll be fine, I promise. Trust me?”
She’s so mad, she can’t even respond. She throws her hands up in the air and storms out, and I flinch as the door slams shut behind her.
Then I let out a long breath and look up at Perry. “When do I start?”
EXCERPT #3:“Lois, if I ever lost you, I’d be losing myself,” Clark says, unable to shake the dreams he’d had about her being kidnapped by Tempus.
“I’m right here.” she says, trying to reassure him that they’re just dreams and that she’s standing in front of him.
“I know…” He says, but still feels so unsure. She’s right in front of him, but his mind is still focused on the image of her getting pulled into a void by Tempus and not being able to save her.
Lois’ eyes soften and she reaches out to caress the side of Clark’s face.
“Make love to me, Clark,” she whispers and his heart skips a beat.
The earnest tone of her whispered words touches him deeply. She knows exactly what he needs in order for him to feel that she’s right there with him and isn’t going anywhere- the deep connection they have when making love. There’s no feeling in the world like it and he’d never thought it was possible to feel so connected to someone until they’d made love for the first time- and every time since.
Their lips meet in a soft kiss that soon deepens. Something he loves about their kisses is that when the passion increases, their kisses don’t become more frenzied or intense; they become deeper and more sensual. It’s intoxicating.
Her hands run through his hair and he separates from her lips to plant a soft kiss on her jaw, and then tilts her head with his strong but gentle hands to brush his lips up the column of her neck and back down again. She’s wearing that cucumber scented oil that he likes so much and the scent makes him light headed.
“Mm, you smell nice,” he murmurs, placing his parted lips just under her jaw and brushing his tongue over her skin. She gasps and tilts her head a little further, giving him better access to her neck. He continues to explore her neck with his mouth until he rests his lips right behind her ear and she leans her head forward into his shoulder with a sigh.
EXCERPT #4:Suddenly, there was a scream outside. All three parents rushed outdoors, Imani lugging Pete in her hefty arms. Lana sat alone on the tire swing, blinking wildly at something on the roof. The trio of moms followed her gaze. Noel’s heart dropped to the ground.
Clark walked along the roofline, inching toward a white kitten trapped on the top of the chimney. “Oh, my God,” Noel clapped a hand over her mouth. One wrong step, and they’ll have a six-year-old to bury. “Clark, don’t move!” How had he gotten up there? That was over three stories high.
“I can’t watch,” Lana covered her eyes. “I don’t want Clark to die.” Her voice wobbled. “Tell me when it is over.”
“Clark Josep Kent,” Martha thundered. “What do you think you’re doing?” Martha Kent’s hands flew to her hips. Noel frowned. She thought Martha would have been more worried than angry. “We discussed this.”
“I’m sorry, Ma,” Clark said, poking his little head over the chimney. “But she was so scared.” he cradled the fluffy white kitten, who nuzzled him. “I couldn’t let her suffer. I’ll come down now.” He bent his knees as if to jump.
“NO!” Martha screamed.
“What?” Clark froze. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Stay where you are, honey,” Martha instructed. “We’ll get a ladder.”
“Why?” Clark asked. “I can come down the same way I got up. Easy-peasie. I practiced at home.”
Practiced? Noel wasn’t one to judge. But allowing your six-year-old to scale a barn did not seem safe or appropriate for any parent. He could have been seriously hurt. She would never let any child of hers climb buildings.
“Just to be safe, let’s use the ladder,” Martha said. “You don’t want want to scare the kittie.”
Clark looked down at the kitten in his arms. “Oh, yeah, she’s afraid of heights. Probably best to take it slow, huh, girl?” he kissed the kitten’s head. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Together, Noel and Martha hauled the ladder out of the garage and braced it on the edge of the house. Clark secured the kitten inside his coat and climbed down the ladder. Noel didn’t relax till he was back on solid ground.
“Lord have mercy, Clark!” Noel hugged the little boy. “You’re gonna send us all to an early grave.”
Clark frowned, contemplatively. “Did I hurt you?”
“You scared the bejesus out of us!” Imani explained. “You could have been killed.”
Understanding slowly dawned in his bright blue eyes. “I’m sorry I scared ya’ll,” Clark said. He snuggled the kitten. “I had to help Fuzzball.”
“Oh, she has a name now?” Martha crossed her arms.
“She needs a home.” Clark met his mother’s eyes, dopey and wide-eyed. “Please?”
EXCERPT #5:Carlos had forgotten to check the lake before jumping in. His father always warned him to stay away from any water that had a log floating in it, and now a massive “log” was already streaking towards him. He scrambled for the shore but barely managed to scream before powerful jaws pulled him under.
“CARLOS!!!” His father's distant voice was further muffled by the water.
In a blind panic, Carlos struck at the gator's nose, hitting it repeatedly even as they descended to the bottom of the lake. Much to his surprise, the reptile let go. Carlos pushed against the lake floor and shot upwards, gasping for air as soon as he had broken through the surface.
Immediately, strong arms were around him, pulling him over to the shallows and then onto land. “Carlos, Mijo!” Rivulets of water trickled from his father's clothes as the two of them staggered back toward the house, and the man let out a rapid litany of words that Carlos didn't recognize despite knowing both English and Spanish.
Up ahead, his mother slid the back door open with nearly enough force to shatter it and ran down to them. While she frantically patted him over, Carlos slowly became aware that he still had all his limbs and wasn't bleeding. In fact, the gator's sharp teeth hadn't even left a mark on his skin.
Carlos ran a hand over his uninjured leg and looked up at his parents, frowning. Strange things had been happening to him all summer, and they had insisted that nothing was amiss. So, he had sharper hearing than most boys his age. So, he managed to not get scrapes or bruises when playing sports. So, the summer heat occasionally ignited things when he happened to be nearby. This, however, was not something he could just ignore. “Mama? Papa?”
They exchanged a look, some silent communication passing between them, and his mother nodded before turning back to him. “Come inside, Carlos. Your father and I... it's time we told you something.”
They filed into the sun-room, Carlos and his father both dripping all over the tiles, and she slid the glass door shut behind them. His father wrung out his shirt and stepped out of his soggy shoes while his mother ducked into the master bedroom. “Mijo, your mother and I love you with all of our hearts, but...you didn't come to us the natural way.”
“What do you mean?” His eyebrows rose. “Are you saying I'm adopted?”
“Yes.” His father placed a hand on his shoulder. “But, there is more to your story than that.”
Just then, his mother returned with what seemed to be a page from an old newspaper. “This was from the night we found you.” She handed it to him, smiling.
Carlos studied the headline of the paper:
Florida Man Blames UFO Sighting for Reckless Driving Charge.
EXCERPT #6:“Lois, I-”
“Clark, please.” I wipe away a stray tear, before releasing his cape, so I can put my hand on his shoulder, instead. “Don’t do this to me. Not when I-” No, now is not the time or the place to tell him I was going to marry him.
“When you…” He prompts, and all my fears come crashing back into me. I can’t marry him. Not if he’s going to leave me like this. Not when he could so easily break my heart.
“Forget it.” I pull my hand away, swiping harshly at another tear that somehow managed to escape. “Go. Fly away. Like you always do. I’m sure there’s people that need saving somewhere.” Turning away, he moves to the window, and my heart drops. The last of my willpower gone, I give in to the sobs that have been threatening to escape, burying my face in my hands, and wishing I could change everything.
“No.”
“No?” I look up through the tears to see Clark still standing in the window, leaning on the side for support, just as he turns back around to face me.
“No.” He repeats, jumping down into the room, and crossing to the bed. “I’d rather stay here. With you… if that’s alright.” I’m… stunned. Completely, and totally speechless… which is not an easy feat. He really did it. He’s staying. He chose to stay. He chose me.
“Oh. Clark!” Throwing my arms around him, I smile though tears, now for a different reason. “You’re really not going to leave?” His arms come around me in support, the way he’s done hundreds of times before.
“No.” There it is again. I never thought I’d be so happy to hear the word no.
“You’re right.” Of course I’m right. “We’re stronger together. But Lois, you have got to stop-” And just like that the moment’s ruined.
“Stop what, Clark?” I can feel myself starting to get defensive, pulling away from him. Ok, he stayed, but he still feels the need to lecture me? “Stop doing my job? Going after stories? You know I can’t do that.”
“Yes, I know, but-”
“Clark.” I take a deep breath, and place a hand on his shoulder, in an attempt to calm both of us down. “You have to stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t help it, Lois.” His eyes begin to shift about the room, eventually landing on the floor. “I worry, because I care.”
“And I love it that you care.” Really, I do. It is sweet how he worries, but lately, it’s been getting on my nerves. “But you cannot hover around me like a guard dog, or a babysitter! I’ll be ok. Really.” I’m overwhelmed with deja vu, but I can’t quite place… oh, that’s right. “You know, it’s just like when Trevino was threatening me. I had never seen you so scared. And you know what that did? It scared me. But you were there then, and you’re here now. I trust you. I always have. You just have to trust yourself.”
“Lois, there are limits to what I can do.” He states the obvious as if it’s a world-changing discovery.
“I know that. I’ve always known that.”
“You were hurt today, because of me.” Oh, here we go again.
“Clark, what happened today was not your fault. It was mine. I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. If you hadn’t been there, it could have been much, much worse. For everyone involved. You cannot honestly think that I’d be safer without you.”
Silence.
Good luck, everyone!
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Have a question? Ask it here! Or you can PM any of the K-Com members or reach out on Discord too! You can also send an email to us here: Kcom@kerthawards.com
In order t
o help you find all things Kerth for this year, we’ve created a TOC for all the
🏆TOC for Kerth Awards 2026 Posts🏆.
The Kerth Committee
(KSaraSara, Michael, lovetvfan, and Evie)
