by Victoria Bromley
From five incredible short stories, only one could win The BBC National Short Story Award 2022 and Sam’s coming of age, explorative, sun soaked story was a clear winner.
Chair of judges Elizabeth Day introduced the shortlisted stories, in a collection published by Comma Press, by announcing she felt “underqualified” to judge this award, not having won a prize for a short story herself. Along with four other judges, poet Will Harris, Costa award winning novelist Ingrid Persaud, book editor Di Speirs, and all round writer Gerard Woodward, they had a tough job to crown one winner out of many astounding, spellbinding, and thought provoking short stories. Amongst writers Jenn Ashworth, Kerry Andrews, Anna Bailey and Vanessa Onwuemezi, Saba Sams took the title which was broadcasted Tuesday 4th October.
When I read through the nominations I enjoyed the unique experience of reading each story as they were all so different. There was such a breadth of themes, from apocalypse-esque adventures through America mirroring the desolate nature of lockdown, to (Ishiguro inspired?) cloning individuals for peace and quiet in which their doppelgängers inevitably fought back. But it wasn’t until I finished the final story, Blue 4eva, that I felt I had been truly transformed out of my bedroom to another place entirely. But it wasn’t because this story was science fiction or centred around a mystical murder that made it so transformative, it was the pure, honest vulnerability of twelve year old Stella as she longed after friendship and acceptance which made me feel something very special.
Blue 4eva is about a family who go on holiday to the Balearic islands to start their new life together after Jasmine’s dad married Stella’s mum. Blue, Jasmine’s friend, is also invited. Stella is mesmerised by the fierce unapologetic nature of her. She is daring and frank and wants Stella around even though her step sister disagrees. With Jasmine’s reluctance for the merging of their families, Stella is met with a wall of resistance from Jasmine and finds herself the subject of Jasmine’s petty pranks. So Stella finds an older sister in Blue, admiring her brass nature and the way the world seems to ebb and flow around her.
Stella thinks that if she had a camera, she’d take a photograph of Blue right there, on the edge of the pool like that.”
Blue 4eva by Saba Sams
Blue’s character is almost ethereal, so much so that I once doubted whether she was real and just a figment of Stella’s imagination. A symbol, perhaps, for Stella’s desire for a sister to look up to. But as everyone interacts with Blue, this seemed very unlikely and perhaps I was just looking into it a bit too metaphorically. I also think it was how Blue first appears in the pool, popping up out of nowhere and resting her chin on the edge to peer up at Stella. Her presence is effortless. It’s as if everything yields to her touch and the water sweeps undisturbed around her.
On the thin slip of sand at the shore of the lagoon, Blue carves the words Stella & Blue 4eva with a stick.”
Blue 4eva by Seba Sams
While Stella seeks Blue’s friendship, there were moments which seemed to zoom in on Blue’s body from Stella’s perceptive, making me question whether Stella felt more than a sisterly type of love towards her older friend. Her body is described through the tight, revealing clothes Blue wears which Stella seems to cling to and analyse in silent awe: “The door opens, and there’s Blue, dressed in a pair of fluorescent orange bikini bottoms and a white crop top, her dark nipples just visible underneath.” As Stella is only twelve, I questioned whether her thoughts towards Blue purposefully had a sexual energy, and perhaps was just the exploration of Stella’s curiosity towards a growing woman’s body. But when I read Sam’s reflection on the story, she said that Blue 4eva “engages with sexuality too, particularly with queerness, in a subtle way that I found interesting to write.”
Stella wonders if Blue was born exceptional, or if it’s the kind of thing that happens gradually.”
Blue 4eva by Saba Sams
With a stunning backdrop of aqua seas and golden sand, as well as the story depicting women’s relationships, Blue 4eva has the Swim Press seal of approval.
I recommend you get yourself a copy of the short story collection, published by Comma Press here, so you can see which story was your winner.
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