End your story with a character receiving a deeply meaningful gift they weren’t expecting.

Posted in Adults on Nov 18, 2022

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✍️ 66 stories

“Joseph's Gift” by James Kelly

Submitted to Contest #173

Joseph’s Giftby James Ross Kellyabout 1,030 wordsI DON’T KNOW,” my father said from behind his newspaper. Then rustling the collage of columns of print down to his lap, he looked at me standing in the room. I was shocked. A wide-eyed, speechless child on Christmas morning in front of a decked-out conifer tree with no presents underneath. Even after over sixty years I remember how I had not said a thing. I stood there looking at the blinking lights on the tree, with tinsel and little peppermint candy canes--but without even one present under ...

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“Treasure Hunt” by Emily Nghiem

Submitted to Contest #173

"Carla!" Clay burst into my room, and jumped up and down my bed, until I finally woke up. He dangled a blindfold over my face, insisting that I put it on. I hadn't changed my clothes since I fell asleep in them, after working late the night before.My little brother grabbed my hand and pulled me out of bed. I stumbled down the hall, still half asleep.“What in the world?” I thought. A chorus of familiar voices sang out."Surprise!”Clay removed the blindfold. I opened my eyes, as my family sang "Happy Birthday." I should have known they would pu...

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“The Gift of Time” by KarLynn Erickson

Submitted to Contest #173

Olivia’s day was filled with calls, emails, and meetings. Her lunch was a granola bar pulled from her gym bag. A gym bag that hung on a hook behind her desk untouched all week. Her hand found her head and she rested her mind for the first time all day. The decision to stop at her favorite take out place on the way home was a no brainer. The Golden Wok became her go to her first week in town. They had amazing food and delivered which on a sleepy, snowy, Sunday was the best gift ever. Her dad l...

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“Hitori's Gift” by Penny Pepper

Submitted to Contest #173

Hitori’s birthday is next week, and she hasn’t told anyone about it or gotten all excited either. And I know why. I’m her best friend after all! I’m James. James Tang. Most people call me, Mustang. Get it. Mus-Tang, my last name. It’s kinda stupid, but funny. Anyway, I know why she’s upset. Last year, she got a very special birthday present. It was a necklace that her family had given her, and one day as they were walking in the pouring rain, the necklace got loose and fell. She didn’t notice until she got home though, but by then it was too...

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“Under the Indian Sun” by Laurel Hanson

Submitted to Contest #173

Lisa waited in the shade of the veranda, squinting down at the Untouchable village smothered in the hot gold of the Indian sun. The small huts of dung and mud formed a lonely outpost in the arid land, a scattering of impoverished cockeyed blocks. The metal signs and corrugated tin patchworked into the roofs threw splinters of light into her eyes. She turned away. The American missionary school her parents had sent her to was up in the mountains where the air was cool and moist, the forest thick and green, scented with eucalyptus.&...

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“You Will Never Know” by Bryanna Cooper

Submitted to Contest #173

There she was checking out the entire town as the chaos of black Friday approached. Her head was filled with the constant beeps that came from the endless scanning. Her cheeks had begun to ache as her fake smile grew tighter and tighter with every customer that filed into her line. If the store was to suddenly become quiet then you could hear her feet scream their protests of standing in the same spot for hours. Tasha finally tuned back into reality and stared at the man who was placing his garish items on her counter. His face was painted r...

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“Gift for Grandma Tham” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #173

Lihn and I could not wait for the big day as we both thought about what Grandma Tham would put under the tree for us on Christmas. “Dai, what do you think she will bring?” My younger sister Lihn asked. She was into dolls and stuff like that, but I wanted a Schwinn ten speed bicycle. This summer, I was going to join the baseball team and I needed a bicycle to get me to and from practice. I shrugged my shoulders as I was watching SpongeBob and could not be bothered. Our mother, Xuan, had come from Vietnam when G...

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“GIFTS FROM ABOVE” by R. J. Garron

Submitted to Contest #173

What looked like a human was seen flying through the skies of Tuscany. Local vintners battening down for the season witnessed the phenomenon up close as the suspect wantonly scoured through the vineyards before taking off into a steep trajectory. Baffled, they swore it was a prepubescent youth shouting with glee as he yawed through the snowclad fields. Young Niccolo Sabbatani ran down the narrow steps stripped with a rug that dampened the hardwood reverb. It was Christmas morning, and the sun was barely ...

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“A Locket” by Sarah Rich

Submitted to Contest #173

(This short story features characters from 'Missing' and is a partial continuation of the plot) CONTENT WARNING: References to mental health, physical abuse, and substance abuse. Ryker stared at me from the couch as I raveled my scarf around my neck. After everything settled down with the cops months ago, he’d condemned himself to our place full-time. I wasn’t sure if he’d done if for his safety, or if he’d done it out of fear. No one knew where the man who’d taken him had gone off to. Though his disappearance hit all the major news outlet...

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“The Bioluminescent Gift” by Cherie Woods

Submitted to Contest #173

“What are you working on?” “It’s a new potion idea I’ve come up with,” Janra said resting her hands on her hips as she frowned. She stared down at the cauldron, her nose wiggling a bit from the smoke rising up from the black pot. Did she miscalculate the ingredients? She was certain she’d checked beforehand to make sure she had everything. But it looked like she’d shorted herself as she glanced at the list. “Let’s see…a toad’s tongue, a crow’s brain, two lizard’s eye, three bioluminescent mushrooms, and a pinch of salt.” The frown deepen...

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“The Present” by Beverli Barnes

Submitted to Contest #173

The Present By Beverli Barnes A tadpole could swim circles in his dimples. His cuteness as a baby and young boy was rivalled by his astounding intelligence. There was something about my nephew Marcus, as a child that sparked intrigue and at times intimidation. My mother told me about the time she showed Marcus photographs of various types of mushrooms. He was maybe three or four. “Grandmother”, he asked. “What is this red one with the white polka dots?” “The Latin name is ‘amanita muscaria’. It is poisonous.” Mom explain...

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“Purple Rain” by Amy Curry

Submitted to Contest #173

To my dear loved ones: I am sorry for leaving you like this but would love nothing more than to tell you about my incredible journey. I am somewhere. Not near, neither far and nowhere you can drive, walk, or fly to; but I am here, nonetheless. It's beautiful and please fill your heart with joy for me, for I really do miss you. I'm writing from a place you've never been nor may visit. This is a permanent residence for I and others and someday you may see me here but in order to your human life will have to perish. Please do not be alarmed or...

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“Trio of Charity” by Jewel May

Submitted to Contest #173

“Ugh, again Bill? How many times are you gonna get arrested this year?” “Annie, come on, just this one last time. You can make it my Christmas present if you gotta.” “Oh, Bill, like I’d get you a present. But you’re right it’s almost Christmas so I will give you something. I’m going to let you learn the lesson of dealing with the consequences of your actions, don’t call me again.” I hung up and threw the phone on the bed, then flopped down myself. God, I hate Christmas, it’s full of greedy people, and selfish users using the spirit for the...

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“The Day My Brother Should Have Died” by Joey Ratajczak

Submitted to Contest #173

TW: Substance abuse, mental health, and language. Kyle and I were fraternal twins, and for a long time, we believed nothing could come between us. He might still think that, but I know better. We were inseparable in the early days. Whether it was learning cursive in elementary school or fighting Terrance Cormack in the high-school locker room, we did it together. Until college. My brother wanted to get an MFA and be a writer, but I was sick of school, and I didn’t want to leave Ma on her own. So, I moved a few houses down and wor...

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“Mustgo Soup” by Patricia Merewether

Submitted to Contest #173

I heard the front screen door whine open, then a BANG shut. "I'm never going back over there!" I heard my niece yell at nobody in particular. "Why did you make me go over there, Auntie?" Sally asked. Sally's parents were a thousand miles away at a conference, and we all agreed that Sally would stay at the farm with me for those two weeks. I hadn't seen Sally since she was five, and I'd forgotten about a fourteen year olds moods and angst. I turned from the sink full of freshly picked green beans to see my usually sweet young niece'...

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End your story with a character receiving a deeply meaningful gift they weren’t expecting.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“Joseph's Gift” by James Kelly

“Treasure Hunt” by Emily Nghiem

“The Gift of Time” by KarLynn Erickson

“Hitori's Gift” by Penny Pepper

“Under the Indian Sun” by Laurel Hanson

“You Will Never Know” by Bryanna Cooper

“Gift for Grandma Tham” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“GIFTS FROM ABOVE” by R. J. Garron

“A Locket” by Sarah Rich

“The Bioluminescent Gift” by Cherie Woods

“The Present” by Beverli Barnes

“Purple Rain” by Amy Curry

“Trio of Charity” by Jewel May

“The Day My Brother Should Have Died” by Joey Ratajczak

“Mustgo Soup” by Patricia Merewether

🌟 Similar prompts

Coming up with a gift idea was the easy part — getting your hands on it is another thing entirely.

Write about a character going to great lengths to return an unwanted gift.

Write a story starring a store cashier, during the busy pre-holiday season.

Write a story that includes the phrase “Thank you! It’s just what I wanted.”

Contest #173

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

168

Contest entries

79

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: