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

“A Gift from Gramma” by DEBORAH CLARK

Submitted to Contest #173

My gramma’s hair is no longer blonde and thick with curls. Instead, it is soft, thin and so gray, it is almost colorless. Her skin has lost all elasticity and is fragile like tissue paper and that tears easily. The flesh around her face has sunken and makes her clouded eyes appear larger than normal. Her nails are natural, long, and filed perfectly, by my mom, her daughter-in-law. My gramma looks shrunken and small in the large hospital bed, her eyes are closed, her breath is raspy, and her mind goes wandering. ...

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“Funny, Isn't It ” by Jer Long

Submitted to Contest #173

FUNNY, ISN’T IT By Jer Long “Funny,” I replied when my friend Stash asked me how it was going with my new beau. “Funny? It’s been nine months.” Sipping his deluxe caramel-mocha-pecan latte, he stared out the window of Caribou Cafe. “You’re hedging the ultimate question.” “I don’t honestly know!” I tossed my napkin at him. “You’re pissing me off.” Catching the eye of a cute ginger-haired man on the sidewalk outside, Stash flashed his deadliest smile, and the poor schmuck smacked into a mink-swathed bison of a woman. She teetered ...

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“Felt Like You Really Needed One” by Jourdain Black

Submitted to Contest #173

My vision starts misty and groggy; my focus fine-tuning with every blink. I’m on the couch, I’m still wearing jeans, what time is it, how much time have I lost now–? …I’m covered in Isaac’s weighted blanket. That asshole. He’s always insistent that I get a “good night’s sleep” upon coming home and taking a warm bath, like such a thing even exists in my line of work. I get it though, I do. Appreciate it. Still. My phone is face up, charging, and plugged into the nearby power strip. I reach over to grab it, but the blanket roughly roll...

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“A Parting Gift” by Bryan Johnson

Submitted to Contest #173

Christmas Eve was never a dull day for Derek. He was managing and preparing Christmas dinner, handling family members who were doing their utmost best at making things complicated, all while simultaneously wrangling four kids, which made for a hectic but memorable holiday season. The hustle and bustle of his home were replaced with a deafening silence of his car interior as he drove down the dimly lit backroads of the outer city. Christmas Eve was never dull for Derek and his family. Even more, now that Penny turned up missing from the festi...

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“Grandpa's Christmas Wish” by Joseph Monachino

Submitted to Contest #173

Thanksgiving dinner had just wrapped up at the Taylor household. Tom and his grandson, Bob, get out of their seats. They head to the living room and sit beside each other. They are getting ready to watch the Detroit Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys on TV. Bob engages in conversation with his grandpa, Tom. “Another year is almost over. Can you believe it, grandpa. Christmas is only 4 weeks away.” “Yes, it is, Bob. I can hardly believe it.”, replies Grandpa Tom. “I have to ask you something, Grandpa”...

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“Under the Bridge” by R. Thurston Stephens

Submitted to Contest #173

The beggar-shaman who lived under the bridge told me, in no uncertain terms, that I would have to pay the spirits for my karma. I turned around to ask him how I might accomplish this, only to find that he had already wandered off. I knew it would do no good to chase him down. He tended to forget discussions as soon as they were over. Sitting cross-legged by the riverbank, I waited for the early morning sun to warm my skin while I contemplated his words. The rhythmic lapping of the cold northern water coming ou...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“A Gift from Gramma” by DEBORAH CLARK

“Funny, Isn't It ” by Jer Long

“Felt Like You Really Needed One” by Jourdain Black

“A Parting Gift” by Bryan Johnson

“Grandpa's Christmas Wish” by Joseph Monachino

“Under the Bridge” by R. Thurston Stephens

🌟 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: