Start your story with someone saying “I quit!”

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 55 stories

“The Wink of a Lifetime” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #166

"I quit!" The words lingered on the tip of my tongue. My hands shook with fury as I slammed the register's cash drawer shut. I had been extremely clear with Steve when I accepted this job last week about how late I could work. Between college classes in the mornings and my job at the bank in the afternoons, my plate was overloaded.Steve's scrawny figure stomped across the cold hard tile floor of the auto parts store as he bellowed demands. "Melanie, get out here and straighten this merchandise! Everyone will stay here tonight until this whol...

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“Dreaming of Morris” by Mike Panasitti

Submitted to Contest #166

I quit. I can’t take the dread and agony any longer. I am no Morris James. I am no Royal Reptile. I'm deathly afraid of landing in jail or a psychiatric ward again.For a second consecutive night, I cannot sleep. It’s four in the morning and I want to drive to the beach. Again. Tonight, though, I want to take the chance I didn’t last night, when I snuck out of the house I share with my mother, got into my car, filled my tank with gas, bought a packet of five bourbon-flavored cigars, and drove to a street close to...

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“Cock and Bull” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!” Morgan stared at his face in the angled mirrors of the bathroom. He had been practicing the line in his own thoughts for more than a week. It was the first time that he actually said it out loud, and he made sure to say it in their upstairs bathroom. “I…” “Darling?” Tracy was in the kitchen with her coffee and some of that green blended mush that Morgan would be forced to wash down with his toast and poached egg (no caffeine for you, dear; very bad for your health). He really thought she would not be able to hear him over the blend...

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“Arthas Brought a Droid to Dinner” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #166

TW: Murder, infidelity, guns, heavy makeup.The cuffed killer fidgeted in his seat. “I quit caffeine recently. I have fewer headaches now. Sleep better which is the most important thing,” said Mark Brigg. He bent his neck and strained to scratch his brownish-grey hair. “Can you quit talking as well?” Detective Arthas Jacques asked with an Arab-French accent common to the Martian capital. “My concentrati...

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“Freedom is a Double Edged Sword” by Kyle Bennett

Submitted to Contest #166

Content Warning: language, substance abuse, self-destructive behavior. ==== "I quit" Rodney's client was not only an asshole, but an idiot to boot. He blatantly lied on the stand. Rodney knew it, the judge knew it, opposing counsel knew it, and the jury knew it. Rodney could prove it, and it put him in a tight situation. Technically, he hadn't known his client would lie, but the bastard had made it clear that he thought it was his golden ticket to getting out of this mess. Law was the kind of intricate challenge Rodney loved, until...

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“A Monstrous Regiment of Dunces” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!” Peter (Pedro) O’Tule announced. He tossed down his company apron and his company hat, but was taking his sweet time leaving. The manager looked at him resignedly. “I actually fired you, but yes, you may say you quit. It is all the same to me, Pedro.” The manager went back to filling orders and doing whatever managers of fast-food restaurants do. “My decision cannot be brooked, my good man. The repercussions will be enormous. Enormous!” Pedro waved his arms in the air as he departed the Taco Bell at which he had resigned/been fired ...

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“Cupid's Arrows” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #166

The blank look in the pimp's eyes matched the broken video monitors on the walls of the dark bar. He was generally against the sale of love, it was more of his mom’s department. But it brought real love more often than it should. Dressed as an old man, he regretted his decision to stay in character and buy the cheap whisky. He wished for Ouzo and olives. Maybe it was time to give up, he was failing at his job. The pimp was doing better than him. He just couldn't keep up with Tinder or Bumble or even Match. He tilted ...

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“Brother and Sister” by Danny G

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!” he said.It was so sudden and so unexpected that she didn’t know what to say. She just stared at him, mouth open so wide the wind almost blew one of her blonde pigtails in.“What– what do you mean ‘you quit’,” she said, finally finding her voice. “You can’t quit. We’re a team. We’re Maggie and Jake. Peter and Jane. Luke and bloody Leia!”He snorted and shook his head. “Not anymore. You can take on the Death Star. I can’t take it anymore. It’s too much. All that singing. All the walking. The climbing. The falling. The broken bones. No....

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“Serendipitous” by Brenda Wilson

Submitted to Contest #166

“Fine.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Then I quit.” I set his coffee down on the Mahogany table and pretend my insides haven’t just turned to jello. The two caterpillar-sized eyebrows on Rob’s head knit into one. “You can’t quit, Keira. Because you’re fired!” I spin around and rush out of the corner office of my long-time boss, Robert Stoop. I only make it halfway to my thin, wooden, scratched desk that someone probably dug out of the trash before I have to grab hold of a desk to steady myself. It hardly helps. I think I’m goin...

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“Mimi's Clothing Dilemma” by Charlie Murphy

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!” Mimi said and ripped her pants off. Cool air rushed through her thighs. “Much better!” She patted her pink panties. She walked to the mirror and looked. She smiled, admiring herself. She wore a green blouse. She brushed her long, black hair, then put her yellow earrings in.I’m ready to go to Lori’s.Mimi left her room and walked to the front door. Here goes nothing. She opened the door and stepped out of her house. The only sound Mimi heard was birds chirping. She walked into the driveway. Excitement rushed through her body. Sh...

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“The Quitter’s Killer Smile” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit.” Rico watched Alma from across the table. “Did I say that aloud?” She swirled her wine glass and sipped with smiling eyes. “You’re so beautiful…” He let his eyes well up. She hung on his words. “Thank you, Rico. You’re sweet.” ‘It’s the same old thing. Nothing wrong with her. Always me…’ He leaned in. They touched glasses. “Happy we could meet tonight. Need to tell you something, though.” She looked concerned. “It’s nothing about you. I need to warn you, I’m damaged goods.” She scoffed. “You’re joking, right? You’re beautiful.” Ri...

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“A Mother Who Loves You Would Understand” by AnneMarie Miles

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!” the mother yelled, slamming her bedroom door shut and pressing her back against it. She sobbed a moment, covering her face. There was no one in the room to hide from, but maybe her reflection. The mirrors were facing the other way, but still – she couldn’t risk it. Mothers must keep this part of themselves hidden, even from themselves.Anger, frustration, irritation, guilt, shame… what was the name for all of these emotions wrapped into one? No birthing class or doula meeting prepared her for this. Giving birth was easy. Breastfeedi...

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“The tyranny of perfection” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #166

- “I quit. Yes, I stopped. At least I think I did. Or maybe not. At least that is how it felt.” after a short pause she adds, "At the time I mean." She smiles shyly and shuffles nervously in her chair. -"You say ´quit´ like it's an ugly word." I smile back at her. "I found out soon enough that I couldn't dance at all, so I gave up on ballet," she says, shrugging. -"Okay." I answer. -"And yet not quite." she says shaking her head. "I am a mess of arms and legs. You can call me a confused despair: yes, that would sum up my description." "That'...

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“Inspiration” by Lisa Massimilla

Submitted to Contest #166

“I quit!”Looking up from the book I was reading my eyebrows shot up in surprise as a spiral notebook went flying across the living room. I traced its flight path back to the den where Jason stood glaring in the open doorway.“What happened, babe? Writer’s block again?”“More like brain constipation because nothing is coming out, not even word shit,” he stormed into the living room and did a belly flop on the couch. “I’ve been sitting at that desk for 3 hours Chris, trying to squeeze something out but my brain refuses to form words. I can’t do ...

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“The runner and the drifter” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

Submitted to Contest #166

Contains mentions of alcohol and heavy language. “I quit!” She spat out, droplets of beer and spit flying in the air as she finally snapped at the boy. She could have honestly just kicked the kid out on his ass after even proposing the most stupid thing she had ever heard, but that would be too much and very uncalled for. If anything, it was just the itch to fight someone or something talking. She would have hoped by now that the voice inside her head would be dead. "Sorry kid, but I'm no longer in the business." She said off-handedly, th...

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Start your story with someone saying “I quit!”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 55 stories

“The Wink of a Lifetime” by Melony Beard

“Dreaming of Morris” by Mike Panasitti

“Cock and Bull” by Kendall Defoe

“Arthas Brought a Droid to Dinner” by Graham Kinross

“Freedom is a Double Edged Sword” by Kyle Bennett

“A Monstrous Regiment of Dunces” by Delbert Griffith

“Cupid's Arrows” by Marty B

“Brother and Sister” by Danny G

“Serendipitous” by Brenda Wilson

“Mimi's Clothing Dilemma” by Charlie Murphy

“The Quitter’s Killer Smile” by John K Adams

“A Mother Who Loves You Would Understand” by AnneMarie Miles

“The tyranny of perfection” by F.O. Morier

“Inspiration” by Lisa Massimilla

“The runner and the drifter” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who knows it’s time to retire or change jobs, but is hesitating.

Write about a rivalry between two coworkers that has unforeseen consequences.

Set your story at a retirement or leaving party.

Write about someone who has long since quit but decides to go another round for old time’s sake.

Contest #166

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

181

Contest entries

75

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: