Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Posted in Adults on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 283 stories

“A TRIP TO THE MALL” by Tracy Lentine

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city… there’s no way out of it,” yelled the teen wearing a bright orange scarf in the middle of summer. Henry had been sitting with his family in the food court overlooking the rest of the mall when the boy first appeared. It was strange. Henry could hear every word the boy was saying but never saw his mouth move. The teen had a plastered-on grin that was in complete contrast to the timbre of his voice. “This isn’t right. I don’t belong here,” cried the boy. Henry called out, “Hey kid, what’s your name?” The...

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“The boy no one knew nor cared about ” by CJ Ribbera

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. everyone’s too consumed in their own lives to ever pay the slightest attention; cars ranting with angry drivers all prioritising their own issues over anyone else’s, teenagers consumed by what dress looks best with their shoes or what killing games next to be released; we’re selfish- all of us, even if we’re too stubborn to admit it. To them I’m just a another kid from another town.MISSING. The massive word flashed on the bottom of the many posters that littered the town- my soulless skull drawn express...

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“P.T.A” by Sun Set

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. Knowing that I would be only a walking distance away from the nine-metre tall Nelson Mandela statue should have persuaded me to come here but it never even once crossed my mind. As I walked along the city streets for the first time I could feel my heartbeat changing. It was as if there was music playing but only my heart could hear it and I was expected to just dance along. I guess that's the reason I chose to come here after all...the uncertainty. I knew of day and night as two different entities that influ...

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“Crimes and How to Stop Them” by Ayesha 🌙

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city: turning the corner is forever a mystery. You never know if you’ll find scavenging raccoons, off-the-clock clowns, or a dead body. Unfortunately, I’ve seen all three. The Manhattan School of Arts has never been my dream. Unfortunately, when your father runs the school, it’s kind of hard not to get in. My grades have always been good though, and the private school and personal tutor didn’t hurt. Neither did any of the hundred lectures given to me, “Preston, you need to start taking this seri...

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“The City of Angels” by Sharojo Halhalo

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, nobody knows why they're here and nobody wants to get out. Some of us were born here, undeniably chained to this lifestyle no matter what. Some of us were lured here by our very own ego. Either way, we choose to stay here, to rot here. On the outside, to the people who existed before the creation of this city, they think we are all doomed to shit. It's true. We're all slowly decaying away here, but at least we feel like a million bucks doing it. This is the city of angels under the demon's influence. You onl...

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“This City” by Lia Tegan He

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city –it’s charming, it’s exciting. The streets are filled with people, people from all sorts of cultures and backgrounds, with a multitude of opinions and desires. In Singapore, they find unique expression in being who they are. In the centre of the city, people get to be who they want to be, anything possible. I was once part of this scene, but four years ago I left Singapore to pursue a different life. Since I left, many things happened— some too much...

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“That's the thing about this city” by Kelly Alaniz

Submitted to Contest #85

Kelly Alaniz3/17/21#234City Living"THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THIS CITY. " That's the thing about this city; it is not a city rather, it's a town on the northern coast of California. The name of it is Eureka because, years ago gold was discovered in some of the creeks and rivers that are abundant here. Not so much anymore though, and Eureka has undergone many changes over the last century. Some good, some bad but, for the most part Eureka is a fairly nice place to live. There are a l...

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“WITH OPEN ARMS” by Dhevalence .

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… she’s a lady; she cries, and a tempest rages over the spiring buildings; she beams, as bright as neon in the dark of night; she breathes like a zephyr in the blended air. And here’s the thing… she’s my lady.I'd felt dragged through the mud, dumped in the gutter and left for dead, so I’d turned my back on her, but I couldn’t stay away. No matter how far away from her I was, she was prickly in my head, a raging fire in my heart.Trembling as I approached her, my dry, flaming skin absorbed the sweat welling up o...

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“Among the Gutters” by Anton Bulatao

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. When you look past the fame and glamour, it's no different from any other of its kind. The people up top live in luxury afforded to them by their bloodlines and maintained by connections and wealth. Those below are forced to scrape by and are looked down upon for it. Any attempts to escape or advance are stamped down. I doubt the guards looking for me even know why I am to be arrested. If experience has taught me anything, it's that the enforcers in places like this are either desperate for employment or j...

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“One Team, One City, One Dream” by Justine Klavon

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city…you can get robbed, stabbed, shot, or murdered any day of the week, but if you’re wearing green on gameday, you may as well be everyone’s brother or sister. Whether you’re from Philadelphia, outside of Philadelphia, or just visiting Philadelphia, an Eagles jersey is your all-access VIP pass to the City of Brotherly Love and will protect you better than a bulletproof vest. Even if the Eagles are having a bad season or just lost a huge game, you could wear an Eagles jersey anywhere in Philadelphia and find your...

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“Journey of no return” by Opemipo Openaike

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. What did you say? Are you talking to me? Yes Oga, I said that’s the thing about this city. I mean the heavy road traffic, even after 10pm, traffic in Lagos is still so tough. Philip wasn’t paying attention to the taxi driver that picked him up at the airport. His mind was in several places. He didn’t even have any clues as to which one he should focus on. He was concerned about getting to Dan’s house on time so he could call his wife and tell her he was already in his hotel room. He was also bothered about t...

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“Aunee” by Karma Schulze

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city; no matter how hard you try to go unnoticed, their eyes are always on you. I am always being watched, no matter where I go. The cameras are the most annoying part of my day to day life, sitting on the light posts and the corners of buildings. I know he is watching the screens in the security room at the castle. I know he had his Royal Technology Team hack into every camera layed out in Aunee just so he could watch my every move. It doesn’t matter how drastically I change my outward appearance, I always...

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“Forgotten” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, a place where people never sleep,” I muse, catching a local bus, escaping the chill of the night air, vanishing among people with their lifeless eyes and deaf ears. Hush tones, breaking the sheer silence, drawing the attention of a few watchful glances that flicker with interest. I lean my head against the cold window, and though it does not offer any comfort, it at least gives me rest as my eyes flutter shut. ‘The nightlife, with all of its enchantment, comes with a price.’ It comes withou...

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“Cleveland Nostalgia” by Holly Cook

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… everytime I come home, every so often, it’s the same old roads and stomping ground I remember growing up surrounded by. Since I was a baby, I lived in the same house on Bostwick Crossing. My siblings had one house before that they experienced as a home, but that place was never really a home for me; apparently they just threw the crib in my dad’s makeshift early 1990’s home office, disorganized and clearly on the precipice of a budding business venture. Anyhow, the streets in our neighborhood were new, as bu...

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“Jack” by Stephen Taylor

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city – one day it is the best place on earth, bustling, vibrant and full of colour – the next, it feels drab and dreary; drizzle falling and dark clouds filling the grey sky. I wander aimlessly through the streets, gazing into the shop fronts that I pass, longing to push open the door and walk in, to browse through the many wondrous things on show. How good would a new suit look on me? New shoes, shiny enough to see my face in them – Italian leather, definitely Italian leather. A taxi shoots ...

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Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 283 stories

“A TRIP TO THE MALL” by Tracy Lentine

“The boy no one knew nor cared about ” by CJ Ribbera

“P.T.A” by Sun Set

“Crimes and How to Stop Them” by Ayesha 🌙

“The City of Angels” by Sharojo Halhalo

“This City” by Lia Tegan He

“That's the thing about this city” by Kelly Alaniz

“WITH OPEN ARMS” by Dhevalence .

“Among the Gutters” by Anton Bulatao

“One Team, One City, One Dream” by Justine Klavon

“Journey of no return” by Opemipo Openaike

“Aunee” by Karma Schulze

“Forgotten” by Carol Keefer

“Cleveland Nostalgia” by Holly Cook

“Jack” by Stephen Taylor

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: