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

“OREGON ON THE BAY” by Sheila Payne

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, it was once part of the Great Black Swamp, and very hard for the settlers to pass through on their way to Michigan. The Indian tribes set up camps in a circle around the swamp, not daring to go in it. It was thick with black (muck) clay and some places four foot deep waters, and a breeding ground for mosquitos, carrying Malaria. Dense with a variety of tree species, it was also a desirable spot to settle in. In 1838, Pierre M Erving, nephew to Washington Erving, the famous author, named it from one of his un...

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“The City I Live In” by Angel Mae Saballa

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, where people from different cities wants to come and visit Cebu City. There's a lot of things going around and the most over crowded place is the Colon Street. People do their businesses inside or outside the malls. It may be legal or illegal,the only reason is to survive. The biggest market where tons of sack full of vegetables, fruits and other stuffs are carried behind the backs of cargo boys from dump trucks and cargo trucks to its designated place to sell. The stalls of fruits, vegetables, fish and pork...

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“AN EYE FOR AN EYE” by Julia Nderitu

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. You'll never find it deserted. It is always full of life no matter the time of the day. Even in the wee hours of the night or in the chilling winter cold, you will always find people moving up and about the hustle and bustle of the city. From the newspaper vendors standing at the junction of major roads ,to buses and cabs hooting in an attempt to call passengers, the tea and coffee sellers in kiosks along busy streets, women and men selling fruits and vegetables and hawkers holding carton boxes full of ...

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“Great Expectations” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #85

Great Expectations “That’s the thing about this city, said Elizabeth, reading from William Epworth’s tour guide, it’s quaint, it’s full of history. The whole of the surrounding countryside is spectacular. It is the smallest city in the United Kingdom and that alone should be enticement enough. It’s unique and the river Alun runs through. Thank you so much Bernard for picking this place for our anniversary.” “I only hope Elizabeth, that our friends will think along the same lines. We have been persuaded into spending...

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“Neighborhood Dreams ” by Nathaniel Martinez

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city", said Jose, as his face shined red and blue from the colored lights of the police cars, "every where you go, when you wake up, when you go to sleep, all you here is sirens and gunshots, it's terrible", he continued. I was eighteen years old at the time and with no father, nobody to look up to other than Jose, he would become a role model for me. I would enjoy hanging out with him all day, as he was different from the other boys in the neighborhood, he was very mature for his fragile age of nineteen. He felt...

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“Querencia” by Nikhil Sai

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it’s chaos everywhere and you just feel you are no exception. She said with a smile on her face. I nodded not in agreement but awkwardness. Our food arrived at the table— the hotness of the food gazed at me looking into my eyes like it always does. The hot fumes from the food formed the word useless on my face laughing at my helplessness. I shifted my gaze towards Priya to comfort myself. While she is busy tasting the food. Why aren’t you eating she questioned while scooping into her dessert. One of...

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“Life in a City” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city. Even though it’s relatively big, it’s very busy and it can sometimes be a very lonely place to live, which by the way can describe most cities, our city also has a lot of positives , built up through the decades by good and caring people, some of which I’m going to talk about now. When my mother came to this place as a ten year old girl, it seemed so vast and strange to her and very different from where she had come. She felt terrified, small and completely overwhelmed by the move to a big town. She and her...

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“Stay with me ” by Sakshi Bhardwaj

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city it is always crowded you can never be alone in this city my mother hates this but I’ve always loved this crowd I feel like I know this crowd it feels familiar the familiarity I lack at my home the city fills it people always complain about the noise about the pollution but I always felt that the people who complained about all this fails to see the beauty Mr city holds I guess I’m different I always see the beauty in everything and everyone and fails to notice the flaws that is why I’ve seen beauty in your ac...

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“Gang Leader’s Son” by K Ben

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city. No police or laws! We get to do whatever we want!” Looking around, Adam quietly backed away from the open window. He had heard enough and had decided that he was going to leave the city. Stepping backwards Adam lost his footing. His arm swung violently trying to grab something but in vain! He fell hard on his back. “Who’s there?” a voice shouted. Curtains opened, and light poured outside. Soon flashlights followed, with heavy footsteps. Panicking, Adam looked around the dark alley. He was trappe...

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“Traveling Back” by Cam Foster

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city - the transit sucks, the culture’s disappearing, and the authentic people are tougher to find. So, do me a favor and be transparent for a second, okay? Let’s pretend our conversation is an episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and instead of telling me “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure,” just tell me yes or no, to the following question: The over/under for LA and Dallas is 33, are you putting it down, or not?” “No, I’ll pass.” “Okay, good luck.” “Unbelievable, the guy calls wanting to make a bet, but...

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“The Burgh” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #85

“The Burgh” That’s the thing about Pittsburgh, it seems like the last place anyone would build a city. It’s three rivers flowing through steep hills and deep ravines and surrounded by even higher hills. Any sizable tracts of level ground are scattered among steep terrain and along the edges of the rivers. Whoever that first person was who stood there, looked around and thought it could ever be anything more than a small military outpost must have been a true visionary. I thought about that as I drove from the airport in a stripped down Niss...

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“Letting go ( A change for the better)” by Omimah Khan

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, there is warmth in its cold. The warmth we couldn’t feel in Victoria,” said Rosie in a calm voice.“Yup, who would’ve thought that such a cold place can be sowarm,” said William to his mom. “Mom, Dad called, said William in a low voice. He said he was sorry, he understands the pain that you’ve gone through. He said he feels verylonely and that he wants to keep a family get together this Friday in his newmini apartment” said William dryly.”Mini apartment?”, Asked Rosie in surprise.“Yup! Mini apartment, h...

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“Collapsed Into the Fog of Destitution” by Essy Dean

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. Everyone always tries to do the right thing, but every move they makes seems to make it worse. They try, I know they do, but I can see the way it's going to collapse. It's like a premonition. It's always there at the back of my mind and I know it's going to go. It's a creeping tickle that has always been there, some days it's easier to ignore than others. It's going to go bad. For all of us. Not just the street sleepers and the ones who scrap out a meager living doing whatever they can. Even the rich rich ...

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“PH CITY” by Ogechukwu Anyaso

Submitted to Contest #85

most of the words in the conversations are in the way we talk in Nigeria so it is not totally wrong, I was just trying to catch the same experience “That’s the thing about this city” Kanka complained as he bit of a piece of peppered meat from the skewered suya we bought on our way back from our outing. We did this every Saturday, we leave school campus and I would take us out anywhere because I was the rich friend with the money to do so. After the day we walk from a close distance back to school. “Yeah” I agreed, one of my hands in my ...

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“A Constant Companion” by Heather Ann Martinez

Submitted to Contest #85

A Constant Companion By Heather Ann Martinez That’s the thing about this city, it’s always sunny. The scientists don’t know why, but the sun never sets here. The temperature never changes more than a few degrees, and the people are the nicest you will ever meet. Crime is at an all time low. There aren’t any shady deals happening in some dark alley. There is no darkness here unless you create it with blinds and shutters. It is hard to tell the time by what you see outside. Most everyone works to keep our city both safe and beautiful. Unfo...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 283 stories

“OREGON ON THE BAY” by Sheila Payne

“The City I Live In” by Angel Mae Saballa

“AN EYE FOR AN EYE” by Julia Nderitu

“Great Expectations” by Josephine Andersen

“Neighborhood Dreams ” by Nathaniel Martinez

“Querencia” by Nikhil Sai

“Life in a City” by Valerie Preston

“Stay with me ” by Sakshi Bhardwaj

“Gang Leader’s Son” by K Ben

“Traveling Back” by Cam Foster

“The Burgh” by Tim Benson

“Letting go ( A change for the better)” by Omimah Khan

“Collapsed Into the Fog of Destitution” by Essy Dean

“PH CITY” by Ogechukwu Anyaso

“A Constant Companion” by Heather Ann Martinez

🌟 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: