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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a short story about a jury of people tasked with making a decision. (It doesn't necessarily need to be a court jury.)

Posted in Adults on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 30 stories

“Branded ” by Libby Carter

“So what do we do with him?” Elise asks. It’s just our family now, what’s left of it anyway.   The five of us are sitting at the kitchen table in what used to be our Aunt Ebony’s house. By the five of us, I mean my siblings. Bridgett is the oldest, then it’s Elise, me, Arrow, and Firefly. Her real name is Aria, but that nickname has been stuck since she was a week or so old. “We either,” Bridgett pauses and gulps, “kill him . . .or lock him up in a jail cell. We have to vote on it.” “I don’t t...

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“A Lose/Lose Situation” by Tori Routsong

My husband slams the table, surprising the doctor and I both. “You’re lying to us!” To her credit, the oncologist doesn’t flinch as he leans towards her. “I know this must come as a big shock.” “We came here to help her depression and now you’re telling me she’s got a tumor in her head? Her head doesn’t even hurt!” I’m the her, and I suppose I should be advocating for myself, but I’m so shocked that I don’t particularly want to speak. There can’t be a tumor in my head. I came to the doctor because my therapist said I...

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“The Tree that Knows My Name” by Asher Littlefield

This tree knows my name. She has waited for me to reach her for almost a year. I have cut down her sisters and brothers, one by one, for months now. She is waiting for me. I and my axe are here. My boots are firmly planted in the snow, one forward and one back. I raise the axe and take a deep breath. This will take me some time. I have not eaten in almost two days. “Caroliiiiine!” The tree hears my name one last time. I lower my axe and turn back to the cabin far behind me. My sisters are calling me back. This tree has been...

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“Excerpts from memoires of prized lamb” by Ola Hotchpotch

The causes of even the smallest event are virtually infinite and connected with the whole in incomprehensible ways. if you wanted to trace back the cause of the event you would have to go back all the way to AN ORDER and this is not an order the human mind can easily comprehend, though it may glimpse it sometimes. It is higher ORDERS. When we don't interfere with nature and let things be, we see life everywhere. Then the voices of silence come and you glimpse that higher order. In an Itopian place nothing can go wrong. It is a perfect pla...

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“Running” by Pamela Saunders

A small group of people assembled at the side of a country road by a field on the outskirts of a village. A sign read RUNNING TRAINING MEET HERE. Most of the group were waiting for the road-train, but one lady with a shopper bicycle was waiting for the butcher, since she had misinterpreted the sign.The rest of the group were laughing at her. Silly Miss Terri! They all knew each other, since they all lived in the village of Little Running. They were waiting for the train to take them into the nearby town of Long Running. ...

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“The Wisdom of Queen Bee” by Deborah Mercer

“I don’t mean to be unkind,” said Edna Cummings (which usually meant she was going to be) “And I know it’s something you’re not supposed to mention these days, but – well, Jeanette is a NICE girl, but you could hardly call her regal, could you?”     “At least she has some brains and a bit of dignity,” Glenda Gove pointed out, “And she’s not likely to turn up at the parade with her hair dyed some colour the Lord never intended and her toenails painted purple. Not like your precious Patsy.” &...

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“The Verdict” by Philip Hines

           The room was dark as the six men sat at the table. The room smelled of old men and stale cigars, the single light hanging above the table swung gently after Marco had bumped it finding his seat. Marco scanned the table. From right to left he noted the other five men, making sure that they were ready to begin.            Ishmael had his hair combed back, it shone with unnatural glean even in the dimness of the roo...

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“Wasting Time ” by Mary Lombardi

The five of us stare studiously at the papers in front of us. No one daring to look up for fear of seeing how the others have taken the news. A clock ticks rhythmically in the background as we sit procrastinating before making any decisions.  The papers are a blur of organized text, but our primary focus lies ...

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“The Neighborhood Watch” by Allison Cellura

“I call this meeting to order,” Pam Greene announced to gain the other member’s attention. The members of the Neighborhood Watch scrambled to their seats and quieted down. They sat around a long folding table set up in the middle of Rick Miller's garage. Situated in front of each of the seven rusted folding chairs was a yellow legal pad with a pen placed carefully on top. Only the pad at t...

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“Committee of Jurors” by Sarah Harris

Zach Reid crossed the laminate floor in his cramped studio apartment. His black trousers were undone, waiting for a shirt to be tucked in. He carried two hangers with him to the tiny bathroom. He held up a blue button-down and checked the mirror. Unimpressed, he switched to a smoky gray one. Equally unimpressed, he held the two side by side. He contemplated which one was more professional, more mature. His baby-face often undermined his accomplishments, or at least that’s the way he perceived it. He had trouble beli...

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“A Prudent Resolution???” by James Freeze

       A Prudent Resolution??? Most would believe it to be virtually impossible to laugh while being choked to death. Unless, you’re Henry's father, who spent his entire career establishing the fact anything was possible with the proper mindset. Henry Fletcher, on trial for murder, had placed himself in the hands of the aristocracy of 1959 Hillsboro, South Carolina, which could neither understand nor accept him as they’re equal.Henry Fletcher had watched his father...

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“The Guilty Party of Two” by Megan Vigil

        “I believe he is guilty. Definitely, without a doubt. I mean, just look at his face!”               “No, dude. That’s the look of pure innocence. There’s no denying it! I don’t think he killed her. I think he’s being framed by Lucy over there,” Davis says as he points in the direction of Lucy.              “Well, whoever did it is going to ...

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“Boardroom” by Unknown User

Boardroom‘And that’s why you don’t wanna fuck with me. Because my vengeance knows no boundaries.’ I couldn’t tell if he was serious. On the job two weeks and he’s already showing his true colors. No way. This has got to be some type of hazing ritual. I thought I left all of this behind in college. What my brother said must be true, you never really escape this ...

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“Number 7” by Jamie Shaw

William Weasley was confused. How on earth had he become involved in this mess? He didn't know these people. William had been minding his own business, as usual, counting his cash drawer at the end of the work day. It had to balance perfectly, as was the custom for him. All of a sudden the bank manager announces all of the tellers were to report to the conference room immediately. "Really", he said to himself, "right now? My work day is over." As the others are passing him on the way to the meeting, William is pleased he's not the only on...

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“Jurors, Do The Math” by Tom Moser

“The judge writes everything down by hand,” Juror 1 observed, as she looked out the courthouse window of the jury room. She was a middle-aged woman with a matronly figure. “We don’t get to take notes. What’s with that?” Juror 4 responded as she sat at the table across the room. “I think we’re supposed to use our memory,” Juror 2 suggested, without looking up. He was a casually dressed young man, with a beard and a ‘Semper Fi’ tattoo on his right forearm. He wore black Harley Davidson boots every day of trial and jury selec...

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