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

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 43 stories

“Mr Fixer” by J D Robins

Submitted to Contest #166

‘One black coffee for you, sir,’ he says, placing the cup in front of me. I look up to see a man with a wave of silver hair swept back from a weathered face. I would guess he’s around seventy-five. ‘Thank you,’ I say with a nod. He starts to wipe down the plastic tablecloth on the table next to me, lifting the salt shaker and sauce bottles as he goes. This place reminds me of my childhood. My mother would bring me somewhere like this as a treat on the way back from visiting aunts and uncles on a Saturday afternoon. It’s a little oasis in ...

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“Documentation Principles” by Lee Eustace

Submitted to Contest #166

DOCUMENTATION PRINCIPLES All other days bar Tuesday. Those are the days in the office that Lars can attribute something good to. On Mondays, there’s the memory of the weekend just gone. Lars usually spends his Mondays, between his morning and lunch time breaks, reflecting on the time that he spent outdoors with his fiancée, Ola, over that same weekend; or the Formula One race he allowed play out in the background while he read or scrolled on his tablet while lying horizontally on the couch. On Wednesdays, Lars e...

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“The Aspiring Retiree's Club” by Russ Hussain

Submitted to Contest #166

ERIC: “Now if you're sitting comfortably... Whether to retire or not can be fraught with anxiety but I'm sure by the end of this you'll agree with me that retiring can be both fun and positive. How about we first explore the options for retirement...?” FACTORY MANAGER:” I never finished tenth grade. What's that mean ?”STOCKBROKER: “It means what you gonna do with yourself when you retire.” ERIC” Correct! And whilst I nod and blink with enthusiasm, can everyone be positive about the subject? Well, don't all ...

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“A Different Sort of Operation” by Levi Powell

Submitted to Contest #166

“You need to get out,” Vance said. I grimaced. I didn’t turn to look back at him, standing behind me, but I could feel his dark gaze on my back. I ignored it. Just kept loading the flats into the van. Heave, stack, shift into place. One after another. Get out. That’s all I’d been hearing for nearly a week now. All the way down the ladder. Starting with the Big Dog, passing the warning down as a type of professional courtesy, then spreading among the crews like wildfire in mere days. The Big Dog himself had been gone first. He knew his bu...

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“The Matriarch ” by K.B. Tally

Submitted to Contest #166

CW: Violence, topics of racism (i.e. the Jim Crow South), offensive language ---Up in the Appalachian Mountains, nestled in Goose Creek past the Edwards’ seventy-acre cattle farm, a run-down store everyone within a fifty-mile radius knew as Five Church closed indefinitely. The closing came after the death of Nellie Pine – one of the original founders of the store and a well-known matriarch in Auburn County - as family and friends requested privacy to mourn. The newspaper printed a five-page obituary for the born-and-bred Goose Creek resident...

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“A Hundred and Fifty-Four Acres” by Christine Richardson

Submitted to Contest #166

“How is your back doing?” Millie asked. The grimace on Harvey’s face said it all, but she wanted to hear him admit it.Harvey ignored her question. His pain levels were private business, and acknowledging them was a sign of weakness. A farmer had better things to do than feel sorry for himself.“Did you count the livestock?’ he asked.“All present and accounted for.” That was not the chore it used to be. Harvey had sold the horses, the mule, the yearlings, and all the cows but six, along with their calves. The...

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“The Relief Pitch” by Ali Myers

Submitted to Contest #166

Katie never got tired of looking around the stadium when it was packed with Iguanas fans, but she also appreciated the atmosphere after the game, when the only people left were her colleagues in the front office and some cleaning crew members. It reminded her of when all the lights came on after a Broadway show or a night of dancing at a wedding reception, everyone ready to go home after making new memories. And the people who worked at the venue could bask in a job well done before they had to focus on the next big event. Her job as the I...

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“Adrian's Girls” by Reagan Emmerling

Submitted to Contest #166

Amy was the earliest to show up for her shift, per usual, but unusually she saw a white piece of paper taped to the restaurant’s front door. Something about the paper put her off, and rightfully so, for when she snatched the page off the door, it read, ‘Restaurant permanently closed until further notice by the Internal Revenue Service.’ Then, on the bottom, a phone number, an address, and an official-looking government seal. “You have got to be kidding me,” Amy said with a scoff, turning the page over in her hands as if it would reveal a h...

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“Joe Pooped Himself, And Other Things” by Jarrel Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #166

Joe went number-two in his pants again. When I asked him to come to the board to solve 12 times 11 in front of the class he squinted. I told myself he was analyzing the problem, but after the audible grunt, and his excusing himself to go to the restroom, and that familiar stink in the air, I felt stupid for not seeing it coming. This was the third time in five weeks he purposefully crapped himself to avoid a situation in which he would likely look foolish front of the class. Yet in his limited wisdom he chose a worse outcome. “Mr. ...

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“An Excellent Friend” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #166

That sinking feeling of being called to a ‘three-line whip’ meeting. The guidelines to all staff, if not based in London, were to use the conference video service and dial in from the various offices based in the UK. It was clear that all must attend. She knew her team of work colleagues were perked up, finding this type of compulsory meeting exciting, as indeed was any interruption to their customary, standard routine. But for her, even the rumours swirling around the office regarding the upcoming meeting failed to brighten...

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“Good Things Come to Those Who Wait” by Deborah Mosley

Submitted to Contest #166

He had endured a lengthy career. In recent years he had also become aware that his end date in the workplace loomed ever nearer. The signs were everywhere. Interaction with his coworkers had become non-existent. There was a time when all he seemed to do was attend meetings. He had shaken his head and complained to his wife often, explaining that he worked long hours because he could not complete his work because of all the meetings he had to attend. Everyone wanted to hear his opinion. Now he was invisible....

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“I Was Strong Once” by Christopher Katalinas

Submitted to Contest #166

I was strong once. I still am, but in new ways, and not how I used to be. I can’t decide if I’m happier for it.“The legions know death well,” I say to the assembled demira. “They are its harbingers and its lovers, greeting it with an embrace when it comes. The ground shakes whenever they walk. The sun envies the sparkle on their helms. Every man and woman that make up its ranks fights with the strength of two people—four when surrounded. To fight side by side for the glory of our nation, to stand at the vanguard of the most gallant host our ...

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“In my day” by Thomas Jackson

Submitted to Contest #166

VLOOKUPS, XLOOKUPS, and ZLOOKUPS are bad enough. In my day, we used a piece of paper and a number two pencil. Now, all these kids talk about is Java, Python and SQL. The only sequel I care about is Terminator 2. Now that was a great flick. And don’t get me started on the water cooler talk. It’s all Tinder and Bumble. I can’t tell if they are starting a bee hiving club or Boggle’s cousin is making a comeback. I love that game. “Hey George, we’re starting a GoFundMe for Becky. It’s really sad.” Gabby says, snapping me out of my ‘get off my law...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 43 stories

“Mr Fixer” by J D Robins

“Documentation Principles” by Lee Eustace

“The Aspiring Retiree's Club” by Russ Hussain

“A Different Sort of Operation” by Levi Powell

“The Matriarch ” by K.B. Tally

“A Hundred and Fifty-Four Acres” by Christine Richardson

“The Relief Pitch” by Ali Myers

“Adrian's Girls” by Reagan Emmerling

“Joe Pooped Himself, And Other Things” by Jarrel Jefferson

“An Excellent Friend” by Stevie Burges

“Good Things Come to Those Who Wait” by Deborah Mosley

“I Was Strong Once” by Christopher Katalinas

“In my day” by Thomas Jackson

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone saying “I quit!”

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

74

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: