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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story about the relationship between a parent and a child that spans several years.

Posted in Adults on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 122 stories

“Serenity Prayer” by Heather Laaman

Submitted to Contest #43

If Joshua Ives knew the word serene, he would use it to describe his childhood, but Joshua and his brother Noah didn’t know any fancy words like that. When their father, Branson announced that he would not be sending any of his sons to that Sissy School, he took on their education himself. They would have sporadic lessons in between Branson’s trips to the woods for his business.Branson used to have a job, but he gave it up because he was a real man, and wasn’t going to become a wage slave to the American government. So now he conducted his b...

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“Happy Holidays” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #43

December 25th, 2004 Sandra did her best to force a smile as she pulled out a glittery doll from the box. Wow, another princess toy. Exactly what she didn’t ask for. She petted the doll’s hair and hugged it close, giving her cheesiest grin. At least her dad seemed happy. He always bought her these girly toys. She knew he was trying his best, but she didn’t want dolls like the other girls. She begged and begged for a Power Ranger every time they passed one in Walmart. How did he not know? She wanted to cry, she thought about all the boys who w...

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“In My Daughter's Eyes” by AJ Preclaro

Submitted to Contest #43

The rain drums aggressively against the bedroom windows; which have been covered by the blackout curtains. The house is engulfed in the daunting embrace of midnight, with the exception of the candle in the bathroom Max Adler forgot to blow out before turning in for the night. The hardwood floor creaks beneath his feet and his knees crack as he prepares to stand. With a gentle hand on the door knob, he enters the bathroom and retrieves the candle from her side of the counter. Her makeup is still scattered and a framed picture, capturing the h...

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“Whispers of a Madman” by Sage Gregory

Submitted to Contest #43

I was raised by a madman, and I am no better for it. He taught me to speak in Whispers, his own spoken so softly I had to watch the careful movement of his lips. “You don’t speak in Whispers to be heard,” he’d say, as his eyes traced the dust mites that lived in fractured shafts of lamplight. “Whispers open your ears.” No wonder I grew up a quiet child. Nothing came as easily to me as the Whispers. Not the characters that I was taught which came to me slowly, each new combination laboured over, my tongue twisting and rolling o...

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“The Boy From The Bedroom” by Emily Bock

Submitted to Contest #43

Chapter OneIt’s my thirteenth birthday today. Mum said I’d get a cake, but she never keeps her promises - like the time she swore I’d get to leave this room. I think Mum is sick. I was grounded six years ago for using the telephone. Our little Labrador Maxy was yelping from upstairs. I wish I could cuddle him. It’s lonely in these prison walls. There’s a hollowness in my stomach for some reason. I eat plenty of honey soaked sandwiches everyday, but it’s like an empty wishing well. My tears stopped bucketing from my eyes years ago. I cou...

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“Curiosity:A battlefield” by Diymba J Nyuykongi

Submitted to Contest #43

Curiosity; A battlefield                                                                                       &...

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“No Matter What” by Erika Naylor

Submitted to Contest #43

It was a Tuesday in July. We were camping, just like we did every year before. My Dad is a very happy camper – he packs the tents, camping chairs, portable grill, fishing poles, blow up mattresses – the whole shebang. Even as a 5-year-old little girl, I had recognized my Dad’s two loves in life: my mother (a naturally beautiful, graceful lady) and nature (sometimes graceful, sometimes just full of bears). Dad’s face would always light up when we went camping, probably because he could really embrace the father-role: taking his kids fishing, ...

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“When the Bough Breaks” by Celia Fraticelli

Submitted to Contest #43

Matthew is a strong, developmentally disabled boy whom I adopted when he was nine months old. He was a happy soul who loved to be hugged and had the biggest smile I had ever seen. He struggled through life on many levels but pushed through each obstacle as effortlessly as a dolphin cutting through a wave. He saw life's challenges as games to be won and boy did he fight to win! My "Mattman" had to work harder than most children but he was accomplishing most of the goals set before him. Matthew was a soccer player for the Special Olympics...

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“UNDYING LOVE” by Lea Vida DEL MORO

Submitted to Contest #43

“Parents act so strong for us, that we often forget just how fragile they are”                                                                              &...

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“My Dad” by Christopher Lane

Submitted to Contest #43

A boy is born to a traffic cop.Hard raising is the story that won’t stop.Christian mom, policeman father.It’s not about them, so don’t even bother.This story is about my very own dad.He is the best I could have had.Dad’s start may not be so great.Don’t dare think he failed, just wait.Dad met mom on a blind date.They were told get married soon or fate.Would have to be there for them.As dad left for overseas soon again.In just three weeks, to be gone a while.Long ways gone, four thousand miles.They decide to take the leap.Making the promise in...

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“White writing” by Joaquín Bächler

Submitted to Contest #43

   He was a quite energetic boy, going everywhere, going elsewhere, being in in the kitchen asking for some bread, being on the garden looking for some mysterious clues that would bring him close to solve that unsolvable quest. Deep eyes, soft hair. Or maybe jumping from the top of the chairs to see if he could catch the moment and begin flying forever. Then chaos, everything is chaos, why you don’t see, everything it’s so chaotic mom, what is these, what is this thing with four legs, what are these things coming out...

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“Mom?” by C.M. Storm

Submitted to Contest #43

“Mom?” I was pushed out of my thoughts by Jack’s small voice. He crawled up onto the peeling couch and pushed the picture book into my lap.  His eyes looked at me with all the intensity a bored three year old could muster.  “You want me to read it to you?” I said.  He nodded, “Make sure you say all the sounds,” He directed.  I managed a tired smile, “Alright,”  He cuddled up next to me, his eyes intent on the pictures.  I got halfway through the book before he put his hand on the page to stop me from turning it....

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“Never Too Late” by Lauren Oertel

Submitted to Contest #43

When little Amanda came into the world kicking and screaming, Susan felt a rush of both love and fear. “Can I do this? What if she doesn’t like me?” she asked the delivery nurse with eager eyes. “Oh I wouldn’t worry about that yet. Just focus on keeping her alive and getting sleep when you can,” the nurse assured her with a wink. A few days later Susan emerged from her bedroom and felt sick when she saw herself in the hallway mirror. That baby has destroyed me, she thought as she poked at the dark circles under her eyes and tried t...

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“From the ashes” by Letersof Sekai

Submitted to Contest #43

Was I hallucinating? Or was that really my father?I remember… I was watching it with my father holding his index finger with my tiny hand of a 7year old boy. Orange colours spreading over a grey canvas slowly, and smoothly from beneath the line of a sea in the horizon at a beach. The sun rises like the Phoenix bird. My father told me about the story of that bird, since now it was my favourite story of all time. It was the only beautiful moment I had with my father that I can remember. Maybe I'm over exaggerating the scene-- Well th...

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“Shirley and Morris's Personalized Ashtrays” by Joel Samberg

Submitted to Contest #43

Dad died. He didn’t have to. He was only seventy-four, not overweight, walked long distances, had no family history of disease. But he smoked. A lot. Two-and-a-half packs a day for fifty-seven years. On his seventy-fourth birthday he was told he had lung cancer and emphysema. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday and was dead by Friday.  That was six months ago. Mom had lived in the same house with him in Springfield (the one in Massachusetts) since the year after they married in another Springfield (the one in Ohio; that’s a long s...

2 comments 2
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