Write a story where a local takes a newcomer under their wing.

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 24 stories

“Page 998” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #164

Brandon looked out over the floor – with its winding counter and Plexiglas shield segregating hundreds of staff from a legion of customers, with its myriad stanchions webbed together by criss-crossing tape that formed Möbius lines, with its three lazy fans that did little more than shuffle the stale sweat air from armpit to nostril, with its never-ending symphony of phone-rings and baby-shrieks and tired-grumbles accented by improvised solos of the irate, with its Byzantine maze of signs and symbols and arrows hanging from the ceiling, with ...

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“The Crumble Will Survive” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #164

My daughter Liz’s teacher sits in our kitchen, sipping tea, and coos in a Newcastle accent, “Paul Hollywood, Oh yes!”“Paul…,” I reply in a syrupy tone. “He just exudes manliness.” “He can bake my cake,” Catherine quips and we both break out into giggles.A few minutes later I will stomp out after she says “Where I come from, Yorkshire Puddings are made with beef drippings”, and wonder if I have just ruined Liz’s school year at school over an argument about puddings.**I think back to moments earlier when things were going so well. I ...

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“A Present Passed and the Future” by Thom With An H

Submitted to Contest #164

Brad stood silently outside Dr. Gardner’s office within arm's length of the dark wooden door that stood between him and his future. He had been summoned but still struggled to knock. Over the years Brad had been in his bosses' office more times than he could count but never like this. This visit terrified him and he was certain his shallow breath and sweaty forehead would betray his trepidation the moment he entered the room.As a young surgical resident, he had sought out the grizzled chief of neurosurgery and practically begging him to be h...

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“Welcome Homeless” by P. T. Golden

Submitted to Contest #164

Contains sensitive subjects. Complex issues with homelessness and implied not explicit abuse. Also contains war trauma.When Bob Marley sang “cold ground was my bed last night, rock stone was my pillow,” he was wealthy, but with the humbleness to sleep on the ground with “Rockstone” (now a monument) as a pillow. A pillow of any sort would be a luxury beyond my means. The cold ground, this night feels harder than ever. The rough pattern of pavement etched into my raw back. Struggling to sit upright felt like flesh peeled free from the street. ...

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“Gold in Them Hills!” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #164

“Hey, kid! Good to see you! You are gonna love it here…if you have the right guide to things.” Uncle Jack was many things, but you could not call him a cynic. No, no, he always believed that things were going to get better, for all of us. The first time we met, he was standing in front of the train station, old raincoat but no umbrella on what was one the rainiest days of the year. The hat he had on his head – he told me that it was once called an Anthony Eden, whoever that was – provided him no protection from the water and I thought that t...

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“The Orange Striped Backpack” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #164

He was on a path to a better future until he ran into the bright orange, striped backpack. Eddie needed to get away, and it felt good to use his legs that morning. The train station was full of commuters. Sad, tired people with no purpose, no drive to live, not like him. From the fare gate he had heard the train pulling into the station, his train. Quickening, he took long steps in his well polished leather shoes, flashing as they caught glints of the morning light. The blood spatter was hardly noticeable. Toward the e...

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“Lorcan: Part 1” by Denaee Baguss

Submitted to Contest #164

I’d only pierced the necks of a few mortals in almost two decades of being a vampire. I should be craving it, yearning for it, even killing for it. Human blood to vampires is the equivalence as gold is to humans. Yet, the rich aroma of human blood didn’t quench my thirst. In fact, it curled my stomach.I feed on the blood of pigs. You’re feeling sorry for those pigs, but nonetheless, I have to eat or I will die. I’m not quite sure if drinking pig blood is against the law as a vampire, so I stick to myself and hunt alone.Even the broiling rays...

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“Centuries Away” by Mask Name

Submitted to Contest #164

[Depictions of Historical War] Centuries Away Undistinguishable eyes glared at the blond-headed pair, the people behind the empty faces forgotten and lost in the vast scapes of memory. Bland red and green eyes pierced into the cold one's soul, searching for something. Something that didn't exist, that couldn't be found. For a demon's ideals of the world. Cold blue and gray eyes shook the heart of the winged one, digging into it and clawing at it. Looking to hurt what was already broken, and to deal what had already be...

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“Freefall” by Austin Baker

Submitted to Contest #164

“With a mouth like yours, you better learn how to fight or run away,” is probably the second-best piece of advice I’ve ever received. I was given it by a big oaf that also happened to be my classmate. Can’t remember his name, but it starts with an A. Adam, Alex, Asshole? Yeah, that last one. He taught it to me while he was smashing my face in, his buddies cheering him on and watching out for teachers somewhere behind him. I couldn’t see them. Couldn’t see anything except the concrete towers stretching up to blot out the only sunlight this l...

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“Shadows” by Ross Dyter

Submitted to Contest #164

The sound of hammer on anvil rang harsh in Samuel’s ears, as he stood in the muddy street. The steady rhythm like a heartbeat for the small town, each blow breaking time into moments. He looked around, tavern, clang, store, clang, apothecary, clang, alley, clang, shadow, clang, shadow, clang, shadow. He turned more quickly now, eyes darting left and right, heart racing. They were on both sides, spreading out, behind posts, in doorways, ragged, hunched, dark. Just the glint of eyes; eyes following him. His bag slipped from his shoulder. He pu...

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“The Photo Album” by R. Hann

Submitted to Contest #164

TW: Death Mention, Brief Mentions of Implied Gambling/Debt Accrual---Lady Ophelia was regarded as a prim woman, dressed in modest attire, and her hair pulled neatly into a bun at the base of her neck. Gold spectacles rested on a hawk-like nose while her lips remained in a disapproving sneer like she smelled a rotting corpse throughout each day. The town’s children played daring games, challenging one another to see who could get closest to the Lady’s gated mansion. Iron-wrought fence lined the exterior, extending some twenty feet in the air,...

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“The Military Brat” by M B

Submitted to Contest #164

1986 A spitball narrowly missed Emile, who was sitting peacefully at his desk. Target practice again for the kid two desks down who hated him for no discernable reason. The teacher - of course - never seemed to notice the exchange. Today, she seemed a bit nervous. A new student was just outside the door where she’d been told to wait. Introductions had to be made. A day ago, Emile’s teacher didn’t even know such people existed. Clearing her throat, the teacher called for silence. “Class, we have a new student joi...

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“For the Sake of the Weather” by Ayanna Beckles

Submitted to Contest #164

The driest part of the year had come. Every individual ray from the sun was felt fully by the townsfolk, leaving their faces pink and their hair slick with sweat. Those who had lived in Brenton for some time had learned to adjust when the dry season came. During cooler months, it wasn't easy to tell who was who, but when the kid in black leggings and a sweatshirt clamored into the store, it was clear he wasn't a local. Krissi jumped at the ruckus, looking up from her book to find a boy clutching onto the chip rack and swaying horri...

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“A Citizen of the World” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #164

I jump back as a motorbike speeds right in front of me. The man atop the bike has no regard to my presence. I walked out of my hotel and I am now standing in the street. But there is nowhere else to stand. There are no sidewalks. I backed up into the walkway leading up to my hotel as another motorbike sped by me. I needed to find another place to stand as I figured out what my next move was. I walk down the road and find a pedestrian only street and I thank the travel gods for watching out for me. As I walk, the pedestrian walk...

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“From past lives” by Eileen Nunez

Submitted to Contest #164

It was a new school for Alba, she was 7 years old, and she had just moved to Sevilla with her parents and her older brother. She was shy and hated when Srta. González asked her to introduce herself in front of the class. “My name is Alba, I just moved in from Malta” Silence. Srta. González was expecting a little more, but Alba sat down and looked at her hands nervously twirling on her laps. Her hand contemplation was interrupted by a note on her table, she looked up and saw a girl with long curly black hair waking towards...

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Write a story where a local takes a newcomer under their wing.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 24 stories

“Page 998” by Michał Przywara

“The Crumble Will Survive” by Scott Christenson

“A Present Passed and the Future” by Thom With An H

“Welcome Homeless” by P. T. Golden

“Gold in Them Hills!” by Kendall Defoe

“The Orange Striped Backpack” by Marty B

“Lorcan: Part 1” by Denaee Baguss

“Centuries Away” by Mask Name

“Freefall” by Austin Baker

“Shadows” by Ross Dyter

“The Photo Album” by R. Hann

“The Military Brat” by M B

“For the Sake of the Weather” by Ayanna Beckles

“A Citizen of the World” by Madeline Honig

“From past lives” by Eileen Nunez

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character saying “Where I come from, …”

Write a story in which someone returns to their hometown.

Write a story about coming of age in a big city.

Think of someone who stood on the periphery of your childhood memories (a classmate, a teacher, a neighbor) and cast them as the main character of your story.

Contest #164

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

91

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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