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

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 2022

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✍️ 27 stories

“The Last Time I Was Beautiful” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“I hope you don’t mind me asking,” I say, “but aren’t you a little old to be a new hairdresser?”The fifty-something woman in the reception area looks up expectantly, holding her job application and freshly-minted beautician's license in her hands. “I earned a perfect score on the cosmetology exam,” she offers almost apologetically, with a thin smile. Her feet are fidgeting underneath her chair. I stand with my callused hands on my ample hips. I audibly sigh. Finding experienced hair stylists is h...

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“Page 998” by Michał Przywara

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, wi...

49 comments 49

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“The Crumble Will Survive” by Scott Christenson

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.<...

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“Welcome Homeless” by P. T. Golden

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 f...

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“A Present Passed and the Future” by Thom Brodkin

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 practicall...

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“Gold in Them Hills!” by Kendall Defoe

“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 ...

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“Lorcan: Part 1” by Denaee Baguss

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.<...

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“The Orange Striped Backpack” by Marty B

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, fla...

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“Centuries Away” by Mask Name

[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....

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“Shadows” by Ross Dyter

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, hear...

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“Freefall” by Austin Baker

“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...

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“The Photo Album” by Equestrian's Library

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...

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“The Military Brat” by M B

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...

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“For the Sake of the Weather” by Ayanna Beckles

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 clutchi...

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“pleasant unpleasant encounters ” by Mireya Narvaez

As he looked up to the thatched ceiling of his prison, Jeremiah pressed a knuckle between his lips and contemplated the life he had lived thus far. He’d been sixteen when he had joined the rebels in their protest against the monarchy. He’d been without family or friends and he was tired of being alone. So, he’d followed Kai into their ranks. Now, it was two years later and everyone was gone. “And h...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“The Last Time I Was Beautiful” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Page 998” by Michał Przywara

“The Crumble Will Survive” by Scott Christenson

“Welcome Homeless” by P. T. Golden

“A Present Passed and the Future” by Thom Brodkin

“Gold in Them Hills!” by Kendall Defoe

“Lorcan: Part 1” by Denaee Baguss

“The Orange Striped Backpack” by Marty B

“Centuries Away” by Mask Name

“Shadows” by Ross Dyter

“Freefall” by Austin Baker

“The Photo Album” by Equestrian's Library

“The Military Brat” by M B

“For the Sake of the Weather” by Ayanna Beckles

“pleasant unpleasant encounters ” by Mireya Narvaez

🌟 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

240

Contest entries

92

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: