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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story where someone decides to take the long way home.

Posted in Adventure on Nov 4, 2022

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✍️ 37 stories

“Always take the long way ” by Tommy Thiriot

Submitted to Contest #171

Every time, every time I decide to go the long way, something insane happens. Whether it be a bank robbery, a terrorist attack, or a celebrity proposal, I always seemed to be stuck in the middle of something. I couldn’t believe it. A man was literally five feet away from me, aiming a gun at my face, and I was more bored than scared. That would shock some people, unless they’ve met me. I had an adrenaline disorder, where my body did not produce nearly any adrenaline. So, it made it really difficult to get excited or nervous about anything. D...

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“Idle Speed Only” by Gloria Preston

Submitted to Contest #171

Idle Speed Only         When the sunset sparkles across the water with its siren song, it is nearly impossible to resist. The golden line of ripples simmered on the water and stopped directly at my pier. The pontoon, a brand new one since the old one was resting in the marina boneyard, the new one christened Lolly, a sleek and decked out Sylvan DLZ watercraft, was ready to go. She had completed her maiden voyage only last month and served faithfully every day since. I had done the r...

3 comments 3
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“The Left turn” by Martin Sánchez Grahn

Submitted to Contest #171

Paul was a man of routine. Very seldom did he deviate from his schedule. He even had a lunch menu that he followed to the point every week. Mondays a sandwich from Joe's down the street, Tuesday's a slice of pepperoni pizza from the Italian place a block over, and so on.He got up at the same time every day, took a shower, had breakfast, brushed his teeth, and choose his clothes in the same way he did his lunch, sorted by weekdays.From an outside point of view, one could even say that Paul might have been suffering from a tad of OCD. But, for...

4 comments 4
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“A Little Goes A Long Way - The Long Way Home” by Torkwase Burts

Submitted to Contest #171

A Little Goes A Long Way – The Long Way Home Written By: Torkwase Burts              Nowadays     “Okay sir, have a good day!” The bells clinked against the glass door as it swung shut behind him. You would think the structure of the door would be a bit more modern. They should have automated doors that I can magically walk through without having to lift a finger, Al thought. The type of doors that's so aware of a humans' royal presence, they'll slide ...

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“The Glitch” by Conner Page

Submitted to Contest #171

         The problem with going to dinner with Kali was always how full I am when I leave. I had needed a night out, away from the struggle of three kids and a husband, going to college a second time and navigating caring for a sick relative. She’d invited me to a high-end restaurant, her treat, but I’d had to make the drive because we lived in separate cities. Dallas was a middle point. I settled into the leather seats of my car and found my favorite playlist before entering the address of my h...

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“Falling into an Old Habit” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #171

           I am very much a creature of habits, right down to the smallest detail. My sister says that it is because I live alone and have done so for a very long time. Too much time in her thinking. That could be true. Take this early evening for example. It is Friday night, so I walked from home (I could drive but that is not part of the habit) to Ye Olde Inn for dinner and a few beers. It is what I often did as a teenager, the beer being added once I turned became ...

2 comments 2
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“Jeff goes home” by Scott Dutkus

Submitted to Contest #171

“Attention Passengers aboard Delta Flight 5727, Reagan National to Boston Logan, our flight is unfortunately overbooked tonight and we are looking for several volunteers to be rebooked on an early morning flight. Delta is offering $350 and 5,000 bonus miles and we will rebook you on our 9 am flight tomorrow morning. If you are interested, please come to the gate and I will assist you in the rebooking process. Thank you.” Jeff looked at his ticket and saw an arrival time of 10:45. After a taxi ride, he could be home at t...

2 comments 2
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“In Crayolese” by LiV Stickmann~Pollard

Submitted to Contest #171

(lesbian love)In CrayoleseWhen all you have is a slingshot, every problem looks like a window. Kit DavidstoneThere are in my entire memory just a few times when I have been slapped into a sudden clear awareness of life; when I suddenly began to understand my purpose, and believed that fulfilling it might actually be within my reach. I’m having one now, lying in bed just before dawn. Outside I know the mountain sky has been colored with soft, rosy Crayolas in apricot, yellow orange, goldenrod and salmon. To reproduce what ...

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“Black Coffee” by Madilyn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #171

There’s 3 things you should know about Charlie.At any given moment that he’s speaking to you, he’s probably wishing he wasn’t.He spends his free time assembling puzzles.He hates traffic.Unfortunately for Charlie, he finds himself particularly fed up at the moment due to fact number three. Traffic means wasting his precious time off work sitting in a steel box when he would much rather be making a pot of coffee and taking off his shoes. In a sense, Charlie feels like he is rotting away in an urban prison. At least there’s air conditioning.He’...

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“As The Crow Flies...” by Dylan Mass

Submitted to Contest #171

There is something fascinating about the crossroad. The idea itself has so many layers in it and each layer is a different idea in its own. The concept of one simple choice altering your entire path and creating an adventure of its own is what keeps me up at night.Every day, on the way home from work, I come up on a crossroads. Well, more like a three-way fork in the road, each direction another branch in my own personal fate. In order for me to go home, I have to go right. To go to the city, I turn left, but never in my twenty-five years of...

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“The Right Way Home” by Kate Glass

Submitted to Contest #171

“I can’t believe Rick took it all.” Janet begins her rant about my now ex-husband. “He is the one that was unfaithful, yet you’re getting punished for it.” I just stare at her blankly. Not even at her… through her, almost tuning her out. I don’t care about the house. I don’t care about the car. I don’t even care about the money. But Mac, Mac was my life. I found out at a young age that I was unable to have children. It took a few years for me to get over that, but I don’t think Rick ever did. I have to believe that’s why he cheated. I phys...

2 comments 2
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“To The Bank By The Wood” by Sarah Filipiak

Submitted to Contest #171

It was dark by that time. I wanted to shake the feeling that I should head straight home. A quick switchback down, and I’d be back at the meadow at the edge of my property.My back was acting up, but my hesitation was more on the idea of being out in the woods after dark. The wild animals that hunt large prey at night were killed off to accommodate human settlements here long ago. This acreage is state-owned and rarely traveled, save for tourists stopping by the Civil War cemetery at a faraway trailhead. So it was only my imagination or accid...

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“The Field of Peonies: Her One and Only” by David Lontok

Submitted to Contest #171

Covering her ears, she watched the clock. No burst of sound must catch her off guard. Ever.Tick. Tick. Tick.The final bell rang. Susie charged into the traffic of students, slipping past their shoulders. Upon seeing Mrs. Marghast’s office, she stopped and peeked through the glass. Her guidance counselor and friend, with her back to the door, fixed a few of the little things hanging on the wall. Susie closed her eyes, her hand feeling the doorknob.Mrs. Marghast turned around as a hinge squeaked from behind. Her eyes grew gentle. “Priscilla? W...

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“JOYS OF TRAVEL” by CHIEF John West

Submitted to Contest #171

                                              JOYS OF TRAVEL It sounds daft, but I had been planning this trip for a long time. Lagos to London, I had done by plane countless times; just once, I thought, let me try it by land. On the map, it does not look that difficult. What I was fixated on was to drive from Lag...

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“Magnolia” by Megan Michelle

Submitted to Contest #171

She knew the moment she stepped into the not-quite-dingy apartment that it was the one. It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it had good bones as they say. No hint was given to the realtor as he guided her through the dusty space; she kept her face neutral and serious.   Four weeks later, the papers were signed and the keys handed over. Finally, she could begin.   Within a week she had a crew hired and following the plans she had carefully drafted over the last month. One thing not lacking was vision. She knew exactly...

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