Sze-Ning Chuah

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2020

Stories (10)

10 Stories

225 karma pts

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“Mom, You're Good Enough” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #46

I wasn’t sure if I could call myself an author. Do authors feel the debilitating writer’s block I was experiencing? Granted, I haven’t written stories in a long while. My muscles of creativity have atrophied somewhat. I would need time and practice to regain strength in them once more.  And if I was honest with myself, I felt my heart rate pick up as I stared at the blank Word document in front of me. The sight of it void of the words that I was supposed to type terrified me.  Maybe you’re not cut out for this, Bree. The cond...

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“Streaks, Speckles And Spots” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #45

There once lived a flock of goats on the highlands. The flock belonged to Old Izzy, a wise goatherd who probably looked like a billy goat himself, with his long, wrinkly face and wispy white beard. But do not let his wizened, weather-beaten appearance fool you. Old Izzy tended to his goats daily for as long as he could remember. He could easily navigate the heights and slopes with his flock, yodeling at the top of his lungs without breaking a sweat. Or so he told me. I would advise not to question his claims and just take his word ...

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“Hawker Girl ” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #44

My name is Ai Leen. Yap Ai Leen. I grew up a hawker girl, helping my parents at our noodle stall.Mummy and Daddy sold their signature char kuey teow in a busy hawker centre downtown. They had other fried noodles too, but it was the char kuey teow that customers kept returning for. My childhood was filled with wonderful scents of stir-fried flat rice noodles tossed with eggs, cockles, fishcakes, prawns, bean sprouts and chives, all deliciously seasoned and spiced. Chilli available on request, of course. The hawker centre was open 7 days ...

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“Out Of The Box” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #43

(Alright, you’ve heard the dog’s story about “Broken Bridges Restored” here: https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/contests/41/submissions/16499/Now it’s the cat’s turn to tell you how we became friends. Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we...) Hiding is safe for a cat. Out there, it’s all about survival, speed, strength. But when hiding, the only contender one has to face is yourself. Easy. Maybe that was why Momma kept me hidden, in a makeshift den of scraps and junk. I don’t know what became of her other offspr...

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“Have You Eaten? ” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #42

“Ama, let’s eat.” I made my way to the dining table, one hand feeling the wall while shuffling slowly in my rubber slippers. My granddaughter Ling Ling was already there, dishing out soup and rice for the both of us. Was her name Ling Ling, or Ning Ning? I thought to myself as I eased into my favourite seat. This is embarrassing. I can’t remember her name. I should just keep quiet and not address her by name. I know she’s recently returned home for holiday. She works overseas now, but where? Was it Australia? England? I b...

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“Broken Bridges Restored” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #41

Every piece must have a good introduction. Because that’s when you’re first acquainted with the theme, before you embark on a musical journey, composing multiple variations towards its resolution. At least that’s what Master tells the Little Master. I have no idea what a good introduction to a musical piece is though. I think you need opposable thumbs for it. Of which I lack, being a Siberian Husky. I think I got a good introduction to music itself though, just by virtue of being in this family. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning...

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“Anneh And Thambi” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #40

Anneh And ThambiI wish the teasing would stop.I thought sadly as I wiped my snotty nose. My hiding spot in the sports equipment storeroom wasn’t very comfortable. But it will have to do, until the bell rings and they go away. Why did Daddy and Mommy send me to this stupid school? They run a business and know many people. I’m sure we have enough money to send me to boarding school, like the children in Enid Blyton books. I also wouldn’t mind going to a school like Hogwarts. It would be far away in England, or was it the UK? I’ve nev...

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“Wedding Blessings And Burdens” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #40

Evita - The Bride  Today’s our wedding day. I was struggling with my veil. It’s far too long. And the front’s making my nose itch. Thank heavens for my bridesmaids helping me manoeuvre the fabric, plus a sneaky antihistamine courtesy of Danielle, my maid of honour. Papa held my hand and squeezed it three times when we stood at the entrance of the church. He kept doing that repeatedly as we walked towards the altar, where the priest, the rest of the bridal party and my groom, Song assembled. Darn it, the old man was trying...

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“Come Home, Sun” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #39

The door swung open with a bang. Conversation halted abruptly as everyone at the table turned their attention to a guy rushing into the meeting room. He looked like a young entrepreneur in a casual business suit. A very popular one it would seem, as his pockets were vibrating from multiple notifications, pagers clipped to his belt beeping and pinging with varying musical tones. He was having an intense Bluetooth hands-free call while simultaneously typing a text message reply on his phone, occasionally muttering expletives under his bre...

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“Balcony Bro Talk” by Sze-Ning Chuah

Submitted to Contest #38

Mike’s off-key singing from upstairs had been going on for a week now. Mike and I are neighbours in an apartment block. We know of and are on cordial “hi and bye” terms with each other, though we have not had much opportunity to hang out due to work commitments. I work irregular hours, sometimes sleeping in the day in preparation for night shifts. As far as I know, Mike works a regular office schedule. It never used to bother me that Mike has a regular habit of belting out show tunes and movie soundtracks, as more often than not I ...

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Author bio

Unique name Sze-Ning Chuah (è”ĄèŻ—ćź) is. Silent 'z'. Pronounced like 'Sning' if you say it fast. Meaning 'Psalm / Song of Peace' in Mandarin. Making the world a more interesting place one story at a time.