Set your story in a staff room of an essential profession that is often undervalued — nurses, cafeteria staff, sanitation workers, etc.

Posted in Character on Apr 21, 2023

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✍️ 51 stories

“Be the Change” by Nona Yobis

Submitted to Contest #195

On paper, there was no good decision. Every choice that lay in front of Tara either led to someone getting violent, someone being further abused, or someone getting fired. None of the choices resulted in actual resolution, and as she realized this the familiar knot filled her stomach, threatening the preexisting ulcer that flared up when stress graced her with its presence. Sitting amid the stacks of superfluous case files and overly pedantic training manuals, Tara slowly sank into her chair, hoping to disappear as seamlessly...

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“The Teacher's Lounge” by Larry Parks

Submitted to Contest #195

The teacher's lounge had a lot of scars on the wall. It served many functions. It was a sanctuary, a stress reliever, a boxing ring, and even a bunker. There was a gun threat one year, and the entire support staff locked themselves in the teacher's lounge. The walls were painted a pale white that had begun to peel. There was an old leather sofa, a microwave, and a round table in the middle with three chairs, two of which rocked side to side because the legs were uneven. In front of the sofa was a coffee table with coffee cup ring stains, and...

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“The Anniversary” by Gigi Gibson

Submitted to Contest #195

Jimmy-Joe clenched his stomach and tried to catch his breath. Shoulders hunched and head hanging low, he skulked through the empty halls of his new school, searching for his room.“Boy!” called out the janitor. “Whatchyou doin' shufflin' in here late like this?”Jimmy-Joe kept his head down and dawdled down the corridor.“I said, Boy! Turn around when I'm talkin' to you.”Jimmy-Joe turned around slowly without meeting Mr. Wilson's gaze and wiped his snot on his sleeve.“Look at you... you done got yourself in a fight... and on your first day of s...

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“This Week on: Anne and Ollie” by Madelyn Grace

Submitted to Contest #195

“What’d you get up to on the weekend?” Melissa pauses, hand halfway outstretched to her coffee. Her glasses slip a millimetre down her face as she looks slowly across the staff room, searching for the man who had spoken. This conversation is hardly her business. He’s not talking to her. He probably doesn’t even realise she’s there. But he’s got her attention. “Nothing, really.” Ah, there she is. The woman he’s speaking to. Melissa can’t see her from this awkward angle, but she doesn’t need to—he only ever speaks to her. Every day...

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“You Are a Hero” by Cathryn V

Submitted to Contest #195

Late on a Friday afternoon in the silent chilly staff development lab of the hospital basement, Wesley lounged with his feet propped up on a chair. Wesley passed the time by munching on taco chips, dropping crumbs over the snaps of his shirt, reading a Clive Cussler paperback. A rumpled blanket covered the linoleum floor where a naked body lay. Wiping orange powdered fingers on his pant leg, he sipped fresh coffee from a Styrofoam cup. Next to him on the long table was a stack of booklets labeled, CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION.Wesley absentm...

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“The Aide ” by Julianne Munich

Submitted to Contest #195

The AideJulianne Munich…My waterproof boots encased my feet, keeping them warm in the shallow snow. I lingered close to the boy on the playground, yet not so close as to alarm him. I was his shadow, as he played in his solitary world, turning his body on his favorite swing. Dozens of other second-graders ran, laughed and shouted.I stood in sentry-guard at the side of the swing set, my mittened hands digging inside my coat pockets, fidgeting with the set of building keys on a lanyard.Jayden gave a grunt and a laugh. His brown eyes remained fi...

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“Freddy Frog Eyes” by Brain Changer

Submitted to Contest #195

Freddy Frog Eyes The shooter came on a Tuesday, right after lunch. Nobody knew about it until they heard the shot that hit the shoulder of Mrs. White, the art teacher. Only one of the kids would be able to guess that the cartridge was nine millimeter. Scenic View Elementary School had performed active shooter drills once a month ever since the incident at the high school. Most kids didn’t listen any more. Freddy did. Freddy Winters was too serious for a twelve-year-old. “An old soul,” Mrs. Bumble called him. Straight A’s. He never smiled....

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“Three Minutes” by Johnathan Vance

Submitted to Contest #195

Abby tossed the man’s arm through the open window and into the smoldering pile. Smoke clawed upward as the pile sizzled impatiently. I stepped up to the table, on the right side, so as not to block the light and handed Dr. Strom his forceps. Abby went to get the cautery iron. We maneuvered gracefully around the doctor and his two nurses, who held down a moaning man in a ratty, butternut wool uniform. He was the third of the day to lose a limb, and it was barely ten o’clock. Musket balls were great at breaking things. At least, ...

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“A good cleaner” by Dimitra M.

Submitted to Contest #195

I pulled in front of the house, I remember like it was yesterday. I wonder how people manage to pay for a house like this, not just to buy but also maintain. Can’t even imagine how much it costs. We’re talking about the kind of money that’s fiction to most of us.The thing is, these guys get murdered like anybody else. Boss said there’s been a mess in that one. Didn’t want to send me on that gig for my first day but we’re understaffed. You know how it goes. Few people want to clean other people’s homes, even less want to clean brains, shit an...

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“Five Days” by Gowner Jones

Submitted to Contest #195

Five days to retirement Eugene sat at the table like he always did during his break. Some of his younger coworkers liked to spend their breaks across the street at that new juice bar. Eugene didn’t think much of juice. He preferred coffee - and these days, a shot of rum to ease his back pain. “What’s up Euge?” asked someone from behind. Eugene’s hearing wasn’t as good as it had once been but he would recognize Vanessa’s shrill voice from across an ocean, he reckoned. “I told you, my name is Eugene,” he said. “Awe, don’t be such a grumpy ol...

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“Special Delivery” by Teresa Hiatt

Submitted to Contest #195

Tonya had been delivering mail to the same neighborhood for over 20 years. Each morning, she got up at 5 am and made it to work just as her mail was ready to be sorted into the bins that put it in order for her to deliver. She would then load up her cart and begin the 6 mile daily walk that put her in touch with the entire population of her neighborhood. Sometimes, if the weather was good and the load was light and she was ahead of her schedule, she stopped to talk with residents on her route and trade information on what was g...

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“Little Paper Notes” by Daniel Dundin

Submitted to Contest #195

The scent still transported him after all this time. It was so familiar and so singular. A blend of old brass, newspaper, dried ink, and pencil shavings. He'd grown to love the smell. It was one of the few constants in his previous life and this new chapter. It had been his daughter's idea to do this. Once she had stopped insisting that he move in with her, something he felt sure was done out of guilt more than anything, she had suggested he find a way to keep himself busy. He had seen an ad, the post office was looking for help, so he ...

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“March” by Andrew Audibert

Submitted to Contest #195

[This is fiction, but it shows many real stresses teachers face every day. None of the issues are exaggerated.] Amanda glowered. She stared ahead at the green piece of paper on the wall, adorned with the meme of a glamorous woman in oversized sunglasses, hiding her face from a group of paparazzi. The caption – You could’ve been a movie star! If it was ever funny, it’d lost its charm. With its bent, frayed corners, it added to the dull dreariness of her surroundings – the only decoration in a stuffy, windowless room with antique yellow wall...

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“Recorded Logs of a High School Counselor” by Cassandra Fan

Submitted to Contest #195

tw: mentions of violence, and incompetent leadershipMarshall came in... Yes, that Marshall, the one with the oily black hair and acne. He’s been coming more consistently over the past few weeks… Yes, really! Today we talked about college, what his goals for the future are, all that jazz. He still needs to retake a few classes if he’s going to graduate with the rest of his class, but you know? I think he’ll be able to pull it off. He’s changed. He’s taking charge of his life again, thinking about what major he’ll take and scholarship programs...

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“Lunch Break” by Spankin Rainbows

Submitted to Contest #195

Lunch Break *TW FOR GUNS* Sandra opened the microwave and took her lunch out to eat. She came in early this morning, around 8:00am. According to the job description, housekeeping starts their shift at 9am. No one comes in that late. Most of the crew makes their way in before 8:30, to give them time to prepare their cleaning carts. Everyday is a new battle for clean towels, sheets, and duvets. Sandra sighed wearily, thinking about the 2 duvets and 3 sets of towels she had for the 15 rooms on her list. She spooned up the liquid fire of ...

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Set your story in a staff room of an essential profession that is often undervalued — nurses, cafeteria staff, sanitation workers, etc.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 51 stories

“Be the Change” by Nona Yobis

“The Teacher's Lounge” by Larry Parks

“The Anniversary” by Gigi Gibson

“This Week on: Anne and Ollie” by Madelyn Grace

“You Are a Hero” by Cathryn V

“The Aide ” by Julianne Munich

“Freddy Frog Eyes” by Brain Changer

“Three Minutes” by Johnathan Vance

“A good cleaner” by Dimitra M.

“Five Days” by Gowner Jones

“Special Delivery” by Teresa Hiatt

“Little Paper Notes” by Daniel Dundin

“March” by Andrew Audibert

“Recorded Logs of a High School Counselor” by Cassandra Fan

“Lunch Break” by Spankin Rainbows

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story from the point of view of a sidekick, or someone who is happy to stay away from the limelight.

Write a story about someone who receives — or makes — a life-changing, anonymous donation.

Write a story that includes the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Write about someone who is learning to recognize and take credit for their own achievements.

Contest #195

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

207

Contest entries

92

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: