Write a story about an unsung hero.

Posted in Character on Jul 26, 2024

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✍️ 53 stories

“The Teacher” by Peter Modesto

Submitted to Contest #261

She was a farmer’s daughter who earned her grade eleven diploma in one-room country schoolhouse just up the road from the farm. So, she was not prepared for the call that came that morning.After her husband had left for work at the factory and both her young sons were out the door, the phone rang. It was the school. This could not be good news.“Mrs. M., we’re calling to ask for your help. Our First Grade teacher, Mrs. Lamarche, is sick today and we’d like you to come and watch her class.”Relief gave way to shock. Her boys were not in trouble...

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“Fight The Good Fight” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #261

“Is the AC on the fritz again?” “I wouldn’t know. Power’s out.”“What?” I felt sweat dripping down my back. No air conditioning was not what I wanted to hear. There was too much work to do, and the room was already stifling in the early morning hours.“Yeah. Seems like someone didn’t pay the electric bill.” Carol looked at me square in the eye, hands on her hips. Was she daring me to argue that fact?“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Call them. Use my credit card.” “Are you sure, boss?”“I’m sure. ...

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“Voyage of the Destiny's Dreams to the Mystery Islands ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #261

Captain Alfonse Belanger caught his breath. He felt the light morning breeze and smelled the salt air.His eyes scanned the vast ocean stretching to the west. The distant coastal mountains of South America rose in the east.It was the year 1898 on the ship called Destiny's Dreams. Soon they would reach the islands of unusual creatures, somewhere beyond the horizon.On the deck of the vessel, the sailors discussed him.“He’s an odd sort.”“Odd is fine with me.”“He performed the marriage for Isabella and me.”“Ever see how he goes into a trance...

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“Soldiers Sometimes Cry” by Milly Orie

Submitted to Contest #261

~May, 1946~When Mother sent me to deliver gifts to Mr. Kent, I didn’t reckon I’d bother. I’d take the basket, sure. Fine. Then maybe I’d walk a half-mile up the road and dump the stuff–maybe eat it, actually–sit awhile in the dust, and head back home.After all, new residents shouldn’t be the ones delivering presents. That’s the town’s job, isn’t it? You know, all the welcoming old villagers and their shiny smiling faces, coming to bear gifts to the newcomers? That’...

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“Midaul the Merciful” by Steffen Lettau

Submitted to Contest #261

The world of Nuoath is no stranger to the conquerors upon its surface, from the current great three of Arkos, Dhaast, and Lady Parine to the previous legends of Benrun the Brutal, the Mad Queen Sadaar, and Gianla of Goch. Amongst the most notorious of these names, the bloodthirsty and seemingly untouchable Ulynder Vadastim is one that will never be forgotten. With each conqueror, though, is their second-in-command that barely receives the same notoriety. Midaul Kannad was such a person, yet his notoriety was nowhere near the infamy of his ki...

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“Doing Hard Time” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #261

I met my boyfriend in prison. Shocking, right? Who would want to date someone who was in the big house? Well, it’s okay. You see, I was in prison too. What did I do, you ask? And what did he do? What crimes did we commit?The answer is simple. None. We worked there. I am writing today, from first hand experience, to say that anyone who works in a prison for a prolonged period of time is an unsung hero. Prisons are dangerous, depressing places. I couldn’t hack it, so I escaped after five years. Yes, I flew the coop. I freed myself af...

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“Peace of Me” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #261

There are no words. This is because I have never bothered to bring them together in any meaningful way. The words exist, but I chose to dwell in a feeling. Not always the same feeling at that. I am no poet. I have never tried to describe the sky as it puts on a show and reminds me that it can wear colours other than blue. Other than grey. The sky is the sky. It was here before I ever arrived on the scene, and it will be here long after I am gone. So long that it may as well be an eternity, and I have no understanding of what that means...

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“Masks” by Chris Gomez

Submitted to Contest #261

The incessant rain bounced off his casket as they lowered him into the earth. There was hardly anyone at the funeral. Only his parents, his sisters, and I were in attendance. I wasn’t his girlfriend, or even his friend, for that matter. We were just co-workers. He was nothing more than a mere acquaintance, yet his passing hit me as though I had lost one of my own.When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I thought I would be out of a job. The pandemic was sending everyone home, and I assumed I would follow suit. I found out soon enough that would n...

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“Hombre de Agua” by G S Martin

Submitted to Contest #261

He couldn't play the guitar. Neither could I. But we were smitten with the art of music and strived to understand the craft of it. We spent countless hour...

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“The True Cost of Arrogance” by Jeff Meade

Submitted to Contest #261

The True Cost of ArroganceJon Benêt Ramsey showed up in the news again, just in time for New Years. She’s the 6-year old Beauty Queen found raped and strangled in her parent’s basement on Christmas Day. The event happened in 1997, but she’s still making headlines. The case was sensational, mixing greedy parents with botched police work and even shoddier prosecutions. It’s the Christmas Story you want to ignore, but seemingly can’t get away from.The news this time around mentioned thousands of documents recently released that may shed light o...

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“That Day” by M.D. Adler

Submitted to Contest #261

George was enjoying a delightful Egg McMuffin when the dragon descended upon London. The creature's belly, scaly and filled with half-digested accountants, two German Shepherds and someone's husband, cast a towering shadow over the entirety of Tooley Street, part of London Bridge City Pier and George's greasy booth. A dragon was quite possibly the last thing on his mind when George noticed the darkness spilling through the windows and onto his breakfast. Instead, he felt his mood turn sour at the thought of an incipient storm cloud looming o...

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“Weaver of Dreams” by Susan O'REILLY

Submitted to Contest #261

I wake up and realize today's the day I can go visit Mrs. Rogers. I had to wait until I was sixteen to see what could not be seen. People entered her establishment and came out in many getup's. Fairies, witches and goblins abound. It was Halloween every day whether in October or May. This was just the norm but what fascinated me is Mrs. Rogers herself never changed her outfit. She was constantly in black and on her weave was no thread. My mam had heard countless questions over the years.“Mam she’s always weaving but never changes her clothes...

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“Finding Anna” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #261

Christmas is my favorite holiday, but I planned to never celebrate again. Anyone who had been abducted and held by domestic terrorists, might not be in a festive mood, even in the most joyous of seasons. My phone beeped again, and I deleted yet another message. My email had never been this full, flooded with words of appreciation and support, along with requests from media outlets and advocacy groups to “share my experience with others.” But what about the women who were actually tortured and subjected to experimentation? How could the...

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“Little Miss Moby......” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #261

Let's all sing a song of the sea, a tale that can echo through the generations of humanity. Our human cognition is a work in progress, just like our mankind's pondering in abstract thoughts.Humans have always wondered about their fascination with the whales of the seven seas, swimming around the globe, singing to their own songs. Whales have the largest mammalian brains. As humans, we shall probably always gaze and wonder about the sheer size of any whale, marveling at what a whale is really thinking, what they perceive through their eyes, a...

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“Uncle Joe” by Jean Maiorino

Submitted to Contest #261

Uncle JoeBrooklyn, New York 1963:Uncle Joe was the only English-speaking adult in my family. His Italian vocabulary consisted of spaghetti, mozzarella, spumoni, and a few other words which were mostly curses and names of other Italian foods. As he proudly pronounced an Italian word he’d just learned, he would put his arm around the surliest adult in the room until that person cracked a smile. Uncle Joe was a bus driver for the Greenline bus which ran from Brooklyn to Far Rockaway in New York City. He was married to my mother’s sister. They l...

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Write a story about an unsung hero.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“The Teacher” by Peter Modesto

“Fight The Good Fight” by Hannah Lynn

“Voyage of the Destiny's Dreams to the Mystery Islands ” by Kristi Gott

“Soldiers Sometimes Cry” by Milly Orie

“Midaul the Merciful” by Steffen Lettau

“Doing Hard Time” by Kim Olson

“Peace of Me” by Jed Cope

“Masks” by Chris Gomez

“Hombre de Agua” by G S Martin

“The True Cost of Arrogance” by Jeff Meade

“That Day” by M.D. Adler

“Weaver of Dreams” by Susan O'REILLY

“Finding Anna” by Jennifer Luckett

“Little Miss Moby......” by Julie Grenness

“Uncle Joe” by Jean Maiorino

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone.

Write a creative nonfiction piece about something you're grateful for.

Write a story about a cynic who has been told to start a "gratitude journal," and does so — begrudgingly.

Write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards.

Contest #261

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

97

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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