Write a story about an unsung hero.

Posted in Character on Jul 26, 2024

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✍️ 53 stories

“Retaliate!” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #261

“It’s getting tense here. All trade with Argon has been cut off, and we have curfews now,” Willa Wisely says, her ordinarily placid features reflecting her concern. “How are the girls holding up?” Ryan asks his wife. Willa brushes her hair back. She always does that when she’s nervous. “They’re scared. They want their father to come home safe.” “My tour of duty is almost over. Tell them I’ll be home soon,” Ryan replies, adjusting the clarity of the video screen. “But what if...” “Soon, Willa.” Willa squints. “By the way, I’m not too fond o...

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“Lenny” by Kelly Leong

Submitted to Contest #261

Lenny took another swipe of his mop on the speckled off-white hallway floor. Dirty shoeprints adorned the floor, courtesy of Louisiana's rainy weather and the boy's football team. In the distance, he could hear the boys jostling each other and their rambunctious chatter. He remembered when he was at that age, he was a wide receiver on his own high school's football team. He enjoyed the thrill of running as fast as he could to catch the ball from the quarterback, and then running routes past the defense. He could almost hear the rush of the w...

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“Moms” by Renee Yancey

Submitted to Contest #261

You wouldn't know it to look at her, hair unbrushed, pulled up in a messy bun. Her clothes are several years old and covered in baby spit up and other unknown stains. Her eyes are fierce with love and heavy with fatigue. She wears no cape, isn't called by a light in the sky but by a baby’s middle of the night cry or a teenager ‘s phone call. No, you wouldn't know it to look at her, but she is a hero. To the newborn on her chest, looking at her with eyes full of love and wonder, she is everything. To the toddler, curled on her lap, exha...

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“They Walk Amongst Us” by Bob Leask

Submitted to Contest #261

Summer was just around the corner, and this late spring Sunday started off magnificently. Warm, sunny, and a gentle easterly breeze wafting out over the calm, Indian ocean. However, to a trained eye, a closer look at the red sky foretold of bad weather on the way. There was an old saying, "red sky in the morning, sailors warning, red sky at night, sailors delight." Back in the 1970s I did some moonlighting as a deckhand on a crayfishing boat. I had a standing invitation and would go out as often as I could, weekends, public holida...

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“What the Student Said” by Burton Sage

Submitted to Contest #261

What the Student SaidbyBurt Sage “Good evening, and welcome to It’s Your Turn, the program celebrating local community members in the greater Rochester metropolitan area. I’m your host, Alice Carpenter. Tonight we’re speaking with Dr. Jason Evans, the recipient of Monroe County’s Educator of the Year award. Thank you, Dr. Evans, for taking the time to speak with us.” “You’re welcome, Alice,” Dr. Evans said. “I want to thank you and radio station WHAM for giving me this opportunity to express my gratitude to the students of West High School...

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“Arnold's Guardian Angel” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #261

I set the last dog of my evening into the recovery cage, on the thin yellow blanket, I prepared specifically for him. The animal was still relatively lifeless, but that would change within the hour. The anesthesia would wear off, the dog would be groggy for an hour or two, opening his eyes for a moment before closing them again, but should be back to his happy dog self in less than a day. Someone, in the last twenty-four hours, had named the gray and black wired hair terrier, Arnold. I didn’t feel that the name...

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“A Hero for a Hero” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #261

Prompt: Write a story about some unsung hero. A Hero for a Hero “This is 911. What is your emergency?” And the litany of questions begins to pour though the earphone. “Tell me exactly what is happening now? What is the address of the emergency? Are you safe? Is this the number you are calling from? The voice over the phone extends a calming, soothing tone. After a deep breath, the caller responds with the important information. The operator says “Help is soon on the way.” Most of us are old ...

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“She was not a soldier, but a Mother always carries a soldier within” by Prem Swamy

Submitted to Contest #261

Clear night sky, the moon looking slightly bigger than usual with a misty gleam around it, distant stars are shining on second glance…“It is freezing here, Father”, said Matthew.“Hmm…”, The Father.“You seem to enjoy the cold nowadays”, Matthew continued, “You looked tired after you had arrived from the shop, That’s why I made you fresh pottage with cabbage and leek.”“It was as good as fine lamb stew !! Thank you, Son”, The Father.“Let me help you to get to your room downstairs, You’ve been here on the terrace since the sunset”, Matthew.“I’m ...

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“School days” by Amanda Stogsdill

Submitted to Contest #261

School Days by Amanda Stogsdill There have been a lot of people who have assisted me throughout my life. Family, friends, and teachers. In elementary school, I had wonderful teachers, who have unfortunately slipped from my memory.I recall one particular person from those early years. Ms. R was my aide in the classroom. She helped me with the sometimes difficult task of learning braille. (I also had a couple braille teachers who came weekly to teach me). As Ms. R was with me daily, we both learned and struggled together. I didn't find out ...

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“Angus. A Bushman's Dog. ” by Wade Gilbert

Submitted to Contest #261

I'd like to introduce my unsung hero, my loyal confidante, my personal trainer, and 'King of the Back Seat', Angus Daniels, my trusty K9 companion. I've heard him described as "a rather handsome mongrel", and despite his toolbox of adorable traits and extraordinary talents, I'll refrain from crediting him with the intelligence to comprehend the paradox. But he understands basic English quite well, doesn't speak it of course, but I'm sure he has a master's degree in human body language. With my splattering of dog code, we seem to have suffici...

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“THE UNSUNG HERO” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #261

THE UNSUNG HERO Jake Walsh slid down the fireman's pole at Fire Station # 5. It was a daily ritual that he performed to help keep his head in the game and a daily reminder of why he had become a fireman and what it meant to his family and the community. He could have taken the staircase like all the rest of his crew did, but that would defeat the purpose of the act. Jake stood at the bottom and ran his hand along the sturdy brass pole. As he did so, he remembered back to when he was eight years old and the tragedy that had occurred th...

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“A Reflection of Valor” by Chandler Wilson

Submitted to Contest #261

Victor Blackwood is a 60-year-old accountant who, until today, has lived a life filled with routine and predictability. Each day seemed to blend into the next, creating a monotonous blur of unfulfilled dreams. He sits in his Subaru Outback, staring at the sign in the yard outside his Aunt Ursula’s attorney’s house. The stark white lettering of the sign contrasted with the dull gray and blue of the one-and-a-half-story Cape Cod-style house. The rain peppered his windshield, the streaks slightly blurring his view. Peering up, he saw the s...

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“Canine Lifeline” by Suzanne Jennifer

Submitted to Contest #261

The blank page stares at me, the snowy white pixels unmarred by groupings of black pixels that amount to letters. I stare back and drop my focus down to the box at the bottom of the page that says ‘zero words’. Zero. The little round empty circle. Like I need to be reminded of what my life amounts to. Zero. Empty spaces. Thanks for that I say to the word count box.Dropping my head, I look farther down. I see my fingers poised over the keyboard in the home position. Hovering motionless but ready, I can’t seem to make them move. Fingers that s...

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“Daisy Finds the Giant Eye” by Owen Duff

Submitted to Contest #261

Daisy couldn’t find the giant eye. “Ohh, he is gonna be so flustered,” she said with a tsk, tsk tsk, shaking her head and tossing maracas, a rubber band ball, and four traffic cones out of an oversized chest. Davie stood to her right, staring down through his dark sunglasses with his idle hands tied together in front of his belly. Daisy looked up and saw him standing like a statue. “Jesus Christ, Davie, what are you? CIA? Stop standing there like the Men in Black and help me find this damn thing.” Daisy only turned her focu...

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“Skadi, The Hidden Healer” by J.B. Redel

Submitted to Contest #261

“Skadi!” The shrill cry, accompanied by a pounding knock on the door, jolted Alya from her concentration. She pushed back from her workstation and quickly stepped across the small clinic to open the door. Gabriella, the town's baker, stood at the base of the stairs leading from the street above. She was a kind older woman known for her loose lips and penchant for gossip.“It’s little Georgy! He fell, and I think his arm is broken!”Alya noticed the small boy huddling behind Gabriella. He was no older than ten, and tears mingled with snot as th...

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Write a story about an unsung hero.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“Retaliate!” by Michael Jefferson

“Lenny” by Kelly Leong

“Moms” by Renee Yancey

“They Walk Amongst Us” by Bob Leask

“What the Student Said” by Burton Sage

“Arnold's Guardian Angel” by Madeline Honig

“A Hero for a Hero” by Pete Gautchier

“She was not a soldier, but a Mother always carries a soldier within” by Prem Swamy

“School days” by Amanda Stogsdill

“Angus. A Bushman's Dog. ” by Wade Gilbert

“THE UNSUNG HERO” by Glenna Agnew

“A Reflection of Valor” by Chandler Wilson

“Canine Lifeline” by Suzanne Jennifer

“Daisy Finds the Giant Eye” by Owen Duff

“Skadi, The Hidden Healer” by J.B. Redel

🌟 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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