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

Posted in Character on Apr 21, 2023

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✍️ 87 stories

“Scarlet Grin” by Roland Hacker

Submitted to Contest #195

An ambiguous, iniquitous entity exists in Utah, an unnatural presence felt merely from itinerant travel through the Great Basin. Rising elevation stokes greater separation from the scope of human perception, upslope fog concealing mystery as the endless grind of time and weather before it. Those native to this land know of what I describe, for urban legend began long before settlers descended the Rocky Mountains seeking fairer climes. My introduction to this wretched place came as I found myself in service to Dr. Gregory Porter, a re...

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“Hidden Hero” by America Marble

Submitted to Contest #195

The sound of laughter in the background brought a smile as we spread out our blanket on the hot summer sand. Only after our beach umbrella was set up and the cooler was resting in the shade, did we finally sit back and enjoy the view. The sounds of the waves crashing, followed by children’s voices, had my eyes straying towards the shore where a blond lady paced back and forth in a four foot spot. Finding this very unusual, my eyes stayed glued to her form, wondering what had troubled her. Finding her still pac...

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“Teddy the Wonder Boy” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #195

It’s an age-old story. Mr. Freedom stands atop the getaway car, grinning wildly while holding each of the bank robbers by the scruff of their necks. News cameras and citizens’ iPhones are all taping the event for prosperity. Laurels and praises are being heaped upon Mr. Freedom for doing only what he seems capable of fighting crime. Meanwhile, I stand off to the side unnoticed, Teddy the Wonder Boy. At the end of the Iraq War, Dirk Stroman, aka Mr. Freedom, found an infant boy in the rubble of a collapsed building. ...

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“Presto!” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #195

The black silken bag whispered against my nose as I crouched in the absolute darkness. I could feel the emotions of betrayal, panic, and abandonment at the edges of my perception but I held them back, reminding myself that soon I would be freed, again. I could feel my prison move around, tilt, and after a light thump I could feel something brush against my cloth surroundings as if looking for something. I sighed and pressed my nose upwards, breaking through the roof slightly. The light blinded me momentarily as something wrapped around my to...

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“Let's Save the World” by Melissa Ziegler

Submitted to Contest #195

Anne leaned against the concrete wall of the superhero headquarters. With a snap of her fingers, a small flame came to life on the tip of her pointer finger. She used that flame to light the cigarette hanging from her lips. Another snap, and the fire went out. That first drag of the cigarette was like a drowning man’s first gasp of air. Anne pulled the smoke into her body like it was the answer to all her problems, and for one beautiful moment the burn in her lungs was enough to block out the rest of the world. She sighed and r...

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“Hopes of Madness Abandoned Them: The Story of Ygor Fritz” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #195

To Ms. Elga Fritz, Hull, England.Ingolstadt, Mar. 15th, 17—My dearest sister,I apologize for the late arrival of my first correspondence. How you must have worried. Fear not, I have arrived unharmed, yet weary from travel. Ingolstadt is truly a mecca of knowledge and learning. I was received warmly by Dr Umholtz and his staff of metallurgists. Our quarters are quite pristine, not exactly the spartan accommodations I had pictured while imagining my boardings during my long journey. We are truly a cohort of gentleman blacksmiths. My ...

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“THE ASSISTANT” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #195

THE ASSISTANT “ Peter, please, I recommend you, the file on George’s crime must be ready by tonight. You should have already found time to fill it out. If you haven’t done it, get busy. Look, you have to go and see Mr. Gilles and try to calm him down, reassure him. He phoned me all agitated” “All right Paul,” I say, getting ready to go out. “ One moment, Peter,” my chief ( boss) says, looking around and beckoning me to come closer. “ While you are at it, try to keep Mary calm too. She is bombarding me with phone calls and questions. “ Mary...

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“Out of the Limelight” by Alex Fischer

Submitted to Contest #195

“Graaah! Hahahaha!” Goon Brick cackles as he wades through red dust clouds seeping through a ruined city block. “It’s only lunch and I already levelled all the biggest buildings in the neighbourhood!” he then turns his attention to an alabaster, flatiron department store at the fork in the street: the new Drake Kazama Fashion Complex on its grand opening. “Except that one.” Most people would run away from a creature like this, but I got as close as possible, hiding behind a post box to get a better view of it. You might think I’m a nosy phot...

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“Perpetual Sidekick” by Emory Pearson

Submitted to Contest #195

With only three minutes separating them from glory or despair, Hilda and Natasha raced off the center circle with the determination of Scorpios. They were after all, both Scorpios, solidifying their friendship and locking in B.F.F. status. The ball rocketed into the back of net, deflected with precision off the top of Natasha’s head. The keeper didn’t stand a chance. Hilda's cross landed exactly where she anticipated Natasha would run to. Her constant awareness of her teammates’ positions and an uncanny ability to predict their movements set...

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“The King in the Shadow ” by Chad Crocker

Submitted to Contest #195

1293 on the feast of our cardinal. I fear for the land of Brookshire as the court is reforming for its new king. Master Louis's condition leaves us no choice but to presume the worst. It was an elegant reign unlike any other, and now I fear for our golden age to collapse imminently. Prince Matthew is soon expecting to take his place as the heir. There has to be some other way; there is no world I could live in with that twat running my country. Two years Matthews younger, master Henry on the other hand, If only he were a little bit o...

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“Rrof and Me” by Jim Robison

Submitted to Contest #195

Rrof was my best friend; we knew each other all our lives. We might even be related because our moms were sort of related. As I understand it, my mom used to ride on Rrof’s mom. When Rrof’s mom found a nest of leaves under a dead log to give birth to her litter, my mom decided it was time to drop her eggs. And so Rrof was born, and I was hatched, right next to each other. How cool is that! Then when I was old enough for a riding partner, there was Rrof, ready and able. So I got on him and we became best fri...

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“BJ and The Mrs.” by Jodi Renee Thomas

Submitted to Contest #195

It is often said that “behind every great man stands an even greater woman.” Although this is a true statement, it is rarely discussed that many times, every fantastic woman has an incredible man for backup. That lucky guy is me. I’m the backup. Or sidekick, if you will. I never planned on being a superhero or even one’s second in command; the entire situation fell into my lap one day. I was going to be a psychiatrist, stockbroker, or something important that makes a butt load of money. But it seemed that there was another plan awaiting me. ...

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“The Carrier” by Ilma A

Submitted to Contest #195

Floodlights had been dimmed. The crisp air blew the sweat beads off my forehead, and I floated, weightlessly in a puffy, pink cloud, caressing soft supple skin, a little slimy but butter between my fingers. My heavy eyelids trying hard to focus on little curves gyrating to each rapid breath of the body, fluttered little teardrops. “Just for a little bit longer, please?” I begged the nurse. “We have cut the cord now; the mom is getting impatient. I am sorry,” the nurse said as she plucked my newborn, leaving my punctured arms in an empty pr...

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“The Neuroscientist and the Rockstar” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #195

Trigger warning: Suicide“And with this new technology, we can obliterate chronic depression and anxiety around the world. Thank you.” Doctor Martin paused a moment, taking in the applause from the stadium that surrounded him with a smirk. He then glided off the small stage reuniting with his team of researchers. “Always leave them wanting more,” he would tell his team every time he gave a talk on the team's newest technology. Julian always thought that this sounded more like a remark from a rockstar rather than o...

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“Ever This Day” by Beth Kubala

Submitted to Contest #195

“Just another day at the office,” she said as she planted her feet on the floor. I stood in the doorway. “Nevertheless, go and have a healthy breakfast, you’ve got time.” She stretched and yawned. “Why am I so tired?” “You didn’t sleep as well as you could have last night. It probably didn’t help that you were still looking at your phone at 11:30 pm.” I don’t think she heard the last part of my comment as she headed into the bathroom for her shower. “You look lovely, very fresh,” I said but she was looking in the mirror at her face and inv...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 87 stories

“Scarlet Grin” by Roland Hacker

“Hidden Hero” by America Marble

“Teddy the Wonder Boy” by Ralph Aldrich

“Presto!” by Amy Rosenthal

“Let's Save the World” by Melissa Ziegler

“Hopes of Madness Abandoned Them: The Story of Ygor Fritz” by Levi Michael

“THE ASSISTANT” by Mara Masolini

“Out of the Limelight” by Alex Fischer

“Perpetual Sidekick” by Emory Pearson

“The King in the Shadow ” by Chad Crocker

“Rrof and Me” by Jim Robison

“BJ and The Mrs.” by Jodi Renee Thomas

“The Carrier” by Ilma A

“The Neuroscientist and the Rockstar” by Madeline Honig

“Ever This Day” by Beth Kubala

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

206

Contest entries

92

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: