Write a story inspired by the phrase “The short end of the stick.”

Posted in Character on Apr 14, 2023

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✍️ 28 stories

“As Promised by Raja” by Irum Sarfaraz

Submitted to Contest #194

“Abba[1] when are we going to get our goat? It’s so close to Eid-ul-Adha [2]now,” Majeed’s three children ran up to him excitedly as soon as he entered the house. Over the past two weeks their insistence on getting a qurbani[3] animal had gained momentum as Eid-ul-Adha drew near. “Yes, we’ll get it soon enough. Let me catch my breath first,” Majeed replied as he slumped into the three-seater sofa in the simply furnished family room. “But Abba, it’s getting very late,” Sameer, his fourteen-year-old son sat at...

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“An Ending” by Ness Turner

Submitted to Contest #194

The short end of the stick pointed out at me, waving innocently, as if I hadn’t rammed it through my paper cup just moments before. My coffee was going cold. I looked up and down the street. No one had seen my outburst - and if they had, no one had said anything. Typical. Everyone wrapped up in their own worlds. Who cared for my little world, a world that had just had the largest dent ripped from it? No one if not me. I grunted. Tipped the cold dregs onto the floor and flung my cup at the rubbish bin, but it clattered back, rolled aroun...

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“Fair winds” by Chloe Madison

Submitted to Contest #194

I'm pretty sure I’m gonna die on this godforsaken ship, he thought, staggering towards the sails as the galleon threatened to capsize at any moment. Williams was neither the biggest nor the strongest man on the ship and being out in the open sea in the middle of a storm with someone yelling at him every five minutes was certainly not his first choice, but after a long year of bad luck he decided to turn his luck around. The storm was upon them and just as another sailor fell off the ship, he disappeared in seconds into the grim, dark s...

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“The Stick in Lilith's Hair” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #194

“It’s easy,” Ursula said. “You just need to concentrate harder.” “I am concentrating harder,” Lilith said through her clenched teeth. She brushed her black hair away from her big coffee-hued eyes. She was exhausted and she was done trying. Concentrating harder was not the problem. Lilith’s sisters received all the natural ability, leaving Lilith with the short end of the stick. Lilith couldn’t get her pinky finger to change texture or color. Lilith couldn’t move a feather an inch off the table.&n...

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“Grabbing the Short End of the Stick ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #194

I wish people would leave me alone. There are times when solitude can be comforting to me. When I can let the demons in my head run free for a while. Why do I feel as if I am confined when I sit in this room to listen to your prattle of endless inadequacies and shortcomings. You make me sick. You make me feel as though I am left grabbing the short end of the stick. What is it you want from me? Jerome. Jerome, why are you this way? How should I know? I don’t know. If I had an answer, I would tell you, but ...

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“Milk Run” by C Turner

Submitted to Contest #194

It’s Garrison’s turn, but Harvey snatches a matchstick while she dithers. The woman—some sort of former athlete, either softball or cow-tipping, whatever the hell sports they used to play here—glowers at him and his New York manners. She’s too polite to call him out though, too tense. The drawing continues in the foggy November dawn, all the able-bodied adults gathered in front of the school. Wind creaks through red cardboard whirligigs. The others fidget with their makeshift weapons, stamp their feet again...

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“Put me in coach ” by Rebecca Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #194

Put me in coach - Rebecca Alvarez Mallory had volunteered to take the shitty seat in coach when the flight attendant announced that someone from business class needed to give up their seat, but that their flight would be refunded. It was an easy decision - now she wouldn’t have to do gig work when she got home to make rent on time. She’d agreed to take this trip before everything had changed - her job, her relationship, and her relatively easy life. She’d already paid for the tickets, so she wasn’t going to back out of the girl’s trip to ...

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“One Time, One Meeting” by Laarni Odsey

Submitted to Contest #194

A gust blew from the deck, through the covered walkway, tousling the loose strands hanging down Sachi’s face, before rattling the glass panes of the sliding doors at the top of the wooden steps where a young woman stood. She wore a kimono with a careful splash of red at the bottom where embroidered karabana flowers rose up to color the garment that was otherwise as white as snow. Her skin that showed was equally pale, her lips were lightly tinted with the same splash of color, and her big round eyes were the brown of late autumn. Sachi ...

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“Shattered Glass” by J D

Submitted to Contest #194

The storm inside Jamie threatened to shatter the fragile happiness in their small apartment as Alexis burst through the door, her eyes full of excitement. Jamie studied her, taking in her auburn hair, her green eyes dancing with joy, and the infectious smile that had first captured his heart. “Jamie! I got the promotion!” she exclaimed. Alexis had worked for this moment, pouring her heart and soul into her career. She had faced her share of struggles, the grueling process of managing a team who doubted her abilities. Alexis had fough...

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“STICKS AND STONES” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #194

Whatever happened to being the nicer one in the room and not the one pointing fingers? It was a good thing the meeting was now over as everyone left the room not knowing who was in or out. The ones calling the shots must have forgotten what it meant to be a team leader. "Lead by example and be the one person looked up to." How did this change for the worse and it was happening way too often. I felt it more than most as I was fairly new to the team. Over and over in the past few months brought the gavel down to any and most of my input to new...

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“Child-less” by Emory Pearson

Submitted to Contest #194

I don’t know why I thought today would be any different. But I did.It’s five already, I’m shuffling to the kitchen for a mug of cheap coffee, sitting on the couch in the same spot I do every morning. Cal was already there like he has been for the past thirteen years, silently sipping his java and checking his schedule for the day. Looking up from his phone, he’s waiting for me to settle onto my cushion and take my first gulp of caffeine. “Mornin’ Beautiful. Are you as excited f...

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“Crop Duster” by Wesley Goodfellow

Submitted to Contest #194

In my younger years, I’d always daydream wherever I went, especially during tough times. When I closed my eyes I heard plane motors turning and air blowing, almost feeling it blow against my face. The trade magazines for pilots I bought gave me a clear idea of what to daydream. They’d be filled with illustrations of new planes, new world records, a profile or two on a famous pilot. I always wanted to be written about just like them. These daydreams were often all I had when I was a kid. At school, these daydreams happened more frequently. On...

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“Not Again” by Amy B

Submitted to Contest #194

Sensitive Material: This story discusses pregnancy loss and miscarriage. Not Again ******* Every life is filled with moments. Moments of happiness, sadness, joy, pain and love. Some moments we create for ourselves. Some moments create us. They define the way we think, the breath we breathe, our entire being. Pregnancy loss controls a person. Stifles her from moving on, living, grieving. It can make a person feel hopeless. Helpless. Lost. Angry. All of these emotions rolled together with no place for them to go. Until they are released. ...

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Write a story inspired by the phrase “The short end of the stick.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 28 stories

“As Promised by Raja” by Irum Sarfaraz

“An Ending” by Ness Turner

“Fair winds” by Chloe Madison

“The Stick in Lilith's Hair” by Madeline Honig

“Grabbing the Short End of the Stick ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Milk Run” by C Turner

“Put me in coach ” by Rebecca Alvarez

“One Time, One Meeting” by Laarni Odsey

“Shattered Glass” by J D

“STICKS AND STONES” by Debbie Curtin

“Child-less” by Emory Pearson

“Crop Duster” by Wesley Goodfellow

“Not Again” by Amy B

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story inspired by the phrase “It’s hardly brain surgery.”

Write a story inspired by the phrase “I’ll eat my hat.”

Write a story inspired by the phrase “The plot thickens.”

Write a story inspired by the phrase “Back to square one.”

Contest #194

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

213

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: