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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 219 stories

“Nancy Elaine Trumbolli” by Doug Goodrich

Submitted to Contest #76

My pace quickened as I walked down the hall, getting closer and closer to my destiny. Passing the classrooms on the east side, I could see teachers prepping for the day to come. I can’t imagine many students want to come to school this early, especially on a Monday, but here I am. I feel like a fool, a bumbling idiot, at least I’ve felt this way since my freshman year started a month ago. The difference between middle school and high school is huge. I think back to my parents warning me about this fact, but I don’t think they emphasized it e...

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“By the Riverside” by Elizabeth Sayer

Submitted to Contest #76

The dawn bled sure and true into the paling sky that lay above the boy leaning over the calm river. Rains had not yet begun to come in earnest and thus the water of the river was lazy in the dewy morning air. He did not know that I was watching him from my position just behind an old willow that curtained the bank of the river. He never saw me. But I saw him. And I loved him. I have loved him ever since I first laid eyes on him.  The boy does not do anything during his visits, simply stares into the water. I must admit that I have n...

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“The day my daddy lost his laugh” by Johan Jansen Van Rensburg

Submitted to Contest #76

The day my daddy lost his laugh Wordcount: 2835 Written by Johan van Rensburg It’s a stare-off. Little Steward stares at the man in the doorway -and the man stares back. It’s kind of funny, the seven year old braveboy in front of the dirty somewhere-around-thirty fellow.  More awkward than funny, though. Little Steward beholds the torn and muddy shoes, from which the big toe clearly gasps for fresh air, to the two sizes big jacket that clearly dated at least three centuries ago which stinks and clearly cries out for Nenn...

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“Fallen Citrus” by James Ashton

Submitted to Contest #76

It looked like a scene out of an old Italian film. The mountain range stood like a giant, as if painted onto canvas and hung carefully in the backdrop of a movie. Nearby grasshoppers sang a symphony to my ears as cars drummed in a low baritone behind me. The house was of an old Spanish design and painted white, with a red trim that matched the mountains, which were reflecting light from the setting sun. The infinite rows of orange trees, all small with leaves green, stood upright like soldiers in a small army. This place lives vividly wit...

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“The Next Time” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #76

“The next time she says that, I’m going to…” How many times have I said that? And then what? Usually nothing. I’m a coward, not because I want to be, but because I have been taught to be. Not just by my parents, but teachers, telephone solicitors, nearly anyone in authority. I am afraid of being embarrassed, humiliated, made to feel as though being ineffectual, is what I should emulate. I was encouraged to be no more, no less, than that opaque color on the wall that refuses to make people wither, blush, or prete...

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“Something on My Mind” by Sean Packard

Submitted to Contest #76

Something on My Mind  I am a calm woman. Every day, when I wake up, the first thing I do is take ten deep breaths. I inhale deeply, so that the oxygen flows all the way to my pubic bone, and I exhale until the capillaries nearly burst. It’s soothing and prevents the anxiety that accompanies the dawn of day. When I’ve taken my tenth, I open my eyes and say three things that I’m grateful for out loud. My dear friend, Anne, and the inspiration she affords me. A song that comes on the radio at just the right moment. A lovely memory of grand...

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“When the Bathroom Door Swings Open” by Shayna Halliday

Submitted to Contest #76

Toss and turn, back and forth, left and right, no comfy spot on her uneven mattress covered in too many pillows and ‘not enough’ blankets. Sofia Marsh, the biggest mean girl in town, wanted to pick on her, and for what reason, she had done nothing but mind her business and keep to herself. The only reason Sofia even noticed her was because Maddie Close, Sofia’s girlfriend, was now her lab partner by no choice of her own, because if it was her choice, she would’ve worked alone, but Mr. Scott insisted everyone must have a partner. It’s not lik...

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“Nina from Customer Service” by J. Noda

Submitted to Contest #76

“Hello, this is Nina from Ryder Share. How can I help you today?”“You can tell me why my stupid account isn’t working and you’d better make fast it, Nina.” She could hear the sneer in the man’s voice as he over pronounced the two syllables of her name. Was it a sexist thing or just a jerk thing? God, it was just her first call today. “Sure, happy to help your car sharing experience go more smoothly. May I ask who I’m speaking with so I can take a look at your account?”“I just told the god damned machine who I am so why the hel...

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“Midnights change” by Katherine Edmundson

Submitted to Contest #76

 Twelve year old Midnight rubbed her purple eyes as she woke up to a bright and sunny day in Chinatown. She brushed her black and purple hair and walked out of the alley staying under the shops where the sunlight doesn't shine. Anyone who even thought about messing with her got an ugly glare. Midnight was homeless and hated everyone and whoever got in her way. Everybody feared her and did what she demanded. They are always wondering why she is like that. The truth is she is mean to everybody because her mom and dad died and she hates ev...

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“Someday” by Anna Smith

Submitted to Contest #76

There is a girl who lives in two worlds. The first is the real world. Half of her lives there. In this world, she is known as the woman who hardly says anything at all. That’s a lie. She is not known in this world at all. Instead, she is a woman who apologizes to people who bump into her. She is a woman who takes the coffee orders and accepts that her name is not Jessica, but Jennifer to most people. She is a woman who goes home at night alone, knowing that she hasn’t said anything important in over six months. But the other half of her? The...

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“Treatment day” by Sue Catrama

Submitted to Contest #76

Lucia heard the phone alert which meant it was time for her to get her achy 49 year old out of shape body down the stairs and start the coffee. Before her eyes opened and hand reached for the phone the pain over whelmed her. "Why does he expect me to make the coffee?, he's the one that has to leave this early" she asked herself. Charlie rolled over as Lucia's struggle to the end of the bed began. "You get up, you make the stupid coffee I am in sever pain! while your at it get me my medication" Lucia screamed in her head. Soon as he...

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“Speak yourself” by Goparaju Pooja

Submitted to Contest #76

I was a person who usually cannot speak my heart out with other people. I tried so hard to do that but I couldn't even speak freely with my own parents,family members and close friends. The only reason behind this was I always used to get a thought what if they feel bad or hurt or uncomfortable. So I always used to keep things to myself. So there came a point in my life where I was to choose my career. I loved Maths soo much,but my parents wanted me to become a doctor it was the subject which I hated the most of all,But I couldn't refuse t...

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“Love Always” by Crouton 828

Submitted to Contest #76

Trigger: Suicide Date: August 10, 2017 Dear Paul, I saw you at school today. You looked as dashing as ever. I don't think you noticed me though. Why would you? It was our first day of college, and you entered our dream school with an arts scholarship, and the title of "Best Actor" from the summer competition. I entered the semester on a scholarship from good grades and a completely clean record, not that anyone cares. I did try to say 'Hi' to you. I promise I did. I thought about how I would just, walk right up to you, and say, "Hello, ...

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“The Unspoken Truths” by Carlos L. Delgado

Submitted to Contest #76

THE ANALYST ran her pale fingers over the intricate grooves covering the crystalline surface of the recovered airship lacrima, rousing the souls stored within. Shareholders—wearing fine silk robes, cascades of jewelry, and colorful Sashes of station—whispered into their sleeves while others made a show of pointing out the soul-shards placed before each seated attendant. Opposite the Analyst, far at the head of the bustling boardroom table, a sash-less greybeard glowered at her, unwavering. Above him, the stuffed and mounted head of an ursoka...

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“Pointless” by Elizabeth Crabtree

Submitted to Contest #76

That’s it. This. This is the final straw. Getting up from my desk, I storm over to Sandburns office and throw my report in his face. I said, “So this is how you treat your employees, huh?” Unsurprisingly, he looked at me with shock. But I continued, “Do you think it’s funny to harass the people in this workplace?” He opened his mouth, presumably to stop me, but I wouldn’t let him. I slammed my palms down on the hard oak desk, knocking over a couple of pens and cheap knick-knacks. Glaring, I said, “I don’t care that you're the boss, I don’t c...

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