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#125 Better Late Than Never

Everybody has that one person in their life who’s perpetually late. For those unfortunate souls, time is never quite on their side, no matter how hard they try.

Whether your characters are rushing to make it, or deliberately taking it slow, this week’s prompts are an ode to the latecomers among us, and to those who don’t give up, even when time is running out.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character who is always running late arriving somewhere just as it closes.

Thriller and Suspense – 19 stories

Write a story about a late bloomer.

Spring – 12 stories

All clocks suddenly stop. Write about what happens next.

Science Fiction – 45 stories

Write a story including the phrase “Better late than never”.

Angst – 67 stories

Set your story in an airport, as someone rushes for a flight.

Thriller and Suspense – 21 stories

Stories

A Very Important Date

Story Time

Submitted to Contest #125

Did I make it? Did I-- Oh, sorry. Almost got my tail caught in the door there. You know, it’s a small tail, but it still manages to-- Did I make it in time? I see you’re counting the money in the cash register, but when I checked online it said you close at ten and I believe it’s-- Well, when last I looked at my watch, right as I was entering your fine establishment, I saw that it was sixty seconds until ten and it surely did not take me a minute to enter what I would argue is a rather large doorway, and so I-- Goodness, I ...

18 likes

The Colombo Drug Heist

Submitted to Contest #125

I burst through the door of the security office of the cruise ship, breathless and without the courtesy of knocking. I was in a panic mode and dressed haphazardly, wearing the thin grey cotton jacket of a cabin steward with tuxedo pants. I was also pushing a metal cart with a laundry bag sitting on top. In the office were two of the ship’s security officers and a man in a business suit. They were startled by my sudden intrusion.“I need help quickly,” I blurted out. My life is in danger.”One of the two guards stepped forward, eyed me up and d...

17 likes

Time For Everything

Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #125

Brian rushed about town, constantly gazing down at his wrist to check the time on his watch. Always adamant about being on time for everything, he timed every move with precision. “Five minutes to reach Plaza Tower,” he said aloud to himself. As he reached the pedestrian bridge leading to the building’s entrance, Brian saw that it was extremely crowded. There was no time to go around, so he did his best to push ...

17 likes

Fairyville's Special Assignment

Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #125

Easton stood on a rooftop leaning against a chimney and studied the map his father had given him. He scratched his head, wondering how he’d managed to land at the wrong house again. He recalled his father’s instructions about this special assignment. He had to deliver Jack’s first lost tooth to Pearl’s Refinery by sunrise before its magic power disappeared. Every child’s first lost tooth was more valuable at Pearl’s Refinery, because a child’s first lost tooth held the magic power needed to keep Fairyville alive.It was Easton’s first assignm...

15 likes

When the clocks freeze

Submitted to Contest #125

It was a snowy and windy night as Christmas Eve was upon the small town of St. Nicholas. The townsfolk were buzzing around, shopping for toys and groceries or decorating their houses as one would do in this season. They were as busy as the snowflakes rushing down from the dark sky. Alice was a twelve year old girl with long black hair, green eyes and small birthmark on her right cheek, a happy-go-lucky child who loved Christmas more than her birthday. That night, she was merrily decorating the tree along with her mother under the supe...

15 likes

MY DAILY EMBARRASSMENT.

Akinbinu Temitope Samuel

Submitted to Contest #125

I woke up to the beam morning light, blissful breeze find it way in through the half opened window, still lying on my bed sprawly, and receiving the pleasure of the beautiful morning with my fluffy pillow, it's day break again. Very difficult to get up, I get this fever every morning and I could not help it. It would have been so fantastic to continue the sleep but work would not permit, not work this time but a drilling session with the Regional Supervisor, to come up at the back of our office. I g...

15 likes

Family Dinner Party

Melissa Manzone

Submitted to Contest #125

The quaint post-card town was dotted with red brick manors, sprawling lawns, and evergreens. Near the town’s center, in a neighborhood where everyone who was anyone called home, lived the Andersons. To neighbors and friends, teachers and schoolmates, and just about everyone else, the Andersons were a picture-perfect family of four. Inside the Anderson home, a sleek, dark-haired Joanna was busy in the kitchen. Standing by the stove, she carefully placed sprigs of rosemary over a pot roast, forming a capital J. “Jaime, John Jr,” she called a...

15 likes

Omicron International

Submitted to Contest #125

[Pablo Picasso is reported to have said “good artists borrow, great artists steal.” While I would NEVER consider myself a great writer, the idea for this story was stolen from Isaac Asimov’s “A Loint of Paw".]Omicron International’s stock was in trouble, which meant, as CEO, Randall Ivanson was in trouble. The stock price was steadily falling for no other reason than it had the same name as the latest COVID variant. The board wanted answers and they wanted them yesterday!‘Fuck the board and fuck the stock market - what the hell do they expec...

15 likes

Better Never Than Late

Michael Maceira

Submitted to Contest #125

Beneath the gilded ceiling of an old theatre, a young woman’s violin sang a dancing melody. She played a New Age style of Gregorian chant and hip-hop, every song crescendoing with flair and pomp. The violinist’s energy pumped Robert’s will. He sat in a dark corner, dozens of rows away from the stage, gripping the arms of his chair, his tuxedo drenched in sweat as he heaved in time with the music. Those sitting nearby gave him nervous looks. As the violin’s melody rose in excitement, Robert inhaled deeply. He yelled. Loudly. Brutally. ...

15 likes

A delayed journey

Submitted to Contest #125

A delayed journey “Please stay away from the closing doors.” I heard the announcement as I reached platform two of Beverly train station in Sydney. I was late again for my work. “Oh no! Not again. Why can’t you get out of bed a little earlier” I groaned. I stood there, breathless, trying to get some air into my lungs and looked at the train doors closing right in front of me. It had enough space for me to squeeze in, slid inside one of the compartments, and I would not be late to work. I would not have to go through the situa...

15 likes

DIA, March 15 2020

Maria Avisal

Submitted to Contest #125

The combination of adrenaline and euphoria Chloe felt clearing the packed jet bridge at the Denver airport was remarkably similar how she had felt at the summit of Lone Mountain three days before, preparing to point her snowboard nose over the edge of the first bowl of the day. Zigzagging through travelers, she reached the main thoroughfare and opened up into a running pace one notch below a full-on sprint. Settling into this pace for what she estimated would be a 600-meter dis...

15 likes

The War Table

Submitted to Contest #125

Reuel rubbed his temples at the arrogance. All six Western kings and queens gathered at once, yet only bickering and arguing was heard. There were bigger problems to be considered now, not petty troubles from a hundred years ago. A hundred years ago… a time the Eastern kingdoms had been foolish and young and unreliable. Their rulers had been old men incapable of seeing reason or of feeling remorse. They had begun wars that had ended in their slaughter. ...

14 likes

Ruby and the Rat

Ema Fancher

Submitted to Contest #125

Long ago, on a day like so many before it, a distant clock tower chimed the hour. The sun rose, casting its radiant light over the snow-laden land. In a small shack on the edge of the village, the golden rays warmed Ruby’s face. The young woman gripped her blanket, her one luxury, and snuggled her sleepy face into its warm embrace. The fire had died long ago and she held onto the warmth of her bed as long as possible in the cozy haze of dawn. She dared to open her eyes. The glistening snow shone beautifully outside, and the sun, nestled on t...

14 likes

I'm Sorry.

Submitted to Contest #125

Warning: Pregnancy loss. Come on, come on, come on! They chanted in their head as they sat in rush hour traffic. They glanced down at their wrist and cursed at the time. Not even 20 minutes ago, they had received the call they had been waiting nine months to hear; their child was to be born. "Come on, move it!" They yelled as they beeped their horn repeatedly. Chronically late their entire life, they had promised their partner that they wouldn't be late for the arrival of their first born child. They glanced at their wrist ...

14 likes

Exactly The Way It Is

Shortlisted for Contest #125 ⭐️

Arlen didn’t know that graveyards could close. Yet here she was, idling at the front entrance of Holy Hope Cemetery, iron gates frowning at her tardiness in an all too familiar way. Brick posts blushed and glowed in the sunset, embarrassed on her behalf. “I want something in time for her birthday,” Mom had said. “It’s just so hard to get out there, with the shut-downs and holidays coming.” “It’s fine, Mom, I’ve got it.” Except she didn’t. She tried. She planned. A schedule of useful tasks ending with lunch at a favorite restaurant on the ...

14 likes

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Contest #126

This contest has ended. Thank you for your submissions.

$250

Prize money

164

Entries

112

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 24, 2021 EST

Won by Shuvayon Mukherjee 🏆

Title: The Heart Specialist

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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