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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#132: Time to Blume

On February 12th, Judy Blume turns 84 — and her bestselling book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, is finally becoming a feature film this year. To celebrate, we’re featuring prompts based on the YA classic released over 50 years ago.

If you need a refresher, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret follows 6th grader Margaret Simon in her quest for a religious identity. Her mother was raised Christian, her father Jewish. They’ve decided not to impose one belief or the other on their daughter, but that leaves Margaret longing for a god of her own to talk to.

Dive into this blast-from-the-past and relive your childhood reading by writing a story based on one of our five Judy Blume prompts.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character saying “Are you there, God? It’s me…”

Dialogue – 108 stories

Write a story where a character is exploring their religious or spiritual identity.

Fiction – 59 stories

Write a story about a couple with fundamentally different beliefs.

Valentine's Day – 23 stories

End your story with a character saying “Thank you, God. Thanks an awful lot.” (sarcastically or not).

Dialogue – 44 stories

Write a story about a teenager whose family is moving.

Teens – 46 stories

Stories

“Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison” by Jacqueline Sibanda

Submitted to Contest #132

"Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison".The euphonious petitions of the choir ring through the high walls of the church. Our priest swings a luxurious golden globe of myrrh incense, while one of the clergy boys sprays holy water at the congregation. The droplets land at my feet and I run the soles of my Converse over them; for these thoughts that inhabit my mind, I will need all the purifying I can get. Behind the alter there's a cathedral glass portrait of Mary mother of Jesus. My eyes stay glued to it and all I feel is a borrowing pit in my stoma...

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“Sunday School” by Joseph Eliot DeBrine

Submitted to Contest #132

Sunday School Leandra looked up at her mother with dreary eyes when the glass of chocolate milk splattered onto the floor. It didn’t break, but rolled beneath the island that covered the cracked tile in the center of the kitchen. Leandra knelt down, knees in the brown puddle, to grab the glass with her tiny hand. Sophie’s mouth curled and tensed as she watched her daughter and tried to remember if chocolate milk stained white dresses like the one Leandra wore. She finally grabbed hold of the glass and set it aside. One knee went down, then...

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“Put in a Good Word” by L Moon

Submitted to Contest #132

I remember the day I broke my heart by asking God for an exception. Just this once. I dared to ask the question of what he and I could be, if only we could ignore the creeping complications of our differences. Perhaps, I thought naively, we could be different. We could be the ones to show the world how to navigate the trails blazed by the hardened hearts of our forefathers. Perhaps, I dreamed, our love might be enough. “So… what’s going on between us?” I dared to ask, ready to paint a beautiful fantasy of peace and inclusion where we ...

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“Pinioning ” by Abby W

Submitted to Contest #132

Pinioning Abby ReiterSeptember 13, 1929 Dear Timothy,From my 2nd story window, I am watching the autumn gusts kick up litter and throw it about in sporadic spirals. I can’t help feeling that my heart and brain are spinning around in much the same way.I have been here just a week now.My grief for you, for us, for what we could have been, has coated me in a thick sticky syrup of despair. I do the things I need to do – finding the landlord to fix the leaking faucet, buying a new pair of oxfords for my position that starts Monday – but it’s...

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“Subtle Blessings” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #132

I stood for several moments taking in the scene. The lake stretched for miles, tree-covered islands reflected off the mirror-like surface. The scent of pine wafted in the air as the water lapped against the wooden dock. Nature nestled me to its bosom, whispering promises of delight in exchange for my time and admiration. Dad walked up next to me. “Well this is nice,” he said glancing out, “now let's get the car unpacked.” He turned and walked away. My eyes remained on the splendor. I shook my head and th...

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“A Search For Truth” by Cisco Ortiz

Submitted to Contest #132

Certainly, the alarming worldwide statistics which threaten our survival can be attributed to much other than one common cause. However, with approximately 8 billion people living on planet Earth, it is beyond alarming how our clear view of reality has been and continues to be obstructed by things like our very own developed technology, as well as false teachings, dogmas & therefore false beliefs. For the most part, they are fed by those closest to us at a premature age not having a minimal understanding as to what exactly it is an...

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“Ghost from the past” by Darko Maric

Submitted to Contest #132

In the background an open door, with a perspective on several open and lighted balconies Green room with blue brocade furniture from the eighties. To the right is a terrace, separated from the stage by a glass door. On the walls of the green room are about 5 portraits of my mother, an antique wardrobe and a table. On the terrace there are flowers, bamboo and straw furniture with two umbrellas, and down the stairs you go down to the yard. Door right into the pantry. The whole house look wealthy. It is already late. Guests leave the dining roo...

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“For The Love Of Ice Cream” by Benjamin McIntyre

Submitted to Contest #132

Completely cutting through the quiet rustling wind in the trees, in the distance of the park, one of the kids is screaming at the other. I slowly run my hands over my bearded face. Why can’t they leave each other alone?“Sorry Zac, I should see what the gremlins are carrying on about. Mind the things.”I heave myself up from the park bench, my stomach making it more difficult than I remember. My oldest son, Isaac, just continues sitting there, leaning forward on his elbows while slowly getting sucked into his phone. Having a biblical name defi...

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“Thank you God, thanks an awful lot.” by Professor Alan Dale Dickinson

Submitted to Contest #132

THANK YOU, GOD. THANKS’ AN AWFUL LOT! Professor Alan Dale Dickinson (Copyrighted) Thank you, God. Thanks’ an awful lot! Oh, for what am I so profusely thanking you for, asked the Lord? Well let me ponder that enormous, and quite relevant question for a moment or too, and then respond. Okay, God, here we go, first and foremost, you save this old saved scoundrel from going to Hell, not passing ‘Go’ and going straight to Hades. Where there is only misery, pain, continual hurting all over your body, constant suffering and the gnashing to teet...

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“And He doesn't say a damn thing about death ” by Brynnah Glas

Submitted to Contest #132

God and I have been through an awful lot. From the hopeful beginnings of a child drawing angels on the walls to the disappointing lows of heartbroken cursing God to hell, we’ve been through it all. Or, at least, I thought we had. That was until I experienced my first death. That’s a first no one prepares you for, not even God. Think about it. People talk about how much joy and pain you’ll feel with your first kiss, your first lover, your child’s first steps. No one talks about your first experience with death, how it’s a shake ...

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“The Best Crash Ever” by Caitlin Rooney

Submitted to Contest #132

The old, beat-up black sedan cuts right in front of the silver SUV in front of our bus. The SUV slams into the back of the sedan, sending it flying off the side of the highway and smack into a huge oak tree. The SUV spins out and lands in the next lane over, facing the wrong direction. I see the whole thing from my almost-at-the-front seat. We have to stop. There's no choice, with both of the wrecked cars sitting in front of us and glass scattered across the road. Our driver, who'd told us, quite loudly, as we left the airport that his n...

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“Dad Said Run” by Laura Lyra

Submitted to Contest #132

She ran, her heart pounding loud in the chest, dry leaves and branches cracking under her shoes at each step. She ran until her lungs felt like they would burst, and her legs cramped and begged for her to stop. Then Anna forced herself to listen. "Are they still following me?" It didn't sound like it, but she stayed still for another minute, breathing as quietly as possible, slowing her heartbeat. Silence. Looking around, she saw a sky-scraping tree a couple of meters away. The first few lower branches were annoyingly high, but the highe...

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“A Perfect Storm” by Andra Parry

Submitted to Contest #132

A PERFECT STORM I cannot do this. I walk on, my footsteps filling those of my best friend Maddie, but each time I raise a leg to move forward, the snowshoes become exponentially heavier. And maybe it’s my imagination, or lack of nutrition, but are the trees closing in? I mean, their branches are weighed heavily by snow and do touch the ground, so maybe they really are impeding our path? Is there even still a path? Doubting myself, I blink a few times and rub my eyes. Maybe my mind is playing tricks and I really am losing touch with reali...

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“Lost Day” by Hazel Clemmons

Submitted to Contest #132

“Elise Bennit!” Her voice calmly trailed off as I looked up to see my professor looking at me with a glaring intent, in her icy blue eyes shielded by her Marie Claire eyeglasses that perfectly rested upon her curved nasal bridge that held the slightest constellation of freckles “Have you been listening?” my eyes darted over to the board to see what's written, “Yes ma’am, the gravitational orbit of the moon pulls and pushes the tides to high and low four times throughout the day” with a grimacing face, “Correct”. She turned and faced the boar...

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“Mother's love” by Sunshine PerlerBeads

Submitted to Contest #132

The heat pouring on my skin as my bare feet walk against the rough rocky road. “How much longer?!” My little redhead sister says. Her red hair comes from the genes of my mother but I and my dad have silky brown hair that looks like melted chocolate rolling down your back. “Almost,” I tug on her hand as I see she is falling behind “a mile more.” She sighs as I wish I could but dad says to stay strong around my sister just as he and my mom did when I was 7. But now I’m older and I don’t get the privilege of my mother and fathers’ strokes on my...

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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

127

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 11, 2022 EST

Won by Adam El Nabli 🏆

Title: Inshallah

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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