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#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

“The Artist” by Amy Wright

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there, God? It’s me, Bernard. I haven’t been around much lately, mostly because my wife just wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. I’ve locked her in the closet for now though, so we can be alone. I’ve tried to be good, God, really I have. It’s just that everyone keeps getting in my way. They don’t know me, my God, they really don't. They think they do, because that’s what I've wanted them to think. I’ve wanted to get out ahead of them, so when I strike they’ll never believe it was me. I spent years on this, God, you know I ...

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“DO YOU REMEMBER?” by Del Gibson

Submitted to Contest #132

****TW: Scenes of terminal illness**** “Are you there God? It’s me, Olivia. Please give me strength, my Mum is dying!” I shout into the windy Autumn day. My girlfriend Brie and I are outside Wellington hospital, watching as twilight breaks across the sky, in magenta, orange and gold. She wraps me in one of her infamous cuddles – my safe place. “Olivia,” she gently pushes me away, looking me in the eyes. “Honey, we knew this day would come.” “I know,” I reply, “but it doesn’t make it any easier. It is happening too fast.” After rece...

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“Wrong One” by Nyna Smith

Submitted to Contest #132

Are you there, God it’s me Sy and I just wanted to ask you why? Why must everyone I love the most be taken away from me. Why must my heart yearn for the flaws in others, to heal them knowing they'll leave me one day? Why do I self-sabotage with the ones who wanna love me? Everyone has their purpose but what is mine? I write to God almost everyday as if he could somehow write back to me. After ripping yet another undone letter in half . I demanded my body to get up and go to the kitchen. Instead of sitting in my own self pity party, I think i...

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“A Prayer for Peace” by Claire Clayton

Submitted to Contest #132

"Are you there God? It's me." I sat with a blanket around me on the hardware floor of my bedroom. The black bookshelf to my left, the closet curtain behind me, and the decorated dresser to my right made a cozy nook for me. Ever since I was a young child, I loved sitting on the ground. It made me feel connected to the Earth- balanced, safe, secure. I shared the room with my twin brother, William, who currently resided in the living room where he was sure to be on the computer. That left me to have a moment of peace and quiet in the busy hous...

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“The Sinners Clause” by Destiny Gibson

Submitted to Contest #132

WARNING: A PERSON DIES IN THIS STORY. THERE ARE ALSO CURSE WORDS.“Are you there, God? It’s me again…”The young man’s voice stirred Insiel from a deep meditation. The angel sat in the Garden of Eden under the flowing tendrils of a willow tree, their eyes closed and their legs crossed. Insiel cocked their head to the side, listening, and their salt and pepper hair shifted with the sudden movement.“Why have you been doing the exact opposite of what I pray for lately?” The man continued.“Oh great, this asshole.” Insiel sighed softly to themself,...

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“Are You There? ” by Angel Vargas

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there? God! It’s me!”These weren’t things I’d normally say, especially at three in the goddamn morning. Yet here I was, at that exact time on a summer Friday in the year 2000, standing just outside the beat-up, red metal door to my great grandmother’s midtown apartment. I was an easily irritated twenty year old, and I’d already had words with her asshole superintendent. Why, of all people, did she reach out to me? Did she know the humidity was keeping me awake tonight while I peeled myself off my couch for glasses of water? The...

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“Oh No . . . Not Again.” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #132

Aubrey squinted at the bedside clock. It was four in the morning and the summer dawn was forcing its way in through a gap in the curtains.“Oh no.” He said, as he realised he’d made it through another night. “Not again.”He struggled to sit up. His twisted sheets refused to let go of his legs, after a bit of a tussle, he gave in and rolled onto his back. Images of a walrus heaving itself across a beach flashed through his mind. He lay still for a moment panting. His chest sounding like old bagpipes.The home never really slept. The majority of ...

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“Are You There God? ” by Michael Hemmings

Submitted to Contest #132

“ ‘It’s me. You know who’. That’s what I said. And you know what I got back? Nothing. That’s when I asked you out for coffee. I need help; I am… swallowed up by anguish.” After looking at each other, the Rabbi and Imam turned back to the Priest. The Imam said, “But…” The Rabbi said, “Well…” “You first,” the Imam said with a smile. “You are first in history and in the love of Allah.” “Thanks colleague; in history yes, but first in love does not mean preeminent. We are all loved by HaShem; think of a couple with more than one child. Do th...

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“Nicaragua and me” by Marie Richmond

Submitted to Contest #132

Time to BlumeAre you there God? It’s me, Manolo. Ever since we moved to America Mama is not the same. Sure she looks the same. She has the same dark hair pulled into a ponytail and the same hands that make my favorite dish, Gallo Pinto, but she is not the same Mama. God, I need your help to get my Mama back.We left our farm in Nicaragua before the first rays of sun one December morning. Mama led the way carrying my little sister Ana. Mama wanted to leave before Ana woke up. Before the crying and whining. We were lucky she was sleeping. ...

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“Memoires of a trip to Miyama Shrine” by Gianluca Angelucci

Submitted to Contest #132

This is the story of when I met a real God. It happened once, and I don’t know whether it will ever happen again, but it was enough to fill a lifetime.Just bear with me, it’s barely the memory of a dream, but all you will hear is nothing but truth.At the beginning of this story I was an undergraduate in nuclear engineering. You can’t really split substance from form, action from essence, so I’d say that my college major kind of matters, in the grand scheme of things. At least for this story.Douglas Adams once said “Isn’t it enough to see tha...

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“Jesus, Mohammed, the Buddha, and Dixie” by Genevieve Willingham

Submitted to Contest #132

Jesus, Mohammed, the Buddha, and Dixie Dixie grew up in the absolute tightest hole of the Bible Belt. South Georgia, USA. Land o’ cotton. Other side of the Mason-Dixon Line. Dixie. They even named her Dixie. Lucky girl. As an adult, Dixie had lots of complaints about the Deep South culture, as most folks do after living in a repressive area. One of her main ones was the religious atmosphere. Not the spiritual atmosphere. This was all about religion. For one thing, almo...

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“The Burden of Not Being Alone” by Kasha Morin

Submitted to Contest #132

My thoughts continue to circle in my mind. The same pattern. A reflection of where I have been and where I could possibly be going. A future where my own existence could be forgotten. A present where my history is being used against me. I had thought when I started this whole thing that it was a fun way to no longer be alone. The responsibility had not occurred to me. I concede that I realized I could not do it on my own. Maybe I should talk with Jesus once again. After all, who could possibly know my wants and needs better. Two halv...

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“A Matter of Grace and Our Father ” by Jackie E. Thomas

Submitted to Contest #132

“Grace,” said mom. She sounded very distant, even though she was six feet across the table from me. Behind her wooden dining chair, an eight-foot artificial Christmas tree titled in the opposite direction, almost touching the plain white wall. The tree had fewer than usual ornaments, a red ribbon that stopped halfway down the middle, and not a single light bulb attached. She exhaled deeply, her head resting against the back of the chair, her eyes closed. She wore a somber expression, typical of when she had a severe headache. I clo...

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“Haviva” by Tsvi Jolles

Submitted to Contest #132

Unlike most people who believe the world owes them a thank you, Aunt Haviva believes she needs to be grateful for what she has, regardless of how little it may look to an outsider. In the morning, when she walks to the intersection near her house, she shakes hands with drivers and sometimes asks them to get out of their cars so that she can give them a brave morning hug.Drinking morning coffee, watching her from a sidewalk table, one realizes her behavior is certainly borderline, and even crosses the line for sure. However, aunt Ha...

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“A Pale Blue Dot” by Maria Blackman

Submitted to Contest #132

Caze and Rebexi’s family life had been harmonious, despite the challenges of living in the Blue Colony, but they were shaken to their respective cores when Zily came home from school crying. “Darling,” Rebexi said, as she stroked Zily’s hair. “What happened?” Caze hovered behind Rebexi, troubled by his daughter’s blotchy face and reddened eyes. Zily sniffled, burrowing her head into Rebexi’s lap. “Jaro said…” Her voice was muffled. “Jaro said how come you don’t go to church on Starday? He said…” Caze stifled a gasp then spoke encou...

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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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