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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#139: Growing Up

As March reaches its conclusion and nature comes into full bloom (at least in the Northern hemisphere), it’s a time to reflect on growth. While shoots are emerging and flowers start to bud, it’s inspiring to think how big things flourish from such small beginnings.

This week’s prompts are about just that. Whether your characters have already gone through big changes, or are just beginning them, it’s time to get growing. I’ll see you back here for the next contest, when we’ll all be one week older and, hopefully, one week wiser.

This week's prompts

Write a story that involves a character donating a box of clothes which have been outgrown.

Middle School – 49 stories

Start your story with someone having their height marked on a door frame.

Middle School – 36 stories

Format your story in the style of diary entries.

Middle School – 52 stories

Start your story with the words: “Grow up.”

Angst – 62 stories

Write about a character sowing seeds for the future (literally or figuratively).

Spring – 38 stories

Stories

“Just Grow up” by Michael Ann O'Grady-Leaver

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up”, my mother said to me when I was 5. I couldn’t count how many times I’d heard that: the first time I had to sleep by myself in the dark room without a nightlight, the first time I remember falling down and skinning my knee, the first time I begged her to stay with me when she left me in the car while she went into her friend’s house for what she called just-a-minute, (and wasn’t), the first time I asked for a puppy for my birthday, the first day of kindergarten when I was afraid to go through the big doors alone. She probably said ...

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“Time's Running Out” by Dillan T Ajer

Submitted to Contest #139

"Grow up and get on with it, your life isn’t going to just happen!" That's what I used to get told when I was a teenager. Sound familiar? Life is, however, more likely to give you a slap one of these days. So here’s a little bit of advice now from a fucking failure.I can't stress enough how important it is for us to live our lives with purpose, our own purpose, with our own values and desires. Don't listen to anyone or anything except yourself, because doing what we want to do, or maybe not doing what we don't want to do, as opposed to doing...

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“The Growing Pains of a First Love” by Morgan Stevenson

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up.” Slam. The echo of the front door crashing into its frame shook Noa more than the door itself rattled from her forceful exit. She was the cause of the blow, but she, it seemed, was easily the most shaken. She tumbled down the wooden steps onto the twisting pavers pushed into the grass, leading straight to the driveway; straight to her getaway. Her keys pressed into her clammy hands as she pushed herself into the driver’s side and then another door - slam. As she maneuvered her car into reverse, Noa glanced up to find the li...

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“Bill” by Amy Wright

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up, kids” Mom said, her soapy hands on her hips. She had been doing dishes in the stained avocado green sink. “Mary, quit hassling your brother. Shawn, quit making fun of her hair. It’s perfectly lovely the way it is.” I ran my fingers through my shoulder length blonde hair. Mom continued, “Now both of you kids out of the kitchen before I make you finish the dishes.” She turned back to the sink, her apron strings flapping behind her. We scattered out of the kitchen. Shawn went to his room in the basement with a stack of comic...

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“I'm The Man” by Gerry Potoka

Submitted to Contest #139

"Grow up." This is what I what I said to Jacob as he walked away from our table. Our table as in Ashlyn and I's table, not Jacob and I's table. Ashlyn is the girl I met on Hinge who, in my opinion, is perfect. Jacob is my best friend who thought it would be funny to come up to me on my first date and act like he was not my best friend. Jacob is my best friend who thought that it would be funny to come up to me on my first date and act like we did not play on the same youth soccer team together when we were six. Jacob is my ...

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“Thanks you to doctors” by Kaoli Chona

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up”, my husband shouted. I was inhaling air continuously sniffing and it irritated my husband Randy. We had just walked out of the doctors’ office together and I had run alone, crying all the way home. Why did I even have a home and a husband when I had no child? I felt like a stranger at home and the house felt so dull. My stomach was always the object of my friends and workmates' stares. Some would stroke it, wondering when it would grow. Tears gashed out of my eyes like torrential rains as I complained to God an...

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“Life is one big act of growing up” by Rebecca Stack

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow Up” he snarls through gritted teeth. Oh how these words rile her. She has no idea why but they never fail to get her back up. She leaps into attack mode the instant they are spoken, every single time, as if she feels threatened by them or under fire. “Not a cat in Hells chance” she replies scowling at him in annoyance “I have no intention of ever growing up” Thinking to herself she aims to stay young at heart and fun for the rest of her days no matter how old she gets. But is that truly why she refuses to grow up ...

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“The Plan” by Andrea Doig

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow Up!” Turning away from that smug, supercilious face, I can feel the tightening at the back of my throat signalling the dam is about to burst. I need to get away from her, from everyone. Right now. When will The Doughnuts get it right? When will my plan succeed? When will it be my turn to win? My stomach is burning with this hot acid of resentment and hatred. I am so over watching her avoid being caught and exposed for the world (or at least the school) to see. Her voice catches me as I start to run, “You need help. You are insane...

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“Growing Pains” by Tro'Sha Pickrom

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up, T.” She stared at her reflection. The red rimmed eyes that stared back at her looked so broken. When had she become this woman? This puffy eyed, red faced woman looking back at her. Just ten minutes ago, she’d been able to stand flat-footed and dry eyed before a judge declaring that she, without a doubt, was done being Mrs. Daniel Fieldsmith. It had been easy. He’d proclaimed to the entirety of the court room that he did not love her, and save the first two years of their misguided marriage, he had not loved her in a long...

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“Taking Responsibility ” by Robert Obszanski

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up,” she told him with a face of disgust. “How should I have known?” “No,” she snapped back. “No, don’t even try it.” One cup had already been smashed and it appeared that more dishware would be imminently destroyed. “You’ve been usi...

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“Shooting Marbles” by Sarah Duffey

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up.” “But I hate onions.” “Just eat them, stop being a baby.” When his mom stops looking, Eli reaches his fingers between the bun and the patty of his cheeseburger. Delicately, he removes the onions from the bed of ketchup and lettuce. He flings them onto his napkin like little tapeworms. He’d recently seen a video about parasites on Youtube and, like many preteen boys, he had an affinity for gross things. It’s a desolate, Midwestern Sunday in January. The sterile, blue sky peeks between bare branches. Dust and gravel kick up ...

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“Tommie's Wake Up Call” by Constance Tiller

Submitted to Contest #139

Tommie’s Wake Up Call Submitted by Constance N. Tiller There are times in life when we are at a fork in the road. It becomes evident that what has worked in the past no longer works. Tommie found herself at this pivotal crossroad. She was shaking her head in distress. When she was younger the bright beams of possibilities were inviting and appeared to light a path to absolute success. But unfortunately, poor decisions, regrets and disappointment had had its way in deterring her dreams. Maybe even, over time, it had robbed her ...

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“A Higher Dream” by K.J Stars

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up.” Those where fathers words after he back handed me, words almost as terrible as the action. Sticks and stones, I’d tell myself, sticks and stone may break my bones but words…words shall never hurt me. Trailing though when I escaped that kingdom quite a fair amount of years back at only 17 years my prime. And no…it wasn’t an impulse, I’ve thought of such a decision for years and I have yet to regret it. Unfortunately, those where not the only time I’ve heard the phrase after revealing the wish of joining the empires knights, it’...

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“Best friend” by Wayne Steele

Submitted to Contest #139

“Oh, Grow up!” “This is your fault!” Emma yelled. Her voice echoed in the bathroom. A sneer formed on Emma’s face; she stormed around the bathroom to see if anyone in the stalls was listening to our conversation. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone. Why would she do that? She thought. I was doing so well on my own, and she had to step in and ruin it. She always has to be the center of attention. “My fault? Why! I talked to people and made a little joke about you.” Olivia snapped back, raising her hands defensively. What did I do? Why is sh...

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“Leaving A Legacy” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #139

What does sowing seeds for the future mean? I never understood what that meant until I looked it up. it means to do something that ensures a certain outcome in the future. To me it also means leaving a legacy for future generations and that's what I want to leave behind. I want to leave a piece of me, a piece of my family, a piece of history for future generations not only in my family, but for other families can know all about the times I live in and to know the men and women who shaped these times. My grandparents you can say sow t...

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$250

Prize money

236

Contest entries

135

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 01, 2022 EST

Won by Alex Sultan 🏆

Title: buried in saipan

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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