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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#148: The Lease I Can Do

Most of us at one time or another will live in an apartment building. Whether you live in a dorm while at college, or you live in a high-rise in Manhattan, sharing a wall or two with your neighbors certainly keeps things interesting. And living in such close proximity to other people has its pros and cons — you’re never too far from help if you need it, but you’re also never too far from the party your downstairs neighbors seem to throw every weekend.

What are some of your fondest (or least fond) memories of apartment living? Use these five prompts to explore what it’s really like to live in an apartment building — or just a little too close to your neighbors for comfort.

This week's prompts

Write about two neighbors who cannot stand each other.

Sad – 43 stories

Write a story involving a noise complaint.

Sad – 45 stories

Include a character in your story that is often in an apartment building, but doesn’t actually live there.

High School – 38 stories

Write about a couple touring an empty apartment they might rent.

Narrative – 27 stories

Write about an apartment building being demolished.

Sad – 42 stories

Stories

“Apartment Living” by LK Brindley

Submitted to Contest #148

"What?!" Frank squealed. "What on Earth are you thinking, Richard?" He launched out of his chair, passion driving him to his feet. He pointed across the large outdoor patio table, his face flushed, and continued to shout. Jessica yawned. These body corporate meetings always seemed to be full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. She watched as Richard launched a counterattack, and Frank spluttered his response. The current topic of conversation was the pool. This was normal. They had found broken glass in it again, so - again - it needed ...

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“We All Heed Her Piercing Cry” by Simon Pacis

Submitted to Contest #148

(This story talks about death.)It was the 3rd of October, late in the afternoon, and there she was again. That old woman. She walked with a slight limp but looked otherwise strong. She came by the apartment complex once a month. Not always on a particular day of the month. It could be either on the 5th, the 16th, or the 30th. But it was always ever once a month. And she never skipped. Not for the past year that Tyler had been keeping an eye out for her anyway.He observed her through his kitchen window from the third floor. She was ambling al...

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“The Mysterious Case of Nancy Silverman” by Louise Loren

Submitted to Contest #148

Lightning struck the night sky, illuminating the silhouette of the monstrous tower. On the street below, a pale moon-lit face was upturned to the sprawling edifice. It belonged to a teenaged girl, standing outside the wrought-iron archway in the downpour, clutching her small valise white-knuckled. Sodden from head to toe, her hat was limp and soggy against her wet hair and face. Streams of water ran down her coat, dripping down the coattails, mixing with the mud. The girl stood still, her face fixed with an odd look, as one who is lost in th...

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“An Apartment” by Allya Nosmada

Submitted to Contest #148

Tom and Gloria stood outside a magnificent brick building as they waited for the broker to arrive. Tom observed his surroundings with his keen gray eyes. He took note of the make and models of all the cars parked along the tree-lined street, guessing at the year of each. He made sure to say, “how do you do?” along with a courteous nod to the people walking their dogs, keeping an eye on them long after they had passed. ‘Did they pick up after their pets?’ he wondered. Of the five or so pet owners who had passed, the answer was always ‘yes’.&n...

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“A Happy, Happy Agent” by Elle Neelam

Submitted to Contest #148

A Happy, Happy Agent “Hi! You must be Kathy! And you,” the chipper real estate agent points at my name tag, “you must be Scott!” I laugh along and nod, but with a quick glance at Kath, no one’s called her Kathy since Pre-K, I can tell she’s about ready to tap out of this tour. “I am,” Kath says through gritted teeth, she extended her hand to Lisa, our frizzy haired, red-headed agent. It is typical to have a personal agent for houses, but apartment complexes typically came with one, as shown by our guide standing in the doorway ahea...

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“La Celda de la Muerte” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #148

Before the tent crashed in, the arguing voices had already woken him up and Juan's skin prickled with apprehension, how could he protect his sister and himself? Looking out into the bluish tint, something was new, the noise and talking outside were always loud, but the shouting voices were fighting, over what? He couldn't make it out, fear bounced around in his head like a soccer ball. Living on Broadway of the migrant Camp, there were people around their tent all hours of the day and night. He tried to fall asleep but could not get comfor...

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“The Voices at Home” by Courtney Renee

Submitted to Contest #148

TW: Miscarriage and InfertilityColleen Richie wore bright clothes in the photos online, beaming over scores of 5-star reviews. She was no different in person. Bryce and I exited the elevator, where she stood wearing a teal two piece with chunky pink jewelry. The tiny red springs that were her hair were tousled atop her head in a bun. She walked with importance and reached her hand out to each of us.“So lovely to meet you two. I think you’ll just love this place. I mean the view…”We would have to follow her to find out what the view was, beca...

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“Your New View Awaits” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #148

The property agent cancels at the last minute. “But the key’s in a lockbox so you can still go in and have a look at this beauty,” she assures us in her breezy, overconfident way. With some key-jiggling, I unlock the door to the recently advertised “Your New View Awaits - Classy 1 BDRM Walk-up” I step inside, looping my finger around my purse strap, stretched as tight as it will go, and feel the purse’s weight bump against me, heavy as doubt. Dave barges into the middle of the biggest room, clacking his hard-soled boots, and cocks an eye a...

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“The Eleventh Floor” by Robert Gross

Submitted to Contest #148

I got up at five and drank a hot cup of instant coffee as quickly as I could. The coffee was strong and chased away the half a night's sleep fogging my mind.I thought it was important to really see the place one last time. Jay, my only friend left in Taiwan who can remember what happened told me the old place was coming down. I had chased away the memories for several nights with tall cans of beer.Then one day I woke up and I thought I should look.Then I thought I shouldn't.The Pong game in my head. The ball, expertly flying across the scree...

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“The Neighbors” by Ryne Moore

Submitted to Contest #148

**TW/CW** Story contains instances of physical violence and adult languagePhil moseyed down the stairs while tethering his necktie and glanced at his watch as he reached the center-hall landing. 6:47am. With a five-minute drive to the Downers Grove commuter station from the house, if he was out the door now, he could still catch the 7 o’clock express train and be at his desk early by 7:40. Early-in, early-out, exactly what he wanted for this Memorial Day weekend. Phil filled his coffee tumbler from the fresh pot and walked out the front...

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“Spiralling” by Hugo Abbott

Submitted to Contest #148

Bella’s eyes were half-dead already. The buildup of gunk had drawn in flies which blackened the air. Her shrunken belly revealed the full row of ribs, painfully accentuated by the divots between them. I raised the gun, gently pressing it against Bella’s head. Whenever you shoot a human or cow, in the head, the skin peels back, burnt into a starfish shape. Blood, brain and bone explodes out. However the worst bit about the killing is the red mist that accumulates underneath your fingernails, in your hair and in your nostrils. It lasts for wee...

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“Plywood Walls” by Mark Linsky

Submitted to Contest #148

Plywood Walls I took it for as long as I could. So did Dean and Bob. But at last we had no choice but to head over to the property management office a few blocks down the beach where we laid it out: William was out of ...

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“The Complex” by LC Moran

Submitted to Contest #148

Mrs. Harriet Beaufort was not sure when she started hearing them. The muffled voices that seemed to come from nowhere. The odd sounds that were unlike any bird or bell she had ever heard. The footsteps and banging that were sometimes right against her great room wall and sometimes so far away that she had to strain to hear them. But she knew it had been for quite some time, at least since her dear Edgar had passed. When it had first begun to happen, she’d been sure it was the war returned to her doorstep. Those awful soldiers in their...

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“Bagel and I” by Zoë Page

Submitted to Contest #148

Keith Romano broke my heart, so I married his dog.*My whole college degree, I’d been pining over this one guy. He was that incredibly popular jock: dazzlingly handsome and athletically built, Keith Romano had gorgeous messy brown hair, pale, mole-speckled skin and strong blue eyes. Ever since he’d offered to help me with carrying my luggage up to my room, I’d been set. All I wanted to do was marry this guy.He wasn’t like the usual toxic college jock. He was incredibly helpful and kind, which is probably why we’ve always been friends. I suppo...

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“Sweet Tooth” by Eric S

Submitted to Contest #148

Martha and James have been looking for a new apartment for the last few months. The housing market is outrageous right now and prices for rent, and mortgage are through the roof which has made this whole experience for them feel like an impossible task. Martha is a newly graduated nurse who just landed her dream job in the Emergency department at St. Theresa's Hospital which is an inner-city hospital that receives all the high-level traumas within the city. She wants to get all the best experience and to establish herself as a competent t...

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$250

Prize money

195

Contest entries

90

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 03, 2022 EST

Won by S.K. Wulf 🏆

Title: Two Stubborn Women

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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