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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#152: Miracles and Oracles

We have little control over what happens to us, though there’s nothing more human than trying to micro-manage what will come next. This week, I want us to think about both the expected, and the unexpected; times when life throws positive twists at us — miracles, some might call them — or times when we try to predict those turns, for better or worse.

This week's prompts

Write a story in which a miracle happens — or everyone thinks it did.

Middle School – 45 stories

Start your story with a character saying “I can see it now.”

Middle School – 37 stories

Write about a character whose life changes for the better.

Middle School – 47 stories

Set your story in an oracle or a fortune teller’s parlor.

Fantasy – 66 stories

Write a story about someone whose job is to make miracles happen, literally or figuratively.

Middle School – 42 stories

Stories

“Saturn” by Dre Spivey

Submitted to Contest #152

Three Years Prior: THEO “Did you know that I’ve always wanted to be a star,” she asked with her head tilted up, a smile on her face. Before I could answer, she stifled out a small laugh before continuing with, “Not a superstar or anything, but a physical star.” She was serious as she spoke, looking away from the stars right into my eyes. “And what led you to this?” I questioned without breaking the contact. Her eyes are the fairest shade of blue, twinkling like the stars; her face peaceful as she contently speaks, “All things full of light...

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“The Man at Pier's End” by Ben Mears

Submitted to Contest #152

On nights like tonight, I find myself drifting among the stars. Even ten years on from my last visit to this corner of the sea, it still takes my breath away. Specks of light mark the dark canvas overhead like jewels in a divine tapestry. Bits of sand hug my toes as the tide rolls in and out again like sleep on a restless night. This place, more than any other, is full of cycles. Cycles of life, cycles of death, cycles of birth and rebirth. Much of what was here ten years ago is gone, replaced by something new. Even so, the brushing of the w...

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“The Visit: From Dream to Reality” by Emeka C. Eze

Submitted to Contest #152

Bro King was taken aback when the guest minister called him out that morning. His mind skipped and then the melodrama began. "Remove your shoes." The unexpected instruction from the plumpy guest minister and physician gave him a livid feeling. The guest minister walked down from the pulpit to meet him. He wore slippers having survived an accident on his way to the three-day ministration tagged “The Visit.” He felt embarrassed by his powerlessness to ask why. It was a thing rarely done in churches especially when the person ...

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“I Will” by Kalps Venkat

Submitted to Contest #152

From her wavy blonde hair to her gleaming tan skin, Allie Hale is one of the prettiest girls in Edgecreek middle school. Everyone around her constantly gives her compliments on her gorgeous looks, such as, "You look like a doll!" or "I can't take my eyes off you." People especially love her emerald eyes that sparkle like a million diamonds when they hit the sunlight. However, she would get the most compliments from her friends. For most of the kids at Edgecreek middle school, being one of Allie's friends would be a dream come true. It w...

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“ Break the Clouds” by Kaitlyn Hailey

Submitted to Contest #152

Content Warning: domestic abuse, panic attacks When that little boy walked into my store, I could feel my heart break. Woe was scattered upon his freckles, and his sleeves stretched over his wrists. In the dead of winter, he wore only a t-shirt. I still remember how quiet his voice was, the soft tingle of the door as it blurred his question: “do you have anything happy I can read?” My cat, Nemo, let out a small meow, as I craned my neck to see the small boy. He may have been the shortest kid I’d ever seen. His hair fell in chubby cu...

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“A Fortune's Love” by Sean Sorce

Submitted to Contest #152

"Let's check out this fortune teller, Nigel. Maybe she can tells us our future," said Frank as he took the first step up towards the parlor car. I looked at the sign which illustrated a gypsy like lady silhouette with a crystal orb in front of her. On top of the sign read: "Come forth to see your future with Lady Qanilla!" And at the bottom of it said: "No refunds or exchanges." I replied with a little nervously: "I don't know Frank. For all we know, she could be a scam artist." Frank waved his hand and replied: "Looks can be deceiving....

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“The Oracle in the Alley by JD Magowan” by Sullivan Dark

Submitted to Contest #152

My friends talked me into going to a fortune teller with them, I did not want to go, but I know they are only trying to make me forget about Elijah, and what happened to him last week. But I really don’t believe in fortune-tellers or oracles. I know Elijah died and he will never be in my life again, so what’s the point? I asked myself. I know I have been down since the wreck and the girls are trying to make me feel better so reluctantly, I agreed to come along. Laura, my best friend turned down an alley and we...

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“Anomalous” by Indigo Brenner

Submitted to Contest #152

The red and purple beads clacked curiously as Harper Dia pushed them aside. The whole place was curious, in fact; putting down her briefcase for a moment, Harper made a note on her clipboard to report the psychic’s shop as at least a second-class liminal space, if not first-class. “Hello?” She called. “Agent Dia, Institute for the Research of Irregular Subjects. I’m here to investigate your establishment. We’ve gotten quite a few reports of anomalous entities.” “Hello—” Harper jumped approximately seven inches in the air at the sudden app...

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“The Obeah's Curse” by Ashley Kujan

Submitted to Contest #152

The Obeah’s Curse Aaah, the scent of warm, salty air with a hint of plumeria and pineapple, the sound of seagulls chattering on the dock, and an indescribable wave of relaxation flowing through my entire aura. My partner and I had just arrived in the Bahamas for a long anticipated vacation, and the noisy, dingy city was just a faint memory already. We were entranced by the lulling, tropical vibes, as though we were in the most awesome dreamscape, and never wanted to wake up! I don’t know if it was because we wer...

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“The Blind at the Crossroads” by Nox Carmenate

Submitted to Contest #152

Lara stepped across creaking wood into the heart of the old shack. She didn’t want to be there as much as any person who’d come before her hadn’t wanted to be there. Here, in the old and rotting shack lived an oracle, a witch, a collector, really a woman known as many things by many different people. Lara preferred the name that was most true and just so happened to be what the woman called herself. Scavenger. The only true disciple of the rotting god, she had built a home for herself in the rotting remains of what m...

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“The Great Madame Espy Der” by Mar Behr

Submitted to Contest #152

The fortune teller’s parlor hadn’t looked this creepy from the outside. Sure, the light on the tacky, pink—The Great Madame Espy Der—neon sign had been sputtering and shooting out some dangerous looking sparks and the layer of dust on the windows had been so thick that I could have created 3-D drawings with it, but the inside was worse. The attendant who’d greeted me wore a mold-colored hooded cloak that completely covered her body and shrouded her face. She’d led me down a dimly lit corridor and plopped me onto a rickety chair in fro...

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“The Correct Question” by LC Moran

Submitted to Contest #152

A young woman entered the shop with interest, trailed by another who was intensely watching her phone. It looked nothing like any of the other shops they frequented; there were no beaded curtains, no macabre decor, no neon signs in the windows. But this one had just suddenly popped up on her daily newsfeed, and she always wanted to visit a new one. The mass of bells hung in wreathes on the door, some clearly older than others, announced their arrival and a very normal-sounding woman called out that she’d be there in a moment. The cat in the ...

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“The Dancing Oracle” by Kiersten Harvey

Submitted to Contest #152

Stepping through the beaded curtain felt just like so many times before. Year after year, the young knight searched, in hopes of finding what he so desperately desired. Sir Baz had never in all his days come across such an odd place as this, however. Carved into the mouth of a cave, this fortune teller’s shop looked to be more authentic than the numerous crocks and scams Baz had come across over the years. A stream of silky cloth of all hues and patterns descended from the crags in the cave’s ceiling not far ahead of him. The stone wa...

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“The Oracle on the Hill” by Cannon Shealy

Submitted to Contest #152

The bounty hunter rode through the valley, an empty canteen and loaded gun banging at his thigh. The sun beat down on him, causing his open-throated shirt to be soaked with sweat. He wanted a beer. Whether it be unexcitingly flat or painfully bubbly, he wanted one. But first, shade. Something that couldn’t be found in this winding valley at high noon. The mule underneath him seemed to be tired of the heat as well, but what did he care? It had been free, after all. Stolen from the last man he hunted down. He had already forgotten the man’s na...

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“Sacrifices” by Carrot Khan

Submitted to Contest #152

The sun was hot on his head. He could feel his scalp burning in between individual strands of mousey brown hair. Once upon a time, the heat hadn't been something to endure, standing as he had in the middle of the river with the cold water rushing past him. His legs would hurt at the end of the day, standing against the pressure of the current. It wasn't strong, but after twelve hours, it began to take its toll. He had always taken it as the sign of a day well spent, of a job well done, the tired yet pleasant ache of muscles gained in a sati...

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$250

Prize money

237

Contest entries

101

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 01, 2022 EST

Won by Aeris Walker 🏆

Title: Foretold in Smoke

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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