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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

“Hinges of Destiny ” by Theresa Fox Turner

Submitted to Contest #152

“Choices are the hinges of destiny.” PythagorasThis is a story of two women, one my mother, Cathy, and one whose name is unknown, so I will call her Mary. Dr. Rosner played a significant role in both of these women’s lives. Cathy’s story is true; however, Mary’s story is mostly speculation.1975 - Not long after she and Bill decided they were ready to become parents, Cathy felt the changes in her body. Cathy wrote in her journal, “Today is the first confirmed day. About two hours ago the doctor informed me that I’m pregnant.”1971 - A wom...

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“The Symptom They Never Told You About” by Amanda Anderson

Submitted to Contest #152

“You’re absolutely glowing!” “Have you felt him kick yet?” “Lookin’ good momma!” I shudder as I look into the mirror. I try to put the words others have said on top of the image I see in the mirror, but they just won’t fit. I think of the more intimate words of my husband. “I love your body.” “You’re beautiful.” “I love you. All of you.” I try those phrases out, but they all fall short as well. I then land on the two statements I have heard the most and hate the most. “You don’t look pregnant!” “Look at that beautiful baby belly!” ...

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“The Sleeper” by J Ryan - Watson

Submitted to Contest #152

Some people are particularly smart, or handsome, or witty. Harold Anders wasn’t particularly anything except particularly bored. He loathed silly parties where everyone talked about themselves and nobody ever really listened, unless there was some titillating nasty news about the deviant behavior of so and so, and who would have ever believed Sharon was such a whore. No, he preferred to stay at home and fall asleep watching reruns of the Andy Griffith show or Bass Masters. I guess you could say that Harold was particularly good at sleeping,...

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“The Light In the End of the Tunnel” by Benny Regalbuto

Submitted to Contest #152

Miranda groped her way along the cold wall of the cave, ignoring the fresh nicks and scrapes gifted her by the sharp gravel beneath her feet. They were, after all, nothing compared to the hunger. The sun didn’t shine down here in the bowels of the earth, but she knew, she knew days had passed. Days and days and days. Enough days that she’d begun thinking it might’ve even been weeks, months, years. How long could a person last without food, anyway? She knew so many other things—things that had qualified her to join up as a “valued team memb...

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“THE ORACLE’S PARLOR, Or The Time When a Bunch of Characters From Other Stories Met By Accident” by Gary Wells

Submitted to Contest #152

Oisyphrix the Outlasting - not to be confused with Oisyphrus the Decaying, or Isyphrix the Temptress - sat in her parlor in a hidden location accessible only through three carefully hidden entries - a magical doorway, a magical tapestry, and a stairway from the cellar of The Blinking Corpse Tavern down the street from the old Money Changer’s Guild in the city of Ithrasca. That last thing is the way that most people find her. But not this time. Across from Oisyphrix stood a small, mysterious figure in plain brown robes. Sethoralas was an elf ...

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“The Lost Art of Listening” by Lauren Barr

Submitted to Contest #152

“Are you sure you want to go out on this trail? We’ve had trouble with bears in the past.” The girl behind the desk peered at me behind her curtain of hair. I patted my overflowing pack. “I’m all set. I hear this peak is the one to climb; the most spectacular views of the valley.” The girl paused, then leaned forward. “It is nice, but a bear attack is no joke. I can point you towards some others trails, with equally nice views. This one passes through a wildflower meadow …” I waved a hand to interrupt her as she brought out trail brochures. ...

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“Too Much TV Is Bad For Your Health” by Susan Dalziel

Submitted to Contest #152

Agatha's fingers hesitated, her hand hovering like it was trying to sense some unseen force, a vibration, maybe a temperature difference, slightly warmer, slightly cooler than it should be? She held her breath and closed her eyes allowing her senses to close ranks and focus solely on touch. Nothing.She opened her eyes and let her breath escape. There was no astral message coming through the technology in her hand, no great sign from the universe to tell her this was the right course of action. She sighed and stabbed the numbers from the...

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“A Modest Fortune Told” by Glenn Holt

Submitted to Contest #152

The Committee To Save The World(CTOSTW- pronounced sea toast W) met on the ship furthest from any landed area. A computer had been used to find the perfect spot. Every ounce of science and every ounce of intuition needed to be used. There must be a revolution now or there would be no more nows. The governments and their peoples were desperate. Only guesses had been made about how to do it, how to save the world.Each member of the committee had been chosen for their expertise. Klaus’s expertise in Climate change, Renke in languages, Stompf in...

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“The Drawing of a Miracle” by Joane Unknown

Submitted to Contest #152

"You know what is this, dad?" Amnious looked at me, putting her drawing on my desk. I left my book aside and moved my focus on her drawing. For a moment, I could only see bright colors, blue, yellow, orange, green, and white but in the middle, there were darker colors that made you think that they were all dark black but which were lighter in the sun's light. There was also an unrecognizable figure in the middle which left me wandering what it was. "I have no idea what this is, sweetheart" She looked at me and then began ex...

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“Call Me Raven” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #152

King Toliver Nesbitt flashes his million-dollar caps and wiggles his bushy eyebrows at Chancellor Manville Dubois, a sure sign the monarch will try to coerce Manville into doing the impossible. “I’m looking forward to seeing Queen Esther,” King Toliver says. “How is the queen feeling these days?” Manville asks. Distinguished, yet unassuming, Chancellor Dubois’s lanky build, fluffy brown hair, and glasses make him look more like a college professor than Andorra’s most accomplished diplomat. “She’s fragile. I can’t thank you enough for co...

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“A Patient Miracle” by Jules B

Submitted to Contest #152

The first time Nick saw the sign he was cycling, on his way to a job. Only a minor miracle – bringing a pet goldfish back to life, a failing grade converted to a pass, an ill-judged text unsent – he couldn’t remember the details. Just another £10 gig, scarcely worth the time it took to ride there, once the GOD app took its cut. He used to think it sounded cool: Miracle Worker, employed by Global Optate Deliveries, GOD for short. Then, of course, it turned out he wasn’t really employed by GOD, only subcontracted to them; and as well as taking...

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“The Healer of Bremen Township” by Nathan Cameron

Submitted to Contest #152

1 “Who wants to see a miracle today?” The crowd, made up mostly by Bremen township locals and filled to its entirety with out-of-towners, murmurs a low clap. While folk like to talk about every Sunday being God’s day, it takes only a mildly muggy day to sap the Holy Spirit right out of them. “I said, WHO!” I give a slight pause for effect, “Wants to see a MIRACLE,” another small pause to really resurrect them this morning, “TODAY!?” The mass clamors. With the loud jeers comes a collective surge of oxytocin, producing a feeling of w...

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“A Bargain With Death” by Blue Grass

Submitted to Contest #152

Kade Gunner was supposed to be dead. Billy had seen it with his own two eyes. The bright lights on a dark, rainy night. Had heard the tires screeching, the loud boom of the crash as the two cars had hit each other full force going well over the speed limit. Until there was nothing left but the smushed shells of two once pristine sports cars. The crowd had been silent at first, watching the ways the flames had started consuming the two vehicles, frozen by fear and shock. And then someone- probably Heather, Kade's prim and proper girl...

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“Like the Sunrise” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #152

Amos threw his weight on the bellows one last time, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. He grabbed a poker and shoved it into the fire. One of the logs broke apart into a hundred scintillating embers; the other resisted. He jabbed it harder, and a spark landed on his arm, right where his glove ended. He hissed and dropped the poker. It clanged to the floor. He rubbed at the tiny burn, then picked the poker up and placed it back on its hook. He returned to the bellows. The shop was sleeping. No matter how much noise he mad...

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“The Mask” by Emmi V

Submitted to Contest #152

(Sensitive Content: Slight Gore, Skin Picking)What if I told you the miracle of eternal beauty was possible, and quite within reach? You’d jump at the opportunity, right? Everyone wants to be beautiful. No one wants to feel less-than. Tell me, how do you feel when you see someone with incredible, undeniable beauty, and see them fawned over for it constantly? Some may think to themselves, “I don’t care, I’m beautiful too.” But you can’t deny, deep inside, the boiling jealousy, the aching envy, the toil and pain of feeling like you’re less-tha...

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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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