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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

“On the Streets” by Sophie Turok

Submitted to Contest #152

“I can see it now.” “See what, Mama?” Hasina questioned. “Yeah! See what!?” Imani said. I smiled at both of my girls. “All of this.” They both cuddled under the baby blue blankets, as I dimmed the light to a dull brightness. We were poor. After my mother lost her job, we lost everything. Lost our house, lost hope. My father left us a few years before, so my mom was alone. Our apartment wasn’t big to start with. My brother Obi and I shared a bed and my mother slept on our couch. Obi’s name means heart and he ha...

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“The Shop” by Cigarillo Ramblings

Submitted to Contest #152

Warning: Mild Language _______ "I can see it now!" Scarlett exclaimed confidently with her hands on her hips. "...You're not wearing your glasses, Scar," Lucy grumbled lowly as she looked at Scarlett from the corner of her eyes. "I said I could see it, not that I could see it well." "You're an asshole." Scarlett let out a soft chuckle as she wrapped her left arm around Lucy's shoulders, hip bumping her playfully. "You don't always need to see clearly to see things, ya know what I mean?" Scarlett rested her head on top of Lucy's as...

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“The Announcement” by Hilary R. Glick

Submitted to Contest #152

Trigger Warning: Although this story is a work of fiction, it does contain triggering topics such as abortion and fertility issues, please read with compassion and caution. “I can see it now. One more big push, you can do it.” Mrs. Appleton lets out a long groan but doesn’t push. “I can’t,” she says. “I can’t do it anymore.” &n...

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“Watching My Kitchen Drown ” by Dani Sheehan

Submitted to Contest #152

“I can see it now….” Mick said, pushing his reading glasses up from the brink of his nose. His voice, removed, an echo. Though we were feet apart. “What?” I said. Returning from numbingly staring at a ketchup speck that was living on the corner of my ceiling. “…your week ahead will be filled with introspection. Are you being honest with yourself?” “What do you mean?” My throat, coughing up the sentence. “You tell me?” Mick said, raising his right eyebrow before breaking into a slight smirk. “It’s hocus. I mean...

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“Aubrey Rose McCallum ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #152

“My name is Aubrey Rose McCallum.” She told me on the first day of class, “And I am autistic.” Now I want you to see something. Please, follow me. It’s on the north wall of the gymnasium. Right there. Beautiful, isn’t it? It took her over a semester and a lot of spray paint, but it is a true work of art, don’t you think so? As you can see, Aubrey used such brilliant colors to transform that plain, dull brick wall into this striking figure of a heavenly angel with both wings and arms spread ou...

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“The Broken Soul” by Clerance N Khosa

Submitted to Contest #152

Walking in the streets of Soweto bleeding, exhausted, and wounded. This was Gilbert a young boy who had escaped death. He got everyone’s attention, but it seemed normal to them to see such a young boy fighting for his life. He asked for assistance but nobody seemed to pay attention. Next moment I heard gunshots. As we all try to figure out who was firing into the sky, the streets were already full of a gang known as the Russians, they are known for eliminating individuals that bring unrest in the community. They either kill them by burning o...

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“Daze of the Weak (Miner Crisis)” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #152

Daze of the Weak (Miner Crisis)"Well, fellas, let's get going! The sooner we finish this job, the sooner we can head back home. Great breakfast, as usual, Hap!”Ralph Hale pushed away from the table, the legs of his chair scraping with a painful “Eeeee!” against the worn linoleum.Ralph, head of the geological survey project at Grimm's Gulch, was hardworking and capable. Somewhat of a fatherly type, he cared about his team and was always trying to do something for them. Everyone liked him.Everyone except for Farley Moon, who didn't like m...

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“The Prediction” by Stacey Jackson

Submitted to Contest #152

The Prediction Amanda Chancey drummed her fingers on the black tablecloth. She sat across from the fortune-teller again, hopeful a new love relationship was on the horizon. Unfortunately, she had a habit of only hearing what she wanted to hear, grasping onto the wrong nuggets and taking off with them, only to return to the psychic looking for new answers and the promise of romance. While the fortune-teller shuffled cards, Amanda peered through the lace curtains. On the small lawn with overgrown grass was a hand-painted s...

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“Madam Soroya`s Curse” by Fred McIlmoyle

Submitted to Contest #152

As the numbing grey haze began to filter out of my mind I became aware of vague shapes hovering on the periphery of my world. I struggled to bring them into focus but they continued to elude me. Brief snatches of a conversation drifted through the mists of my consciousness. “He obviously believes it happened” a voice said, “I’ve never known regression under hypnosis to fail”. “It’s impossible; utterly fantastic” a second voice retorted, “there has to be some logical explanation for his delusion.” It`s odd though, the first voice c...

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“Beware the Dark” by Laura Holt

Submitted to Contest #152

Beware the Dark Laura Holt The carnival was a kaleidoscope of lights and sound around them as Ingren and Lucian walked hand in hand through the press of bodies lined up to ride the carousel. A freak show stood nearby. Its MC dared passersby to “come in and see the eighth wonder of the world!” Brightly colored posters lined the wall behind him: pictures of a girl with a fishtail, a girl with the body and hair of a snake, a man with hair growing out of every part of his body, fangs, and pointed ears, and a man with a nose like an elephant...

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“A Sunday Morning Like Any Other” by Laura Eliz

Submitted to Contest #152

The area where I live has sections of town that make me feel like I am back in my old neighborhood in Queens, New York. I had lived in Astoria, New York, an area with cute restaurants, brick buildings, fun bars and pubs, little stores and bakeries and it is comforting, but also a bit melancholy to live where I do. I like that there is green space, trees, and places to jog with scenic views. I am glad to be living back up state, where I have been for 13 years, near family and with a great friend group, but, I never got the city fully out of m...

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“Forecast Rosy” by Debra Koffski

Submitted to Contest #152

It was a gorgeous day outside, and I was enjoying a wonderful lunch with my best friend in the entire world. We had known each other all our lives, considering she was my sister. However, there was no one else I would rather spend an afternoon with. Here lately it was a rare occurrence because I worked all the time, and she had three kids and a husband who commanded her attention. I worked for a big cosmetics firm, and traveled a lot for my job. Which brought us to our current conversation. She had the usual concerns, such as when was I goin...

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“Eight Minutes” by Hannah Davis

Submitted to Contest #152

I never thought my final words would be constrained to a typewriter. By now, one would think I would have upgraded my communications to a computer. Perhaps someday that computer would be able to speak for me. Make the sounds that I am unable to form with my own vessel. Alas, it is not so. I have only eight minutes to type this letter. Many have come to me throughout my forty-eight year lifetime asking for answers. A young lady about to get married, a child with cancer, an old man sentenced to chronic illness, a dog wi...

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“The Misfortune of Saul” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #152

As the morning sun rose in the east, its rays illuminated the damage caused by the previous night’s escapades. I can’t believe that drunk did so much damage in such a short time, Deborah mumbled under her breath. She righted an upturned table in the center of the room and began to cackle. I need to be more careful next time. I don’t want to be caught cheating customers while I’m trying to conjure spirits. If some drunken fool could see the thread attached to my lamp, then who knows who else could have seen it? She placed the lamp back on the...

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“When Frogs Sing” by Angie Shroble

Submitted to Contest #152

Why can't I be rich..!? I complained but I was grateful for my own space. I used to think I would never find my way because of all the hard times I faced to get to the here and now. I then realized that I am where I tell myself I am. I'm a healer, never lost. I thought to myself, If I can sell everything today, I can go home early..pondering if standing outside waving people in would work but that's not my style.. Finally i get the shop door unlocked, it's been giving me trouble for weeks but I'm not feeling my inner handy man today, avo...

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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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