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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#153: Fighting Talk

Whether you’re hot headed by nature, or the thought of bad blood breaks you out in a rash, arguments are unavoidable. As we age, we all realize that confrontation is often necessary. This week’s prompts explore the world of conflict and resolution — and trying to find the positive in the negative.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character learning to stand up for themselves.

Character – 48 stories

Write about a character trying to heal an old rift.

Sad – 42 stories

Write a story about two characters who have been fighting for so long, they can’t remember what started it.

Sad – 27 stories

Write a story that includes the line “I can’t believe we’re arguing over this.”

High School – 60 stories

Write about a character who settles disputes for a living (a judge, mediator, school counselor, etc).

Middle School – 36 stories

Stories

“Taking Advantage of Mary ” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #153

Mary peaked through her blinds. She had been huddling on the floor in the dark of the front room of her house hugging her German Shepard, Mitzy. Mary was not particularly a dog person and never saw herself owning a dog, but when the security cameras and alarm systems were not doing the trick, she convinced herself that a pre-trained German Shepard was the solution. But at this moment, Mitzy acted more of a fury blanket than a security blanket. They must be gone by now. Mary stood up, one leg at a time, using her hands to ...

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“My personal angel” by Xaria X

Submitted to Contest #153

When you’re born, it’s not like you have a blueprint of how you’re life is supposed to go. Loving parents or not, no one truly has any of this “life” thing figured out. That doesn’t necessarily mean the thought of me having some sort of “life” disadvantage hasn’t crossed my mind. Do I psyche myself into thinking it is okay? All the time. Is it though? No. As soon as I grew conscious of my actions and the people around me it was like I was entirely unable to know what I wanted, but the outcome of every choice was unfulfilling....

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“Stoned Love” by Susan Dalziel

Submitted to Contest #153

The corner of this week's sale banner, declaring twenty percent off everything, peeled silently away from the glass the second Elliot turned his back on the shop display window, leaving a bargain offer of 0% off everything to impress the potential customers. He stumbled out from the display window, squeezing between two mannequins, brushing them just enough to teeter both, a knitted beanie falling from one and the other almost collapsing on top of a customer who was checking the prices on the lower rails. Elliot blushed furiously, his eyes f...

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“The Final Acquiescence of Stanley Sprout” by Maxwell MacDonald

Submitted to Contest #153

Inside the violin case was a bottle of champagne with a faded label, two dusty flutes, a key, and a slim stack of letters that Stanley Sprout had all but worn through. On the outside, the case showed spots of soft, beige skin through its black leather belly and spine. The kitsch stickers from trips to different cities randomly placed over it had all peeled up in the corners. Stanley had the habit of flipping them with his fingers, usually during an argument, only making them worse. He wanted to laminate them to preserve the memorie...

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“Dear Caroline: My Apologies from Prison” by Maya Mason

Submitted to Contest #153

September 1st, Dear Caroline, It has been 3 years since I have seen you or spoken with you. I miss you. I understand why you haven’t spoken to me… I put you at risk, I put your kids at risk and I destroyed your home. In your shoes, I guess I wouldn’t be speaking to me either. But I still miss you. And I guess I wanted to make sure you knew that. Everyone here at the prison is assigned to a social worker. They are not all cut from the same cloth. I think I have one of the better ones. My SW’s name is Abigail. Abigail told me recently ...

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“So, We Meet Again” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #153

So, We Meet Again Jarod hurried to answer the door, although he in no way looked forward to what stood behind it-–the cleaning service delivery person bringing back the blue blazer he hadn’t worn for decades. No reason for a blue blazer, or any formal attire for that matter, when you spent your ent...

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“Just A Rift Between Friends” by Debra Koffski

Submitted to Contest #153

It was a glorious day, the temperature was perfect, and I was sitting outside at a little café enjoying an iced coffee and a muffin. Sitting beside me was my bff (aka sister) and we were planning our parents 50th anniversary party. We already had the venue, the food, and the music and now we were working on the guest list. Of course, we had to invite the relatives, and my parent’s closest friends, but we also included co-workers and some of our friends too. My sister worked on her list, and I on mine and then we traded to make sure we didn’t...

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“Two Brothers and a Name” by Ashley Dobbs

Submitted to Contest #153

Standing outside the white funeral home looking out onto the busy highway, I tapped my foot anxiously as I twirled an unlit cigarette between my fingers. I hadn't smoked since my days in the army, but my cousin said it looked like I needed it. Perhaps by the end of the day, I will. The news of my father's death came with an unexpected phone call from my sister at 2 in the morning a week ago. My wife insisted on joining me wanting to visit my family again. "It's been three years, Carter," she insisted as I packed the morning after getting...

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“Peace Breaks Out” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #153

Lisa dropped her bags on the floor and hugged her mother.“Hey, sweetie,” said her mother with a smile. “Ready for summer?”"Finals were brutal and I think I've sprained my brain, but it's good to be done for a while. Wow, your famous chocolate chip cookies! I'm starving."Her mother smiled indulgently as Lisa piled a plate with cookies and grabbed a glass of milk. It wasn't until the plate was empty and she was wiping crumbs off her mouth that Lisa looked properly at her mother.“What’s up, Mom? You look worn out.”Her mother smiled and shrugged...

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“The Neopolitan House” by Honey Bates

Submitted to Contest #153

Warning: swearingThe first thing Bora noticed when she parked her little car in the condo driveway was that the house looked like a very strange Neapolitan sandwich.In more precise terms, it was painted in three segments. The left third of the house glared a neon green, while the right third burned a hot pink. The middle third wasn’t any color at all: just a plain gray, squeezed by the blinding opposite paints on either side.Bora stared for a second. Then she turned off the car and shrugged to herself. I guess, she thought as she stroll...

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“Broken Image” by Liv Mehrtens

Submitted to Contest #153

TW: Adult themes, implied familial abuse, severe mental health struggles, and self-harm. Once, in a cramped little apartment within the heart of the Silk Strip, there were two young men. One of them was called James. James. Soft fluffy hair, slender frame, soft-spoken and skittish. A woodland fox of a man that scurried quickly from work-task to work-task like he was nervous he wouldn’t be permitted to finish. His eyes snapped open at the exact time of 6:29 AM every morning, fueled by what appeared to be the express intention of worki...

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“A Ravine, Vast and Spiteful” by Andrew Warnock

Submitted to Contest #153

No one likes hospitals. Lia found them to be disconcerting in every way: the stock art on the walls, the glow of florescent light mixing with the eggshell white paint on the walls to produce a harsh ambient light, and the smell of disinfectant all, when viewed analytically, peeled back the veneer of the peaceful house of healing that tried to dominate the popular conscious. Everything was trying to tell her to be calm, that this place is no threat, but no one ever goes to the hospital because they feel well and no amount of make-up would cha...

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“One Drop of Stubbornness Away from a Perfect Union” by Roxanne Abner

Submitted to Contest #153

1‘I cannot believe you took it. What were you thinking?’ I tried to contain my voice to an angry whisper, as we were charging down the hallway to our apartment.‘Unfortunately for your situation, dear, you left me with two equally bad options. I did what I had to do to make the situation less…’‘If you could stop being the victim here, that would be great, thank you. You can’t even look me in the eye and tell me what Tina said was not true.’ Sam walked away, leaving me at the doorstep.I shut the door behind me, kicked the shoes off, and c...

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“A Storm at Peace” by Olivia Day

Submitted to Contest #153

Noah had finished his dinner ages ago but hadn’t yet asked to be excused from the table. It didn’t seem like a good time to interrupt what was taking place at the dinner table that evening. It had started so well, he thought, he told them about his math test and his friend’s new bike. Then his aunt had asked her sister, his mother, if she remembered their old bike. About forty minutes have passed since then, yet they seemingly haven’t taken a break to catch their breath. His aunt pointed her fork accusingly at her sister, “You don’t...

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“Cleaning Up” by LC Moran

Submitted to Contest #153

“Hey, uh, babe?” Hector called out hesitantly, watching the little circular machine roving around their apartment, sweeping up as it went. They’d had it for a while by then, and she was very much part of the family. But there seemed to have been a very recent development. “Oh hey, welcome home! I’m in the kitchen.” He received back. His fiancé was preparing dinner like he always did on Sunday nights since Hector himself worked a later shift. “Babe,” he said again, hanging his keys on the little hooks by the door, peeling out of...

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$250

Prize money

213

Contest entries

103

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 08, 2022 EST

Won by L. E. Scott 🏆

Title: Broken

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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