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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

“A Special Request” by Kris Simonian

Submitted to Contest #153

"This...this is the hill you're willing to die on?" He eyed me for what felt like two years and then finally nodded in the affirmative. I dropped my head in my hands and clawed at my face in frustration. "I can't believe we're arguing over this," I muttered, running my hands through my hair to emphasize my point. "It's important." "It's really not." "How can you say that?" "Because my tastes differ from yours," I countered. "But does that make your taste correct?" "In this instance, yes." Jim, my current sparring partner, s...

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“Irreconcilable Differences” by Mahogany Ree

Submitted to Contest #153

"Jah Jah. JAH JAH!" Novah screamed. "How does someone so little manage to make up so much noise?" Nonna quizzed, looking down at Novah. What's the matter with Nonna’s bean? Novah looked back at her with furrowed eyebrows. "I want Jah." "Joya," open this door right now. You hear this, baby." Joya rolled her eyes. Whenever I get a second to myself, someone always finds a way to disrupt it. Five minutes! All I ask for is five . . . "Yes, ma'am," she answered, opening the door with respectful disdain. "Jah Jah," Novah threw hersel...

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“An apology from Agnes (Really)” by Nancy Lyon

Submitted to Contest #153

What kool-aid have you been drinking Agnes? Where did you get the orders to tell me what to do? "I can't believe we're arguing over this". We have been on ends since our texting about National Gardening day and Reach as high as you can day. Yes they did fall on the same day. Agnes made sure to bring it to our attention in our Sister's text. I was extremely excited and she wanted to pull the rug right from under my feet. Sure when I mentioned her being disrespectful to me everyone's understanding. Well did somebody explain the situation to ...

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“THE FAMILY VACATION” by Jay Rosmarin-Meyer

Submitted to Contest #153

Jay Rosmarin-MeyerJRM2535@YAHOO.COMWord Count: 1000 THE FAMILY VACATION I had reached the age of ten years old in April 1959. On a warm evening while at the dinner table, my mother announced we were taking a trip to Niagara Falls when summer vacatio...

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“Distant Pleasures” by Hola :D

Submitted to Contest #153

"I can't believe it." Greta's eyes were as tearful as mine. She knew she was wrong. She knew that it was her fault. She knew that eventually, this was going to happen. She knew everything from the very start; she always knew better than me. I was always too busy, too attached to my dreams and imagination. If only I would have been able to pay more attention to the little details. I would've been able to save myself from all the suffering that I had to go through. Greta walked up to me and drowned inside my arms as I held her tightly. I d...

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“Scum disposal ” by Callum McGee

Submitted to Contest #153

You stand back, teeth-gritting, to stare at the man who tried to violate your mother. His friend's twitching eyes stare at the faint moonlight, your mum's pink heel embedded through his forehead. His eyes dart around like a Goldfish, clutching at the rusty rod in his throat.'Are you all, right, Joey?' says Mum, panting, wearing one heel. She hovers over the stiff thug, wrapping her hands around you. You feel wet scratch bumps across the back of her hands. Bruises and blemishes all over her from the skinny man's surprise attack. Now he is on ...

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“The Mother of all Arguments” by Mattea Wise

Submitted to Contest #153

Mack closed her eyes and rubbed her fingertips to her temples. She leaned back in her chair, inhaled deeply and exhaled, just like the yoga teacher had taught her. She was so mad at Ethan and he was furious with her. Even still, she knew he was taking things too far. She heard the front door creak open, flinching as it slammed shut a few seconds later. She knew he was back home, but from the sound of the door, he hadn’t cooled off. And neither had she. He walked past her, hands clenched at his side. She glanced at him as he walked past her ...

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“Harry Get Out Your Cane” by Jeannie Labelle -Potvin

Submitted to Contest #153

HARRY GET OUT YOUR CANE.Ginny sat, once again, in her therapist's office. She wondered if she’d ever be done with this woman, yet in the same moment looked upon her with deep gratitude.This person had stood beside her for almost two decades. She stored an encyclopedia of details about Gin’s life and knew things and connections to things that few others did.Gin could be quite a blabbermouth and though she told people much, she hid even more. Her words often became a shield that protected her from those she felt most vulnerable.The woman...

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“Enrolled in Old School” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #153

It was a quiet day. I knew it wouldn’t last. In a short while, I would have solid proof that my instincts were correct as I finished my lunch in my counseling office at Park Ridge High School where I have been for the last ten years. It seems longer when I get a quiet moment to myself. “Are you Mr. Sowell?” A student knocks at my door. Like most of the other students, his clothes are full of holes and his flannel shirt appears as if it has not been washed in over a month. “Yes, and you are?” I stand up, droppi...

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“Water You Thinking?!” by Sandra Skains

Submitted to Contest #153

"Shots fired at 10234 County Road 3. Officers en route." That's where it all began, though it really started years ago. Sam and Caleb had lived next to each other for many years. Both were "men of a certain age," fairly curmudgeon-ish, and pretty much loners. But neither necessarily had a penchant for violence, and neither had a criminal record. Generally, they kept to themselves on their heavily-wooded neighboring properties in southern Oregon. There was, however, one ongoing conflict between them. And one day it led to shots being fired....

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“The Door ” by Scott Dutkus

Submitted to Contest #153

A flashing, blinding white light, with red sparks drowned out his sight. Something grabbed him and he felt the wind rush past him like he was moving quickly. Then it stopped, as suddenly as it started. He didn’t know where he was. It took several seconds for his eyes to adjust as he stood there, almost feeling himself floating forward every now and then. When they did adjust, he was even more confused. Standing before him, elevated behind a carved wooden podium, stood the tallest, most haggard looki...

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“Dark City: Arbitration” by Nicole Farmer

Submitted to Contest #153

Jael Vega considered her next few moments. Her black pencil skirt and single-breasted blazer felt repressive compared to her usual fatigues and tank top. It was the Ministry’s formal uniform, and considering the occasion, she thought it fitting. If this was her last time wearing the unflattering suit, she wanted to appear neat. Her bare legs sprouted fresh new chill bumps despite the room’s warmth. An odd sense of unfamiliarity rested heavily within her as she slipped on a pair of low matte black leather heels. Paladins were not exactly...

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“THE DUMB KING” by R. J. Garron

Submitted to Contest #153

They called it the Dump. It was a tract of land the size of Rhode Island filled to the brim with trash as far as the horizon could accommodate. Upkeep was long forgotten since the War of Inversions reduced any sign of civilization to ashes and made mincemeat out of history. Some say there was a victor in the War of Inversions, the rest didn’t know because they were unable to discern a lightbulb from a leg of lamb. The Smarties, they called them, were extinct, leaving their mental underlings to procu...

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“The Decision” by Cody Cooper

Submitted to Contest #153

TW: Discussions of slavery and implied sexual violence “WE HAD A DEAL!” the Saturn representative howled in the arbitration chamber. He slammed his palm on the ornate wooden desk. It was a vintage desk, a late 21st Century, minimalist design, made shortly after humans fled their toxic planet to colonize the asteroids and planets of the solar system. Yet, the Saturn representative did not care about potentially damaging this artifact in his indignation. At the time, it was placed in the chamber due to budget constraints, but now, anything ...

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“THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #153

THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER Oh, my God, that Cathy V. was at least a problematic person ( woman), that she was not suitable to her job , that she also had the easy slap with the children entrusted to her, this Zeta knew it well. In fact she was, for more than ten years, a mediator between the teachers, of the kindergarten The Sacred Heart and the parents of the children who attended the kindergarten. Cathy V. had also received disciplinary measures, she had even been suspended for a year from her work ( job)....

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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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