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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 – 43 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

“Maggie” by Michael Regan

Submitted to Contest #153

[WARNING: Contains very offensive language, but it was necessary for the story.]January 23, 1976Jo Thomas was on the couch watching the CBS news out of Seattle. His wife came out from the kitchen where she had been drying the last of the dinner dishes. “Anything on the TV about him?” she asked.“Cronkite gave a short memorial at the end of the newscast, then they played a bit of ‘Old Man River’”“He hated that song.” she stated matter-of-factly. “They had tributes to him all day on the CBC. You’d think he was Canadian.”“Do you want a drin...

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“He who angers you controls you.” by Shan Hart

Submitted to Contest #153

“ If she’s going to be there, count me out. I’d rather sign up for a colonoscopy and mammogram on the same day than spend another second in that person’s presence,” Anita said as she sipped on her glass of wine. Anita had met up with Todd and Lisa for their weekly lunch at Mortellos and of course, the topic of discussion that keeps coming up is their 20 year high school reunion. She didn’t want to be a Debbie downer, but the idea of attending St. Peter High School’s reunion was something that Anita had been dreading since the Facebook invit...

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“Dink’s Famous Chili ” by Connie Elstun

Submitted to Contest #153

Dickson Richardson, the creator of Dink’s Famous Chili, remembered his days in isolated Meeker, Colorado, while waiting his turn to be interviewed by Willow Wild. Today her Colorado Wild talk show would feature Colorado’s most successful entrepreneurs and would air live on Denver cable. Being pampered by the crew who fixed his hair and put a dab of makeup on his sleep bags reminded Dickson of his 20-year-old caretaker days of his Uncle Hank. It seemed like a century had passed, but it had only been a few years back when times were fille...

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“Climbing the Ladder” by Susan Williams

Submitted to Contest #153

Content warning: Mild foul language Climbing the Ladder Darcy Miller turned eighteen last Thursday. There was no party, no cake, and no family or friends. There was no gift for her, except that she could claim her rank amongst the millions of kids who had aged out of the foster system. She was seven years, three months and seven days old when she was placed. She understood that’s the state’s way of saying that your parents are bad and...

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“Why did you come back?” by L J

Submitted to Contest #153

She opened the door. A stranger was standing on the doorstep, yet not quite a stranger nor yet a friend. She blinked, not wanting to know if it was really him. "Hi mom. Will you let me in?" he smiled. She remembered the way his dimples appeared and the crinkle in his eyes, like he knew a good joke but wasn't going to share it. This was not a joke. "I haven't seen you in ten years. How are you...I mean. What are you...? mom asked." I mean. Why did you do this? " "Mom, I told you. I had too. I'm a woman. I always was. " "Just because ...

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“Incongruent” by Art Of Wolfgang Von Zenn

Submitted to Contest #153

Sensitive Content Warning: contains strong language, mentions sexual violence, talks of suicide, and mental health issues. Am I making the right choice? Last year I became homeless, and after a month of sleeping on my best friend's couch, I had worn out my welcome. I've been in the shelter ever since. My parents didn't approve of my decision. The shelter provided me with a bus pass and helped me sign up for food stamps. I go to college full-time, and I work part-time at a fast-food restaurant. My grandmother pays my tuition. She doe...

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“Exodus of Amazon” by Jeremy Renbarger

Submitted to Contest #153

The monotonous grind of life. I had worked in an Amazon warehouse for the better part of three years. I had always wanted to work there for a year, take advantage of their free schooling, and move on to something better. Now I was gonna hit my three year mark, which is your last pay increase until you get promoted for more income. Except I didn’t have an interest for working at Amazon long term, I never did.I did take advantage of the schooling and got a Google IT certification, which didn’t net me much. So day after day, I would wake u...

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“The Rift Shift” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #153

The Rift Shift FredA short, rather thin man in his early thirties walks into a clothing store, and nearly collides with a row of hanging shirts when he sees someone a few rows down, someone who quickly disappears from view. He begins to talk to himself without speaking the words.“Well, Fred, there’s that bastard John Ford. I haven’t seen him for years, not since we both graduated from high school. I heard that he moved to another side of the city, and none of the high school guys that I still keep in touch with have seen him s...

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“Forewarned” by Karen Leidy

Submitted to Contest #153

Forewarned“I can’t believe we’re arguing about this!” Brad Sutton cried. “You said you understood and wouldn’t do it again!”He and his wife Margaret were standing in the kitchen. It was six-fifteen in the morning. He was wearing a robe, she in her pajamas. Coffee audibly dripped into the large glass pot.“Please, please, please don’t preset the coffee maker to switch on at 6 a.m.,” Brad vehemently added.“Give it a break. Will you give it a break?” Margaret wearily returned.As if not hearing her, Brad said, “I told you: I have the strangest no...

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“The Guardian Angel ” by Margie Silbernagel

Submitted to Contest #153

He thought it would have been over by now. The comments whispered under breaths. The comments expressed unnaturally loudly. The way their voices went up an octave whenever they talked to him. Peter’s mom said that kids just needed to grow up. That they didn’t understand him, but it would get better. He wondered when. He was old enough to know that what they were doing was wrong, so how come they didn't know it? His mom said that Peter was special, more mature. But if that was the case, why did everyone tre...

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“when fear takes over” by Mars Thorn

Submitted to Contest #153

rose I am Rose Allen i have been on this earth for 14 years i like to sleep i like to pretend I'm not here. i get bullied a lot i don't know why ,i like to imagine what things would be like if i was prettier. I used to care about things but now i only really care about my insecurities. i stare into the mirror in my room being only noticing my pimples and scars i came out of the psychiatric ward 2 months ago things have been hard but I'm trying. I wish that was enough. My family have been really supportive but they still don't feel like wh...

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“The Spell” by Kasia Harman

Submitted to Contest #153

The icy Nordic wind blew across the dark Baltic Sea, hastily sweeping the clouds across a full blue moon. With a deep breathe she focused her concentration and began the ritual she had been preparing for for so many years. The timing was crucial and the final ingredient had to be dropped into the cauldron at the precise moment the last word of the incantation was uttered. She had relentlessly practiced the ritual for weeks before the eve of the rising of the Mother Moon. Everything was prepared meticulously just as it was revealed to...

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“Offers Given, Burdens Gained” by SJ Latrice

Submitted to Contest #153

The Nsoro are merciless bastards, of that I am sure. You had hoped that this wedding would be the first step to peace between our tribe and theirs but, Your Radiance, my confidence dwindles by the minute. The day began well enough. Everything was in its rightful place, as was everyone. However the trouble came just before the morning invocation. The twin grooms caught sight of the garments they were meant to wear and went on a rampage. Apparently, the Nsoro hold orange as a holy sign and blue as the source of nightmares and inauspicious tidi...

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“Luscious Tormentor” by M M

Submitted to Contest #153

!Minor sex references!As usual, I was sitting at the far back of the class, minding my own business. I lean back, swinging vaguely, back and forth on my chair as I hold my book in between the desk and myself. All I hear are the muffled voices of kids and their constant gossiping as they start to evaporate. I then hear a singular voice, assuming that of course it must be the teacher, and continue reading as my mind resumes cloaking her voice. The teacher then speaks out two words that seem familiar to me. Then it hits me. My eyes blur out the...

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“Poetic Blindness: Looking Over The Rose Colored Glasses” by Regina Abraham

Submitted to Contest #153

Have you ever sat and watched the book of you as it repeated, page by page and chapter by chapter; then realized the names and faces changed but the characters were always the same. I’ve done this for many lifetimes. I watched, looking over the rose colored glasses and there he was. Malik had charisma, his broad shoulders and firm body had both men and women looking at him, and his voice had a warmth that left a baritone saxophone jealous. He certainly was a looker, he dressed smooth outside of his day to day uniform as a Sergeant and althou...

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$250

Prize money

214

Contest entries

104

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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