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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

“Just A Game” by Dillon Primrose

Submitted to Contest #153

No one would’ve expected Riverback Elementary to be the school that fought both bullying and harassment as a goal, and place two boys to fight together everyday after school. The teachers left about an hour and a half after school ended, which gave the kids a safe space to start this event. It was always held in the fence for toddlers to go and play during recess. Obviously, toddlers would not be around during this time. The fight was always between two 3rd grade boys. One was named Andy Pieck and another, Barry Troken. They were the only o...

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“The Duelling Houses of Warwick and Stone” by Lauren Barr

Submitted to Contest #153

“Mother, Mrs. Warwick, I think you both know why we’re all here.” Esmerelda Stone arched her eyebrows. They were very dark and very pointy, and when she arched them, most people became very wary of what might be brewing behind them. Not her mother, though. “You ungrateful upstart! After everything I’ve taught you, everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Esmerelda set her teacup in the china saucer and folded her hands in her lap. “You have taught me so much, Mother, but one thing you’ve never been able to teach me is to h...

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“War and Propriety” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

Submitted to Contest #153

It was called the No Man’s Land, and what it was, was the alleyway between the house gardens of Mrs. Clakes and Mrs. Milte. It was named so by one of them; exactly who named it was long forgotten. It was named a long time ago, and that it was later mutually agreed upon was all that was remembered. This story is about that alleyway and the two women who named it, and who have hated each other since long before it was given a name. “All wars are personal,” Mr. Clakes used to say when he was still alive. And he was a man of war; he knew a...

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“Lessons on the move” by Eshawnial Lowry

Submitted to Contest #153

Lessons on the moveThe sounds of nightlife in Africa's largest gaming reserve were menacing to say the least. What was even worse were the growls, and glowing eyes that lurked hunching low in the grass.As morning came and the sun began to rise we moved through a field, in the humid African plains thankful to be alive. The blend of dried dead brown and stark healthy green blades of thick grass irritated our face with annoying little cuts. We edged slowly toward t...

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“The Elephant in the room was you” by Jennifer Braveheart

Submitted to Contest #153

"I can't believe we are arguing about this," I said to my friend Lucy. I heard Lucy’s words, “Well, he did do some good! "They struck me full force, Bam, as if somebody had thrown a plate full of catsup against a wall; but it wasn’t a plate of catsup and we weren’t in the Whitehouse dining room.The words splattered against my head and each letter rolled slowly off my burning forehead and onto the beige tile flooring in my living room.I watched the words break apart, scattering into letters that slithered across the room, oozing the pestilenc...

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“Caged Bird” by Carter Msilisi

Submitted to Contest #153

*This story has strong language and themes of suicide and self-harm* “Well, that went well,” Shauna said as if she didn’t know what I would say next. I knew she would’ve given anything to avoid the impending fight. I knew she would have jumped out that window and ran into the night. Heck she would have even pulled out a knife and threw it at her own foot if it meant that this conversation wouldn’t take place. I felt the same. I had tried to keep things civil the whole day. For our child. But if Shauna wasn’t going to keep her promises, I...

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“I Can't Believe We Are Arguing Over This” by Etya Krichmar

Submitted to Contest #153

I Can't Believe We Are Arguing Over This On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States of America voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that declared abortion a constitutional right almost half a century ago. It is hard for many Americans to accept and understand the reason behind this decision. I am outraged by the reversal of Roe v. Wade. I believe that a woman's right to choose what to do with her body is her human birthright. I also feel that the court's recent decision pushed our country, which has served as a shining ...

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“Someone's Not Getting Home Tonight” by K Cao Xai

Submitted to Contest #153

It was ladies’ night at The Beelzebub.Joss always showed up first and visited so often the bartender knew her by name. She occupied a seat located in the darkest part of the bar and started on her martini when a crowd of women entered the club. The colored lights pulsating through the room illuminated unfamiliar faces. Those who came with friends took to the dance floor. Couples who didn’t dance stood near the bar or stole kisses at the back tables.It didn’t take long before a stranger in a tight bodycon dress came by to ask if she could sit...

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“Ben to the Rescue” by Laura Huffman

Submitted to Contest #153

At the Cornstalk Fire Station Ben received an emergency call about a woman in labor. He climbed behind the wheel of an ambulance and turned the key. The radio came on. “Ben, I have more information about the pregnant woman,” the dispatcher said. “She’s at that old house on the east side of Krystal Lake. You know the one. It’s on the north side of the New Wave Salon." Ben turned on the siren and drove into rush-hour traffic. “Did you get her name? Will we be dealing with a prema...

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“The Snow the Snow the Snow” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #153

Crack! Crack! The blade of Branden Bannerman’s icebreaker chipped at the mound of ice in his backyard. The snow had been thick this year, smothering everything, including the flimsy carport roof. After every snowfall, he had shoveled off the roof, creating a gargantuan snowbank, which the kids called “our iceberg.” In the freeze-thaw cycle of early spring, it was far too icy for the kids to ride their toboggans on as they used to do, so now it sat there as hard and cold and immutable as misery. “What on earth are you doing?” Audrey shouted, ...

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“The Lieutenant ” by Geoffrey Saemann

Submitted to Contest #153

Lt. Clay Menessa had had another long day at the office. Not long in the sense that it had involved particular strenuous police work, but long in the sense that it seemed to just drag on and on, until all he could he think about was leaving the cramped, run-down police station in the little town of Reedsville, MN that was strewn with outdated dell monitors, scattered files that were overdue to be archived, the ancient coffee machine that needed badly to be replaced, dirt-streaked window panes that showed views that were of no particular inte...

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“June Bug” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #153

Bullhead City, Arizona 1888 Connor Green stares into his empty whiskey glass. Husky, scruffy, with dirt under his fingernails, Connor is calm and good-natured, traits being put to the test by Cass Armbrister. “She’s my wife,” Cass says. Reedy, with skintight, angular features and a pencil-thin mustache, card sharp Cass Armbrister is animated, impatient, easy to rile, and always right. “I have a marriage license. What do you have?” “Six years of bliss,” Connor replies. “Bosh. The law’s on my side.” “Eliza loves me. You just love her...

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“Retribution” by Jerald Larson

Submitted to Contest #153

15th April, 2154; Human Colony Terra Nouveau, Satellite A-0102-2093 "Dad, how could you?" Lilliana ranted. "She's my mother, your wife. And you've sentenced her to a week's hard labour on Olde Earth? Are you mad?" "Lilly, pumpkin," Judge Karolla IX replied, "If it hadn't been for her nosing and gossiping, Jeremiah Dingwall would be doing hard labour down there instead. What choice did I have?" "Choice? You had a million other choices," Lilliana remonstrated. "You could have cautioned her. Fined her (but, oh no, that would mean it would come ...

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“Retribution” by David Blackburn

Submitted to Contest #153

Retribution By ...

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“The Reality of You and I ” by Jessica Trolene

Submitted to Contest #153

My heart is heavy. The pain has made itself a home inside me, weighing me down as if I am tied to rocks in the middle of the ocean. Left out to dry but I am still drowning. I struggle to keep my head above water. But after all this time, my weeps for support have been ignored. Ignored longer than they should have been. I am realizing I do not deserve this. After all these years filled will tears, I will no longer allow myself to sink. I wish I had the courage to hate you, to cause you more pain than you have ever caused me. Unfortunate...

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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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