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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#158: It's All Good, Man

With only a few episodes left to air, the legal drama Better Call Saul is coming to an end. Along with the Breaking Bad saga, this spin-off garnered dozens of nominations and countless fans around the world through excellent character development and storytelling. Saul Goodman’s colorful suits, elaborate scams, and wordplay (“It’S all Good, man”) will be hard to forget.

Whether you're familiar with the series, or this is your first time hearing about it, there'll be something for you in this week's prompts — inspired by the show's characters and themes.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a couple sharing a cigarette in a parking lot.

Adults – 66 stories

Write about a character with questionable morals.

Dark – 41 stories

Write a story where the law plays an important role.

High School – 24 stories

Write a story about a character who is trying to become a better person.

Middle School – 42 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “It’s not fair.”

Middle School – 72 stories

Stories

“Fraidy Bat and Confident Bat” by Ruby Pix

Submitted to Contest #158

There lived a bat. And he was afraid of everything. People, his shadow, and so went the list. Fraidy Bat was always so afraid, but there was one thing Fraidy excelled at. The Art of Theater. He loved to play on stage, acting and playing roles of different people. When he was on stage no one could see the bat as being afraid. He was daring, adventurous, and talented. But because he was too anxious around people, no one ever knew. One day, came another bat named Confid. She was loud, outspoken, and courageous. The people thought her to be ...

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“Jury Service” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #158

JURY SERVICE Juror Number 8 had no idea why the marshals were rushing her towards the elevators, hardly giving her enough time to gather her belongings. The Judge had admonished her not to speak to the other jurors while she went back in the jury room, but still, there was a marshal standing in the doorway watching her every move. "I guess they do this with everyone," thought Juror 8, as she reached for her jacket and purse, flashing a quick grin to the other jurors. She'd had a vague feeling that she might be in trouble, but the wor...

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“One Last Cigarette” by Rachael Parks

Submitted to Contest #158

“Well,” I exhaled, smoke drifting lazily between my teeth. “All things considered; this is a pretty fantastic place to watch the world burn.” A silence then; it filled the dirty air between us. It rode the rising smoke, drifted to the hot asphalt behind us, and slinked between the last of the cars left abandoned in their neat little rows. After a moment, the silence returned, loaded and heavy. At the change in atmosphere I looked towards him; at this man that I had vowed the rest of my life to. Turns out my vow has be...

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“The Good in the Badlands” by W.E. White

Submitted to Contest #158

**This story contains violence and briefly speaks of suicide**The fire glowed from the windows of the weathered wooden shack that nestled in the center of Breakers Canyon, only feet from the Missouri river that carved its way through Deep Valley, Montana. The rock face rose up on either side of the valley, speckled with shrubs and trees that thrived in the dusty dryness. Black tailed Prairie dogs scurried to their burrows as the moonlight caressed the nooks and crannies of the Montana badlands. The Henry Ranch homestead was a three...

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“His Surprise” by Dallas W

Submitted to Contest #158

The light from the cherry of a cigarette dimly lit his face as he puffed, puffed, puffed. He offered it back to me before turning in a slow circle, studying our surroundings. The tall cliffs and prickly cacti of the Arizona desert were but silhouettes against an orange and purple sunset. He looked at the signs in the parking lot, surely wondering why it was even there in the middle of nowhere. It was the easiest place to start our trek from. He smiled in his confusion. “What are we doing here, babe?” I smiled back. I had been playing t...

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“One thousand first mornings” by Christopher Miller

Submitted to Contest #158

It’s always irritating when the swirling smoke from a freshly lit cigarette finds its way right into your eye, creating a stinging sensation that cannot seemed to be rubbed out, you have to allow the pain to fade. We were both overnight stockers at a local grocery store, escaping our chains in the morning when dew was fresh, the smell of salt peppered the air from the coast, and a splash of sunlight began to dance around the edges of the horizon. She asked if she could bum a cigarette off me and there is always plenty to go around, I handed ...

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“Burning Flame” by Shelby B

Submitted to Contest #158

It's not fair.The way my heart beats so loud that I can hear the pounding in my ears.It's not fair.That crooked smile and curly hair.It's not fair.The way my whole body trembles when you say my name.It's not fair.It's not fair because you are not mine and I am not yours.But you kiss me like I am.Teeth and tongue and low moans.My guilty pleasure is you.You kiss me like you'll never see me again.It's the best feeling in the world until I'm driving back home to the one who is mine.I feel guilty and I promise myself that was the last time.You ar...

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“Cigarettes, Secrets, and Saying Goodbye” by Ashlyn Oboyle

Submitted to Contest #158

Ash steadily fell from the lit cigarette, the man tapping it twice to ensure it was ready to be lit again. “You know,” he began as he looked ahead, “I’ve never smoked before this.” There was a chuckle to his right side as he passed the cig to his female counterpart. “It’s funny, I haven’t either.” She held it steady in her mouth as he pulled out the lighter and lit the cancer stick. They were both silent as she inhaled and immediately began to cough. “What,” she hacked out another rough exhale, “What was your name again?” He smiled and put o...

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“Gift for Gabby” by Sabrina Hauer

Submitted to Contest #158

Content warning: mild foul language and substance abuse Judd took a long drag from his cigarette. Warm air passed between his lips and filled his lungs. An instant buzz ran through his skull, making the midnight sky no longer seem as dark. A car pulled up behind him, its lights reflected off the wet pavement like a flash of lightning in a black sky. The hum of the engine quieted and for a moment, a blissful sense of peace came over him. The car door clicked open and the sound of heavy boots hitting the pavement followed. Judd did not turn ar...

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“Life only begins” by John Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #158

“Hello, Ma’am,” said Spencer Fine, holding onto his bookbag. “How are you doing today?” The woman was a rather voluptuous lady in her thirties. She was wearing a silk, decorated chemise with a green skirt and comfortable shoes. “Leave me alone,” she said. “Okay,” said Spencer. “I hope you have a nice day.” “Whatever. Shut up.” Spencer was in a quandary he had created for himself. His whole life, he’d been a bully. He’d bullied everyone: his brothers and sisters, his classmates, his friends, strangers. For years they had warned him. One day,...

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“1 year” by D. Robbins

Submitted to Contest #158

I knew I had zoned out again, but honestly I didn't even really give a shit. I was standing on the railing of the south side bridge. A cigarette slowly burned its way down to my lip and a bottle of scotch sat nuzzled between two of my fingers. I couldn't see much, a deep fog had covered most of the city scape and the night sky made the horizon impenetrable. The cool breeze brushed the back of my neck and brought me back here. I released the pole I had been grasping and took one last pull of the cigarette before holding it out in front, barel...

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“Bash” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #158

They say it’s my fault. I don’t know about that. They say my not knowing means that I don’t care. How can I care about something that I am no longer aware of? I don’t say this. I don’t do anything. What’s the point? They say a lot of things, and I have learnt to zone out from what they are saying. It makes no sense to me, but then nothing much does these days. She comes to see me sometimes. It seems like she used to come visit more often. I’m surprised that she comes at all. I see hope in her eyes and I wonder how she can b...

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“Two Weeks ” by Christine Dupuy

Submitted to Contest #158

Ben stood outside the back of the restaurant looking at the overflowing dumpster and breathing in the distinct smell of grease and fried food. Not all the food at his place of employment was bad; in fact, he quite enjoyed the free meals he got each shift that he worked. Being the dishwasher was about the worst gig he could think of, but he’d always been a hard worker and for now this job was just a means to an end. For the most part, the waitresses were nice to him, even though most of the time he felt kind of invisible. It had b...

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“Just Don't Be An Idiot” by Havana Summer

Submitted to Contest #158

“Just don’t be an idiot.” Keith said to me. “Like you?” I said sarcastically.“Just shut up for a sec, would ya?!” Keith retorted.“You shut up!” I glowered at him.“Argh. All I wanted to do was put a fake snake on Mar-Mar’s homework for that one time she told on me. Like literally, all I did was hide ONE broccoli in my sock.”“You mean ALL your broccolis AND a carrot too!”“Stop talking. My ears need a break.” Keith cupped his hands over his ears.“What, this fabulous voice?” I started singing off key very loudly.“STOP!!!!”***“Just don’t be ...

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“Hunting Season” by Ashley Writes

Submitted to Contest #158

It always ended the same way with Collie. Another three-week bender that kicked off with a "celebration hit" at a friend's college party left him on the familiar bed of a sticky bus shelter bench once again. Unsure of how many last times he had left in him, he rifled around the pockets of his jean jacket, collecting all of twelve cents. He glimpsed the remnants of what looked to be a disconnected payphone next to him as he rose from the bench and tried to stand, his whole body pleading for mercy. Collie considered waiting for the bus and hed...

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$250

Prize money

245

Contest entries

103

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 12, 2022 EST

Won by Scott Christenson 🏆

Title: Your Cat™️ Customer Service

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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