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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

“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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“Getaway Car” by Laura Pamenter

Submitted to Contest #158

Getaway Car Unfortunately, love makes you do crazy things. Those were the words in the back of my head that day. “We’d be kinda like Bonnie and Clyde,” Marcus said, shaking my arms. He wiggled them so they jiggled like worms, and I shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know,” I groaned, leaning on the steering wheel. “Well maybe you don’t have a goddamn choice Jesse, jeez!” He slammed his fists onto the dashboard. I shuttered. “Sorry baby,” he gruffed. I froze. “Just please, please won’t you fucking just do it… for me?” I shook my head violent...

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“Immunity” by Ashley Frerichs

Submitted to Contest #158

Alison McDowell burst through her front door, red faced and shaking, tears streaming from her panic-stricken eyes. As she leaned forward to pry off her shoes, she toppled over and fell head-first into the mirrored door of the front hall closet. Shards of reflective glass exploded all around her, as if to mock and magnify her pathetic state. She crumbled into a ball on the floor, tears and blood coalescing all around her. Daniel rushed down the stairs, half asleep. “What the… honey! Are you okay?” He slid his slippers on and waded through t...

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“There is Nothing Funny About Murder” by Brian Bywater

Submitted to Contest #158

There is Nothing Funny about Murder The Sixth Sense Some days have a way of enforcing you should not have decided to get out of bed. From the time his office door opens, admitting a man he would come to know as Joseph H Pomeroy, TJ Scobie is overwhelmed by the recognition, this is definitely one of those days. His sixth sense engages the high alert setting as soon as the man asks, “Is this the office of TJ Scobie the Private Detective? Bit small isn’t it? More like a broom cupboard.” Two months ago TJ parted with a considerable s...

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“There's Always One More” by Stephen B. Allen

Submitted to Contest #158

There’s Always One MoreMake no mistake; this was a monster!When it had formed out in the Caribbean, it had steadily grown from a Tropical Wave into a Tropical Depression. Moving as slowly as it was, it had plenty of time to build up strength once it entered the warmer waters of the Gulf; until what had been Tropical Storm Judith exploded in strength and fury into a Cat 2 hurricane in only a matter of hours!And she wasn’t even done forming yet!The latest information from the Hurricane Hunter planes of the Florida National Guard flying directl...

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“280” by D.C. Reed

Submitted to Contest #158

The following is part of the official transcript of the People v.s. William Devin Jones. Outside of offending passages, this is how it was transmitted via social media on the day of the trial in accordance to all laws including ADMT 1.6 of the First Amendment which states: To protect the honor and sanctity of truth, debate, and speech, all communications, digital or otherwise, must be communicated in 280 characters or less. Language usage outside these bounds is the responsibility of the creator and subject to prosecution. “All Ris...

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“Better Man ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #158

She lies and says she's in love with him Can't find a better man She dreams in color, she dreams in red Can't find a better man Can't find a better man Can't find a better man Oh (“Better Man” Pearl Jam, 1994) Devon Shellnick wanted to be a better person, but sometimes nature does not allow the leopard to transform into a sheep just because he is tired of killing his next meal. Devon was twenty four and in six weeks, he’d be twenty five. At that point he would be the oldest member of the Flushing Avenue Freaks Gang. His brothe...

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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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“Doing my best at this point” by Jeremy Renbarger

Submitted to Contest #158

When I was a little kid my favorite movie was Hercules.He was just a guy who didn’t know where he belonged but believed that he was made for more. I felt like that as a kid, but the difference between me and Hercules was that he was actively doing things to reach his goal. While I was more focused on the part of the song where there was a far off place where he felt like he belonged.Fast forward a couple decades, and well, here I am. Unknowingly moving through life, I had managed to get by mostly on my own, but I always wondered if...

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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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“An Immortal's Dilemma ” by Logan Wolf

Submitted to Contest #158

Miriam pushed her way through the thick brush, stepping through the overgrown greenery. The sun was hidden in this place, the trees growing so tall and full that only tiny scraps of light penetrated the forest floor. Miriam continued forward, brushing her bandaged hands across the massive trunks of trees, feeling the depth of their bark, a sense of history emanating from them. She placed her feet carefully with each step, trying to avoid any small plants. She continued like this for some time, until finally, she broke into a clearing. She pa...

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“The Sweepers - My Pleiadian Wife” by Agnieszka Baczkowska-Maśluszczak

Submitted to Contest #158

“I’d like to go see it,” I said one Saturday morning, when we were lying in bed.“See what, Mark?” Surya, my wife stretched herself lazily.“The most famous painting in the world… you know.”“You must mean the famousest painting in the world. Please use real words,” she said and smiled.„Why did I marry a Pleiadian?” I said with a heavy sigh. Before 2030, famousest wasn't even a word. Surya giggled and rolled over in the sheets. She kissed me on the neck. Yes, why? I thought to myself. They’re pompous, boring and are alw...

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“LOST” by L. E. Scott

Submitted to Contest #158

Where am I? Really. Somewhere in the country/wilderness, definitely not the city. Too many trees. I check my map. Wait. Why do I have a paper map? I vaguely recall someone telling me there’s a map on my phone and all I need to do is tell it my destination. Who was that again? I pick up the phone to check if there is a map in it.“Go home.” I command. “Out of service area.” The phone responds. I toss the phone on the seat beside me and study the paper map again. That must be why I got it, but why can’t I remember? The road stretches in ei...

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“Of Hearts And Homes” by Rama Shaar

Submitted to Contest #158

Frau Herz looked at me with eyes struggling to contain their tears. I wanted to tell her it was OK. But I was still mute back then. Her milky hand hovered as she debated in her mind whether it was OK for her to press her palm to the scab, but we both knew it was not a good idea. So, instead, she slowly turned around, head bowed, and returned to the book she was reading to us and I was pretending to follow. Her voice was different now. It was lower and huskier. Luckily, the other students didn't pick up on anything. I was torn between wanting...

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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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