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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#17: All the Fixin's

Next weekend is Thanksgiving in the United States! And while people have their own various traditions when it comes to marking the holiday, one thing remains fairly consistent: you get together with loved ones and you eat.

And in between mouthfuls, you talk! In fact, dinner conversation can be an excellent and overflowing source of writing inspiration — from family dynamics and long-observed dinner-time rituals, to new-comer partners meeting the family for the first time. A family dinner can truly be mapped out using a story structure: with a beginning, followed by rising action, peaking with a climax, and then wrapping up with a denouement.

This week, each of our prompts challenges you to write a short story involving a family dinner.

P.S – Know some kiddos who will be excited to do some reading over the holidays? Check out this list of the 35 best Thanksgiving books to read with kids.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a family dinner from the perspective of an in-law who's married into the family.

Thanksgiving – 33 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that includes someone unexpected showing up.

Thanksgiving – 80 stories

Write a story about a "chosen family" dinner, where no one is related by blood, but they still feel like family.

Holiday – 40 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that takes place in any time period other than the present.

Historical Fiction – 30 stories

Write a story about a family dinner that involves some kind of reconciliation.

Nonfiction – 30 stories

Stories

“Dystopian Thanksgiving” by Terri Ash

Submitted to Contest #17

“My name is Daya Cromwell, and welcome to Thanksgiving 3024! As families are no longer a social construct, you will proceed to the nearest ‘Thanksgiving house’ and the people inside are your family for today!” Daya’s preppy voice sounded from the T.V. I sighed. I hated Thanksgiving! What was the point of it, anyways? It was supposed to ‘keep up morale’ but everyone I knew hated it. “If you don’t know what to do, simply turn on the T.V. at 2000 hours and follow along with our actors! Thank you for listening, and have a lo...

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“Unrelatable” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #17

A sudden noise from the kitchen awoke me with a start. I hoped against all hope that the noise was our girls getting breakfast ready for themselves and miraculously their brother too. I rolled toward my husband’s side of our king sized bed with my sole purpose the simple art of snuggling. Saturday was family time when we rose earlier than the kids to make the breakfast and they got to sleep in. Sunday was husband and wife time, our chance for some extra sleep. It was an opportunity for me to experience some much needed snuggling and, sometim...

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“Last Call” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #17

Charlie kissed his little boy, Charles Jr. and girl, Jenny, good-night and went downstairs to the living room. He clicked the remote, surfing through channels on cable. Nothing grabbed his interest. Charlie looked at the clock. After ten. He was restless.The phone rang. It was the landline they kept for emergencies.“Is Miriam there?”“Who is calling?”“Sergio. Let me talk to Miriam.”Charlie paused. Miriam was his wife. Wherever she was, she wasn’t with this idiot.“She isn’t here. I’ll give her a message.”“I need to talk to her.”“I’ll tell her ...

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“Beta Casseopeiae” by Natasha Arnold

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #17

Kept within the bounds of time and space, Ezra could not escape the impending doom of Shabbat Dinner. His hands clenched tightly to Tziviah’s arm, his gentle, hazel eyes gazing towards the family home. His sandals scuffled across the field, his wife leading him towards his worst nightmare. “Zussya and Mordechai have been keeping Abba busy,” muttered Tziviah, opening the front gates, “After the wedding, Mordechai hasn’t stopped looking for a wife. But it’s Levi that Abba should worry about… He’s nearly twenty-two!” A gentle wind b...

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“Frank” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #17

1We all thought that Frank was dead. Had we known that he wasn’t, we would have killed him again. We buried him six feet deep – not in a coffin, mind you, but in a roll of old carpet that Mama didn’t want anymore – and patted the earth down good and proper.We’d buried him by the old well out back, under the watchful eye of the moon and stars. Jim and I dug the hole, taking turns because we only had one spade. Gary was there, too, but Jim and I both knew that he’d probably have another heart attack if joined in.“Let me have a go!” Gary cried,...

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“Freedom From Want” by Destinee Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #17

The line was long, longer than Mama thought it would be. Stood to reason it would be, though, given how hard times had got. Rumor had it the mob was runnin' this soup kitchen. Mama said you don't question where the hand that fed you come from; you just accept the help and be grateful. Daddy would've had a fit if he'd known, but Daddy's been dead six months now. Guess what he don't know won't hurt him.Bobby's gettin' antsy. He never could stand still, and there must be a thousand people in this line alone. Jenny looks like she's gonna fall as...

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“Life Found on Mars” by Christina Steele

Submitted to Contest #17

The council had agreed. Euthanization of the immigrants would happen today at the high moon this 2052 MY (Mars Year) 549 Sol. Most were in poor health anyway, some would stay for continued scientific examination, and four of the youth who survived information intake showed educable promise would receive Partial Martian citizenship. Quatek had attended the meeting with her mother, Supreme Empress Quarmine. Quatek practiced her self-teleportation and levitation. But the word euthanized sharpened her already pointed ears. As part of ...

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“Chat Discourse” by JACOB BJORNBERG

Submitted to Contest #17

41236Fafnir [13:30]: Happy thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy your uncomfortable family reunions and screaming arguments. Bjid [13:33]: My younger sister and my grandfather are already arguing about Trump.KRS [13:36]: That’s four years in a row now. You’d think they’d realize it’s a pointless conversation.41236Fafnir [13:36]: Didn’t they start throwing food at each other last year?Bjid [13:45]: Yup. We aren’t even at the dinner table yet and it’s already a nightmare. How about you guys?41236Fafnir [13:48]: My wife and I are driving to her pa...

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“A Dinner with Conversations” by Rima ElBoustani

Submitted to Contest #17

This Thanksgiving I invited everyone I wanted for my dream dinner party to my house. I was cooking. Included in the invitations were Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, Friedrich Nietzsche and Isaac Newton. Each brought a unique view point to the discussion at the table whilst we ate. With a mouthful of baked turkey, Austen and Wilde entered into a heated debate on the merits of marriage in society. “For the continuation of a peoples, we must have marriage,” said Wilde, “though it is more a continuation without disgrace than it is a conti...

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“Fifty Nine Hudson Street” by Gordon K

Submitted to Contest #17

Hudson Street was a quiet and cosy street on the day that Steve found himself stood outside number Fifty Nine which was his parents' house and that was where he had found himself for the first time in years, feeling anxious and reluctant to go inside. He looked around and noticed that all seemed calm and nobody seemed to be around. The sky was blue with a friendly cluster of fluffy white clouds. He couldn’t remember ever seen such a calm and perfect day ever when he had been living there. All he could recall was rain, commotion and more rain...

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“From the Outside, Looking In” by Hadia Abbas

Submitted to Contest #17

"Beep. The number you have dialed is not answering. Please try again later."Please try again later.Please try again later.Please try again later.Aria tasted the beginnings of burnt rage on the tip of her tongue. Beginnings and endings and the charred remains of an addictive flavor that was trailing the back of her throat, insistent on-"Aria?"Aria blinked. The taste receded. Her soul was no longer burnt, but in a pool of cool, refreshing water. Aria inhaled deeply and realized she was holding her phone much too tight.She relaxed, and turned a...

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“"The Empty Place at the Table"” by Sue M

Submitted to Contest #17

"The Empty Place at the Table" “We’ve never had such a beautiful Thanksgiving table," said Marsha.“You say that every year,” Mike responded with a smile.“But this year is different,” she answered, glancing over at the photo of their son Mark.“You’re right,” said Mike. “This is the first year he won’t be here.”“Well, maybe not in person, but certainly in spirit. I made sure to set a place for him right beside me,” Marsha said quietly, as a tear rolled down her cheek.Their heartfelt conversation was interrupted by a ruckus in the driveway...

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“Closer than Close” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #17

Growing up I was unfortunately the only child. I used to hate nothaving any siblings to talk to, hang out with, share crazy stories with or justto have a shoulder to cry on. When they would have siblings’ events at school,I would immediately feel sad... Most times I just wouldn't even attend school.My parents used to try and persuade to just go to the events anyway, have fun,meet new friends, (but at that time, I didn’t want to make new friends.)However, I did try numerous of times but once I gotten older I slowly didn'tfeel the need to atte...

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“A Calistro Thanksgiving” by Natasha Arnold

Submitted to Contest #17

With the jams of Oasis playing in the back, I snuggled contently in my weighted blanket. Thanksgiving was going accordingly. Tucking my knees to my chest, I placed my sketchbook in between that area where my belly fat rolls in on itself. Fortunately, Disney Studios didn’t need any sketches until next week. But still, I was prepared for a spark of inspiration to strike me. Opposite to me was Todd Richard, my roommate. Even though it was a holiday, Todd was frantically working at the kitchen table. Todd works in accounting for an upstart...

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“Dear Pa’ and meat mash Turkey” by Lea -

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #17

Dear Pa’, Rations are running low during these colder wetter months, monsoon season they call it. More like hell season, if the cold didn’t get ya’ then the trench foot did. Watched my boy Elli’s foot swell up something fierce and pop like a water balloon. His screams brought us under fire that night. He didn’t last til morning. We couldn’t bury him, but I managed to say a little prayer, hopefully God heard me. Captain Hargreaves managed to get us up and out of the wetter parts of the jungle, but the cover was worse and we spent a week hopin...

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$50

Prize money

213

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 29, 2019 EST

Won by Ian Gonzales 🏆

Title: No Place Special

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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