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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#173: Giving, Receiving, and Return Receipts

Yikes! The holidays are just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for me to panic-shop for gifts. Even if you aren’t a big fan of Black Friday (when mega discounts and hard-won bargains are up for grabs) you might still be thinking about what to give to your loved ones, or what you might ask for yourself.

This week’s prompts are in the spirit of gift-giving. Whether your characters know just what to get, are scrambling for ideas at the last minute, or are the lucky (or perhaps unlucky) recipient of their own gift, it’s time to gather those wishlists and prepare for the upcoming festive season.

This week's prompts

Coming up with a gift idea was the easy part — getting your hands on it is another thing entirely.

Adventure – 22 stories

End your story with a character receiving a deeply meaningful gift they weren’t expecting.

Adults – 66 stories

Write about a character going to great lengths to return an unwanted gift.

Funny – 22 stories

Write a story starring a store cashier, during the busy pre-holiday season.

Holiday – 27 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “Thank you! It’s just what I wanted.”

Holiday – 31 stories

Stories

“Trio of Charity” by Jewel May

Submitted to Contest #173

“Ugh, again Bill? How many times are you gonna get arrested this year?” “Annie, come on, just this one last time. You can make it my Christmas present if you gotta.” “Oh, Bill, like I’d get you a present. But you’re right it’s almost Christmas so I will give you something. I’m going to let you learn the lesson of dealing with the consequences of your actions, don’t call me again.” I hung up and threw the phone on the bed, then flopped down myself. God, I hate Christmas, it’s full of greedy people, and selfish users using the spirit for the...

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“GIFTS FROM ABOVE” by R. J. Garron

Submitted to Contest #173

What looked like a human was seen flying through the skies of Tuscany. Local vintners battening down for the season witnessed the phenomenon up close as the suspect wantonly scoured through the vineyards before taking off into a steep trajectory. Baffled, they swore it was a prepubescent youth shouting with glee as he yawed through the snowclad fields. Young Niccolo Sabbatani ran down the narrow steps stripped with a rug that dampened the hardwood reverb. It was Christmas morning, and the sun was barely ...

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“T.M.I.” by Blüme Boyd

Submitted to Contest #173

More bitter than sweet was the ceremony on that sunny but shocking day. I am so much less than grateful for my gift. So, to you, I must inveigh. I arrived at the city center, chipper, got there about midday. And so, I received my gift and then my soul started to decay. These gifts are supposed to elevate all of our community relations. All my gift has done is irritate me and test my patience. My friend got the gift of healing, some were assigned to speak in tongues, some got the gift of teaching, and some simply got wisdom. To know the deepe...

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“Scary Christmas” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #173

It was November 25th, Black Friday, and to me, the scariest time of the year. Anyone who thinks Halloween is the scariest time of the year, has never worked in a retail store on Black Friday. That’s where I come in; my name is Sam, and I am a cashier at your local Walmart store. I always dread this time of year, not because I don’t like Christma...

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“Lunnetes Horribles” by Agnieszka Baczkowska-Maśluszczak

Submitted to Contest #173

The box arrived at eight AM, at the headquarters of “Thonx”, an up-and-coming, indie fashion magazine. The delivery robot placed the box on the floor an patiently waited for Cassie to sign the delivery. Colleen ran past the reception desk squeaking like a little girl.“Oooooooh, I’ve been waiting for this!” she said.“Are these the gowns for the photo shoot?” Laura, her friend yelled from the back of the office.“Uhuh,” Colleen replied and started cutting through the tape with a paper knife.“Careful!” said Cassie. She had to unpack dozens of bo...

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“Is it August?” by Gregory Day

Submitted to Contest #173

Is it August “It’s all wrong” Sheila yelled at John “Did you even look at it before you picked it up?” John had just got done shoveling the 6 inches of snow off the driveway when his wife came home. Coming back from the engravers, John decided to surprise his wife and put the pres...

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“The Célaen” by Dane MillerHass

Submitted to Contest #173

Rinwald sat beside his father's bed, clutching his hand. The candlelight cast a grim shadow on the sickly king's face, which grew paler by the minute. A chill air swept into the room, and the noises of the outside night grew still. “The Lady Twilight calls for me,” the king said, feeling his time nigh at hand. “I have more blessings in this moment than I can count, though the hour for you must surely feel cursed. But grieve not; I am made ill by a wound from a worthy opponent. I am in the presence of those whom I served, and who served me. ...

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“The InstantCuisine Turbo XL Air Fryer” by Precious Inofomoh

Submitted to Contest #173

Like most twenty-four year olds with no steady source of income, Jenny couldn’t remember the last time she stepped foot inside a Walmart. Sure the garish yellow on blue caused her physical pain and the screaming kid in the frozen food aisle made her make a mental note to ask her gyno about birth control, but that wouldn’t stop her. Jenny was a woman on a mission. She’d come to buy an air fryer and she wasn’t leaving without one. Not just any air fryer. An InstantCuisine Turbo XL Air Fryer, in red, if possible. She’d first seen it in a Bu...

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“A MOST CHERISHED GIFT” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #173

What is the measure of a gift? Is it the item you buy? How much you spend? How many gifts you get? How can one person decide what gift comes from your heart? I would like to believe that deep inside our hearts we are not a greedy people. I would like to believe when a person, someone you love gives you a gift you would cherish and love the gift with all your heart. A gift is a treasure, one that will make you happy and make you smile. I love giving meaningful gifts. It makes me smile when my friends and family open their gifts and I love...

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“Gifts Along the Ocean Road” by Rebecca Leclere

Submitted to Contest #173

It was a glorious day outside the Melbourne airport, the air sweet and warm, the sun positioned to cast the strip of sidewalk floating outside baggage claim in morning shade. There were no doubt frills of riotous flowers, and flitting glimpses of birds, and fronds of all kinds stooping radiantly overhead, but none of it could make up for the amount staring back at Mrs. Hammel from the lit icon of her Wells Fargo app; $3,000 less than there’d been a week ago. A flash of aggravation towards her dead husband rose from nowhere, a horrible feel...

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“Uncle Bob” by Michael Longo

Submitted to Contest #173

Mrs. Pelton, the 4th grade teacher, said: “It is 10 days before Christmas. This is your last week of school. We will be working on small projects and one of our projects will be talking about someone you miss and haven't seen for some time. Each of you will write a short story about that person.” Billy had to think about that. He said, “I know! I'll write about Santa Claus: my Uncle Bob.” He started writing his story: This story is about my Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob is my mom's oldest brother. He played Santa Claus for many years. He alwa...

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“The Crow's Extraordinary Gift ” by Aaron Roberts

Submitted to Contest #173

“I don’t understand! I pay good money for you to take good care of her, and you can’t even make sure she eats?” “Sir, I told you this before. At this time, Miss Betty is in a bad mood because no one comes to visit her. As a result, she is refusing to eat.” These are the kind of conversations Marta Rich has to deal with while working as a CNA. She cares for her patients, she does. It’s just the patients' families she’s not too fond of. A simple phone call always has to be a battle. &nbs...

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“Happy Christmas, Mrs Barker!” by Jan MacFarlane

Submitted to Contest #173

There’s a buzz in the air: an excited buzz, providing harmonious backing vocals to the selection of upbeat Christmas songs which I’ve chosen to play on a loop. Everyone’s busy. We’ve got quite a production line going: some are drawing round their hands, while others colour the outlines green before handing them to the next group who cut them out. (Please, don’t think I’m some kind of fiend, making kids colour white paper green for the fun of it. The truth is we’ve run out of green paper and the Boss says he can’t buy any more ‘til next year!...

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“The Day My Brother Should Have Died” by Joey Ratajczak

Submitted to Contest #173

TW: Substance abuse, mental health, and language. Kyle and I were fraternal twins, and for a long time, we believed nothing could come between us. He might still think that, but I know better. We were inseparable in the early days. Whether it was learning cursive in elementary school or fighting Terrance Cormack in the high-school locker room, we did it together. Until college. My brother wanted to get an MFA and be a writer, but I was sick of school, and I didn’t want to leave Ma on her own. So, I moved a few houses down and wor...

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“Mustgo Soup” by Patricia Merewether

Submitted to Contest #173

I heard the front screen door whine open, then a BANG shut. "I'm never going back over there!" I heard my niece yell at nobody in particular. "Why did you make me go over there, Auntie?" Sally asked. Sally's parents were a thousand miles away at a conference, and we all agreed that Sally would stay at the farm with me for those two weeks. I hadn't seen Sally since she was five, and I'd forgotten about a fourteen year olds moods and angst. I turned from the sink full of freshly picked green beans to see my usually sweet young niece'...

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$250

Prize money

168

Contest entries

79

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 25, 2022 EST

Won by Jacob Brown 🏆

Title: How to Return a Book Titled "How to Improve Your Writing in Five Easy Steps" in Five Easy Steps

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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