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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#183: Opposite Day

January 25th was National Opposite Day — the day when topsy-turviness rules, and nothing is as it seems. On Opposite Day, you’re supposed to say the exact opposite of what you mean. And while this holiday is probably just one for kids, it’s a fun excuse to think about the ways we communicate, and about the concept of “opposites” more generally.

Opposites are a frequent source of inspiration for writing; whether your opposing forces provide balance, or are at odds with one another. With that in mind, this week’s prompts are all about obfuscation, contrast, and swapping between extremes.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who is cursed to always say the opposite of what they mean.

Dialogue – 26 stories

Write a story about two opposites finding themselves surprisingly attracted to one another.

Romance – 48 stories

Write about a character who uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism.

Character – 14 stories

Write a story that includes the line “We’re just too different.”

Angst – 67 stories

Write a story about two characters whose paths briefly cross, but are actually going in opposite directions — whether literally or figuratively.

Dramatic – 93 stories

Stories

“One night” by Rya Johnson

Submitted to Contest #183

The night stars sparkle like assorted diamonds thrown across a plush black velvet blanket. One of those soft luxurious blankets that make you want to sleep an extra thirty minutes just so you can soak up the plush softness of it. That’s where I should be right now, in my bed Kai grumbled to herself as she doubtfully glances at the obnoxious neon sign outside the cramped nightclub flashing ‘Back Street’. Why did you let Marlie talk you into this. You are so out of ...

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“Confounding Outcome” by Laurie Rice

Submitted to Contest #183

The e-mail arrived from the nursing board of review. Dear Ms. Davis, As was recently discussed, your unprofessional behavior of January 25th, 2023 has been brought before the board. Please know that the board takes these concerns very seriously and, given the code of conduct signed by each employee upon hire, it is the expectation of this board that said code will be honored. It has been noted that you have had an exemplary career as a Registered Nurse for 41 years to include nomination for Nurse of the year 201...

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“Discovering the Real Chemistry” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #183

Cecelia Ainsworth pulled the ribbon from her luxurious blond hair just at the right moment for it to cascade into the sightlines of every male in the vicinity of the Riverwood High School senior class entrance. Her hair crowned an outfit worthy of the top runway models at the 2023 New York Fashion Week and a body that would outclass the stars of the runway at any of the highest grossing movies in the year’s cinema lin...

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“Shannon and Socrates” by Alan Ross

Submitted to Contest #183

TALK ABOUT ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES Alan Ross <alanzip@gmail.com> 3:36 PM (11 minutes ago) DIALECTICS AND THE ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES. Or SHANNON and SOCRATES I stayed with my grandkids in Dallas, over the Xmas holidays. I had hoped to jump on a plane to visit my ex-wife and two daughters in Maui, but somehow the airport game did not appeal to me, which in hindsight was a smart move. (Did everyone and their baggage finally arrive at their destination, I wonder?) Seeing the airport chaos it invoked. I think ...

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“The Safety of Mabel” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #183

Trigger Warning: Contains sensitive content related to abuse and rape. Today “Dennis, can you please pass the salt?” Sarah asked. Sarah’s hair was tied up in a knot on top of her head and she wore the blue dress with tiny flowers Dennis bought her. She always wore the blue dress with tiny flowers. She curled a foot under herself as she touched the other one lightly with her toe. “Here you go, baby.” Dennis passed the glass shaker. “How is the chicken? Is it cooked all the way through? I was ner...

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“Couples Therapy ” by Brittany Lucas

Submitted to Contest #183

It's magic hour in Brooklyn on a muggy Friday night and I can feel the month of May settling in. I sit stationary on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a bath towel, eating fruit from a glass bowl as the room's silence washes over me like a cold wave. I stare at the bouquet of flowers Paul bought me two weeks ago. They look wilted and dry and several petals have fallen off the stems. Considering they've been dead for several days, I'm surprised neither one of us has thrown them out. I walk to the desk and toss the flowers in the garbage, placin...

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“Someone like you” by Ray Paltoo

Submitted to Contest #183

Someone like you By Raymond Paltoo Life was perfect, he reflected, watching the two children playing in the sandbox. There were other children in the playground of course, but for him, there existed only the two who belonged to him. The boy was four and the girl had just turned three. At the moment they were completely absorbed in their tasks. His daughter’s face was a study in concentration as she made her sand pies. His son was revving up his toy trucks with all his force up and down the little sand hills he had constructed, enjoying the...

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“The Scrutator” by Josh T

Submitted to Contest #183

Josie stood over the body, adrenaline coursing through her veins. He’s just a kid, she thought as she bent down to check for a pulse. Satisfied the boy was still breathing, she took a step back and wiped the sweat from her forehead, trying to process what had just happened. She had been assigned that morning to patrol a neighborhood nicknamed “the castle”. A three-square-mile block of perfectly manicured homes and businesses, it had earned the nickname because of the fortress-like walls that surrounded most of its wealthy inhabit...

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“Losing You” by Mazie Maris

Submitted to Contest #183

***This story contains sensitive information regarding infant loss and substance abuse.*** They sat on opposite ends of the blue couch. Arms crossed. Eyes laser focused straight ahead. “We’re just too different,” he said. I laughed. Out loud. I didn’t mean to, and it was terribly unprofessional, but hearing these words while staring at two people so alike that they even pouted the same way was some sort of seriously whacked out therapy irony. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed, offended by my laugh. “I’m sorry,” I apologize...

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“Not so Different from Each Other” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #183

My mum Elizabeth is not as she seems. On the surface she appears to be a sensible, prim and rather opinionated lady. Her sense of what is right and what is wrong is voiced whenever she sees anything not as it should be. But underneath her desire to be virtuous, lurks a cheeky sense of humour.Even though her short term memory is fading, she is a fund of funny stories from her past. One such tale revealed a naughty side to my mother. Wicked as well as hilarious.George found this out to his surprise. Long had he complained about the outlook in ...

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“We’re just too different” by Maria Alexandra

Submitted to Contest #183

* We’re just too different. The bright green of the message box remained stuck like a fog on my eyes. Only when they dried out did I see the text underneath: “You can no longer message this user”. Surely I couldn’t love you in the hang-out-all-the-time way, and that made our connection different. I cared about you more than about anyone else, but I wouldn’t pick up the phone every time you’d call. I had for you the kind of love that stayed in the shadows. Weeks later, I’d type in my notes We’re just too different and stare at...

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“The Land of Might have been” by Jennifer Claire Pulling

Submitted to Contest #183

The land of might have been can be paved with regrets and lost opportunities, of choices made and their consequences. On the other hand it can be a place dreamers and ditherers can inhabit and never be forced to face reality. For dreamers a love story incorporates adventure and impulse. They don’t subscribe to others’ warnings it is irresponsible and unsustainable. That afternoon when it all began they didn’t go to the press conference in the end. The casual conversation deepened and darted over many topics and they continued to talk u...

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“Buckfield” by Diamond Keener

Submitted to Contest #183

Arthur spent the entire time he was in the city looking over his shoulder. It was inevitable. Around every corner he was bound to slam into a person he used to know who would then slam his head into the concrete. Proverbially speaking, of course. He had been a bad guy, a really bad guy, and here he was in the angry city that was nothing but a giant reminder of it. He swore he’d never be back. But the chaos of multi connecting flight schedules had forced him back into it. He had a choice. To either sit in the airport all day, sit in the crumm...

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“The Painting of a Man” by J.J. Erwin

Submitted to Contest #183

The sound of my loneliness–-the flow of water from the large waterfall faucet at the end of the small pool; the rush of wind against the window panes behind me; the general hum of emptiness that filled the room–-was interrupted by the naked man entering the onsen. I had come down from my hotel room to find an empty bathhouse, and, fighting a feeling of disappointment I couldn’t quite explain, I proceeded to fumble through the Japanese bathing rituals all alone: changing out of my clothes in the datsuijo; sauntering naked and somewhat...

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“A Brief Encounter” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #183

He slowly opened the envelope with a knife, neatly and precisely and pulled out the sheet of white paper. Sighing he rubbed his brow and looked off into the distance. He knew it was going to happen sooner or later but now that it was here it saddened him. He felt empty. He knew it wasn’t because he was hungry, but he made a sandwich and ate it while patting the dog. “Well mate” he said to the black and white pooch “the time has come, but don’t worry because you’ll be staying with me. We won’t be leaving each other any time soon”. He remember...

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$250

Prize money

248

Contest entries

125

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 03, 2023 EST

Won by Laurel Hanson 🏆

Title: Of Harpers and Heroes

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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