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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

“Is It My Right or Your Wrong?” by MJ Simons

Submitted to Contest #183

Samantha remembered the day she met David. She was standing on the other side of the White House gate. He was a White House journalist who happened to be pro-vaccine. She on the other hand was pro her body and her choice. She was vaccinated as a child and recently with the flu shot as an adult, but she was vehemently against the government forcing and mandating its employees to receive the lethal injection. If America is truly free, she thought, then what happened to freedom of choice? Why are there severe consequences for not gett...

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“Tourists” by Telaina Eriksen

Submitted to Contest #183

Tourists Alicia knew she should have broken up with Darren before their trip to Hawaii, and the fact that she was standing at the edge of a Native burial ground, in the middle of the night, telling Darren to come back to the hotel property line, really reinforced that she should have followed her instincts. She heard Darren’s drunken laugh as he turned on his phone’s flashlight to see the map he’d purchased yesterday at a musty thrift and antique store in Lahaina. Alicia thought that Darren was going to have the map framed for his office...

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“Like Two Ships” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #183

The spring winds rush down the streets of New York City, blowing up dirt and sand everywhere. I hold my head down to keep the dust out of my eyes while trying not to walk into other people doing the same. I reach my favorite breakfast spot and pull hard against the door. I struggle inside as the owner laughs, “Windy enough for ya, Mr. McGee?” I dust my shoulders and the front of my jacket as I sit at the counter. The rotating stool screeches in protest. The owner Benny removes a dirty plate and wipes the ...

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“Of Magnets and Men” by Kathy Trevelyan

Submitted to Contest #183

Of Magnets and Men We did have some good times. At the beginning. The problem was that I convinced myself we were still having them when everything had demonstrably gone to shit. I’d feel frustration bubbling up, irritation fuelling my itchy discontent. Then I’d look into those deep, calm brown eyes, and I’d think I was ‘being silly,’ imagining things.’ I’d agree with him when he said it was all in my head. But it wasn’t, was it? You see, Alex was so plausible, so beautiful, still is I suppose, although I haven’t seen him for a year. Exa...

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“Deep Shallows” by Polly Orr

Submitted to Contest #183

The trip was going sideways. It started normally. Your average hallucinogenic haven. By the third Saturday of each month, I typically need to retreat to that haven to purge the nine-to-five, nine-to-five, nine-to-five drudgery. The little hippy girl down the road made me two heart-shaped chocolates that I took with me to the woods. She sold them for twenty bucks a pop but would drop down to ten if you brought something shiny or interesting to sweeten the deal. This time, I’d brought a lavender urchin shell that washed up on the beach with al...

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“Winston's Wet Book” by Von Armstead

Submitted to Contest #183

Day 1 I hope this makes it out in one. My name’s Winston Garret. I’m an employee at H&M. Well, I was. Now I mine and sell dirt for a living. I know I wrote “Day 1”, but I decided today to write in my favorite leatherbound book; I felt hopeful after a droplet splattered my forehead when I was half awake. It had been exactly 1,946 days since I was thrown into this room and met this alcove and many unfortunate men like me, whose language I do not speak, but I was certain it was Thai. The sole purpose I came to the Land of Smiles was t...

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“Rise” by Sherri Moorer

Submitted to Contest #183

Terra tilted her head to the canopy of stars over the glade. A cool wind blew from the trees surrounding her, covering the area with the energy of the earth and stars. She stretched her arms overhead, the silver bond around her wrists sparking in the full moonlight. Your energy is mine. “This tribunal is called to order,” Alinta said from her throne on the north end of the circle. Her dark form glowed with the fire of her magic, warming the space in front of Alysia. “Alysia, you are charged with magic negation. How do you plead?” Terra’...

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“how the passenger princess lost her crown” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #183

A month before heartbreak, we were in the car. My phone was hooked to the speaker by an umbilical cord of pink wire. Melly drove – I didn’t have my license yet. “I’m gonna play a cover. It’s funny,” I said. A whiny man’s voice screeched from the stereo. “Can you play the original version? The Kate Bush one?” she asked.“Aw, come on. The original is overplayed.”“This one sucks. No offense.” “Mm. Okay,” I obliged.Such were the conditions of my being a passenger princess: driver held the music veto. Fields dipped down an...

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“The Last Coffee Mark Will Ever Spill......” by Andy Mac

Submitted to Contest #183

“Maybe that schmuck would treat me a little differently if he knew I just blew up his house, family, work and city for pete’s sake!” blew Alan under his breath. I think it goes beyond saying that blowing up a city was not something you say aloud in a busy train concourse. He did however give a rather disgusting look to the gentlemen who brushed passed him earlier, knocking his coffee on the twenty dollar cotton shirt he found at the bargain store. To be fair, this was mostly because he normally wore rather expensive suits for w...

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“Locomotives” by Pocket Paperbacks

Submitted to Contest #183

The little crease in his brow was there again today. It sat just between his eyebrows, a little valley with some stray hairs falling in. It seemed to be deepening the past few weeks, and I briefly wondered at the cause for this single, premature furrow before he handed me my ticket. He didn't smile this morning. He looked far away. I flashed a tight-lipped acknowledgement as I took the little paper from his hand and moved aside. I knew his funny little crease would be the first of many lines to come, and I found myself feeling strange as it ...

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“The Cursed Hitchhiker” by Dan Taylor

Submitted to Contest #183

“I’m fine.”“You don’t look fine.”She looked like she should have been walking on the Malibu boardwalk; cut-off shorts, sandals, white tank top.“No,” she paused, and then, with her voice quivering, added, “I’m fine.”“My name’s Carl.” He removed his hat with one hand and with the other wiped the dust and sweat off his weathered face with a red bandana. “Probably not another car in fifty miles,” he said looking down the road.She dropped to her knees and face, sobbing. Her dirty blond hair came over her head revealing the pale skin on her neckli...

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“What I Want Today” by Michelle SHAAY

Submitted to Contest #183

The light to moderate traffic and sunshine seemed to lessen her notoriously stressful commute. In an attempt to encourage and even demand workers return to the office, Cori’s team had been assigned a difficult but necessary task. Their directive included placing WFH workers on notice about upcoming workplace changes. The changes would significantly impact the workers current schedule flexibility and require 90 percent onsite, in-person interaction with management.According to her Director, a possible hiring freeze was looming and any promoti...

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“From Your Heart to Mine” by Constance Maple

Submitted to Contest #183

Why am I here?Dr. Bertrand would say it's because of the forty-five years of smoking. And that other doctor -- I can't remember her name -- would say I was an alcoholic. (What head chef doesn't drink on the job?) It wasn't until after my second heart attack that I quit both drinking and smoking, just in case.I admit I could have lost some weight, or at least stopped gaining it. But once I retired, I had all the time in the world to sit around and eat the delicious food I'd been cooking for everyone else all those years.What I want to know is...

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“On the way to somewhere you're not.” by David Drake

Submitted to Contest #183

Just a disclaimer, this story may or may not contain sensitive material. Depends on how sensitive you are.Also, I don't claim to be Christian or adhere to any similar beliefs. I'm using imagery from that tradition, but putting a slightly different spin on it. Enjoy!Btw, I also am using two of this weeks' prompts- "Two paths briefly crossing" and "two opposites that find themselves attracted".On the way to somewhere that you’re not.“Rory. Rory Roxelle Romanaz.” She held out a tattooed hand with spider webs lacing her white clawed fingernails....

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“Rain Girl” by Elisabeth Bridges

Submitted to Contest #183

Sometimes, during these quiet days that hesitate between spring and summer, I still think of him, and wonder what would have happened if I’d stayed. Our first meeting was like something out of a movie; one of those improbable flickers of magic that remind us why life is worth living. It happened at that hour when the street lights have come to life, but the reflected sunset means it can’t properly be called dark. We were standing at a bus stop when the sky burst open in one of those sudden showers that come without warning in the autumn. S...

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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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