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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#185: Hoarding Away

Much like dragons, people love a good hoard. Whether it’s money, objects, or even people, collecting can be a hobby — or an obsession. Our collections might be a maximalist hodge-podge shoved into every nook and cranny, a meticulously organized catalog with every item neatly labeled, or they may not even be tangible at all. Junk or riches, thoughts or feelings, even if we don’t know it, we might be unconsciously clinging on to something.

This week’s prompts evoke treasure troves, keepsakes, and whatever it is that compels us to hold on tightly.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Dramatic – 121 stories

Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Adults – 25 stories

Start a story with someone saying, “It’s mine, and you can’t have it!”

Dialogue – 25 stories

Write about a dragon who doesn’t know what to do with their hoard anymore.

Fantasy – 63 stories

Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Mystery – 46 stories

Stories

“A Tale of Two Riches” by Brigette Streeper

Submitted to Contest #185

“Who’s there?” I hear the soft jingling of my precious coins cascade down my mounds of treasure. While my hoard calls to greedy humans, it also warns me when someone is attempting to take it for their own. “My name is Edna Aevness, the fiery red dragon of the mountain.” I try my best to put on my ‘all powerful dragon voice’, after all my name is Edna, but I worry my ‘all powerful dragon voice’ is lacking as of late. It has been so long since I have had an uninvited guest. “Leave now while you can, you frail and vile creature. You s...

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“It Rains Gold in Downtown Lexington ” by Melody Thompson

Submitted to Contest #185

A breath of fire licked the cave walls. The sudden burst of light illuminated the large space and reminded the dragon of its dilemma. Treasures that man could not possibly imagine lay in heaps upon heaps in the corners of the large cave. Well, I must say, the treasures could not be shoved in the corners, though the dragon tried his hardest. They lay sprawled about the room, leaving no living space for the creature. He paced the room, many times every day, thinking only about the problem he must fix. After all these years of hoarding away man...

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“Thundertail and the Magic of Giving: A Dragon's Tale of Generosity” by Damianos Afentoulidis

Submitted to Contest #185

Chapter 1: The Restless Dragon Thundertail was a magnificent dragon, known throughout the land for his striking appearance. His silver scales shimmered in the sunlight, and his tail crackled with the sound of thunder whenever he moved. He had lived atop a high mountain peak for over three hundred years, overlooking a vast forest that teemed with life. Thundertail had amassed a vast hoard of treasure over the years, filling his cavern with gold, jewels, and other riches. But lately, Thundertail had been feeling restless and lost. He had n...

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“The Dragon Who Would Be Queen” by M B

Submitted to Contest #185

Ina stretched out her wings in her cavern, admiring the hoard she had collected over the years. Her blue scaled shimmered on the rocks as she yawned her great maw. The silly mammals of the kingdom had grown wise and paid her tribute regularly now. Golden coins, gems of the finest quality, gold bars, and jewelry, arms and armor, and the bones of livestock sacrificed to her decorated her spacious cavern. At the beginning they had tried to fight. The paladins, monster hunters, adventurers, and soldiers had attacked her regularly and Ina...

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“The Best Social Studies Paper in History” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #185

The sound of Tripp’s scraping skateboard welcomed the rest of his friends lounging behind the back of the grey building.“What’s up, Losers?”“The sky,” said Zane as he popped the cap off his plastic soda bottle towards Jake and Sam.“You guys are boring, I didn’t skate all the way up from Meadow Grove to sit around ingesting Dr. Pepper and Cheez-Its.“Actually, we’re all out,” Sam said dumping the rest of the crumbs into his mouth. “Woah, woah, woah. No one told us Pete Davidson was joining this party.” Jake teased.Tripp smoothed his fresh...

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“TABITHA'S PROBLEM” by Sherrice Williams

Submitted to Contest #185

Missandra jiggled the key in the padlock until it clicked. Her heart thudded. She had no idea what she was about to see behind this door but even if she did, nothing could’ve prepared her for what she was walking into. Well, that was a lie. She’d grown up in that house, she knew what it was like. But since she’d walked away so many years ago, she had no idea the monster this had grown into. Even though she’s still kept in contact with her mother, Missandra, or Missy as everyone called her, refused to ever set foot back in that house, so she ...

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“The Man from Unit 41” by Jacob Weber

Submitted to Contest #185

The door to 716 Jefferson Avenue closed with a barely audible click, this miniature percussion marking the end of another heartbreaking chapter of the Man’s life. His fingers held tightly to the tarnished brass doorknob, body and mind alike holding to a bygone fantasy of love and absolution for a few more precious moments before finally releasing their grip. He finally turned, wintry heart doing its best to match the wintry gloom of late February as he stepped away from the cozy warmth of what he had once foolishly believed to be his new hom...

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“Everything's Fine” by Anna Bourkaggio

Submitted to Contest #185

This isn’t a story; this isn’t made up or exaggerated. This isn’t happy or joyous, but it is hopeful. Sitting here on the cold bathroom floor staring numbly at the old blood dried into the cracks of the tiles I wonder, why me? Why not me? Twirling the silver blade in my fingers I wonder why I can’t stop. Why do I do it. Fighting the darkness of my thoughts, feeling so much shame, guilt and embarrassment I question why I can’t stop. Finally, I can hold back no longer and with trembling tear-stained hands a new red line is created amongst the ...

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“Memory of You” by Jeff Khoo

Submitted to Contest #185

They are late…They were supposed to be here 30 minutes ago. It’s 9.30 now. Brrr…haaaah ... .I’ve put on the heater and yet, I can still see my own steamy breath. Rubbing my hands doesn’t help, either. I don’t know why it’s really cold today. I hope they are alright. I haven’t seen them in awhile. Ding dong….Ding dong… Ah, here they are… “Coming!” “HEY!” “Hey you guys! I started to get worried. Good to see you. Come come, come inside. It’s really cold.” It’s Jean and Brad. My two closest friends, if not the only ones. Jean was...

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“Letting Go” by Janet Kaul

Submitted to Contest #185

It all came to a head when my mother-in-law died. Mind you, I knew about my husband’s quirks from early on. The first time I visited his mother’s house I snuck a peek into his childhood bedroom on the way back from using the bathroom. I’d never seen anything like it outside of reality television. Stacks of magazines and newspapers covered the walls from floor to ceiling, and every spare bit of floor space except for a narrow path to the single bed was filled with piles of old toys, stuffed animals, and miscellaneous bric-a-brac. But I was yo...

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“A Roomful of Dragons” by TJ Samek

Submitted to Contest #185

Asha takes a deep breath as she enters the room. The heavy oak door has been expertly fitted on its hinges; it glides open with only the softest whisper. Golden sunlight streams from the high windows, catching the dust motes that dance in its radiance. The paneling on the walls still fills the room with the scent of cut wood, all these years later. She used to love this room, her sanctuary. She carefully does not look to the center of the room, to the circle traced on the floor or the statuette within it. She knows she has a job to do ...

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“Forever Yours” by Marion Morris

Submitted to Contest #185

Forever Yours,Breakfast is ready but there's not a sound from my little brother's room. I'd thrown some refrigerator biscuits in the oven and the smell of biscuits and eggs wafted upstairs. I stuck my ear onto the painted surface of the bedroom door. Nothing. I knock softly. Nothing. I haven't seen Jimmy for two days and I gotta say it's getting a little bit weird.Almost whispering, "Jimmy? Are you coming down for breakfast? You should eat."No answer.I sigh and start to make my way quietly down the carpeted stairs. At the landing, I stop. Pe...

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“Letting Go Saved My Life” by Victoria Davidson

Submitted to Contest #185

Until recently, I’d never really considered myself to be a hoarder or collector of things. In fact, in the past I could have been mistaken as a minimalist living a mediocre lifestyle. By nature, I am very free-spirited and have a worldview that easily adapts to the cycle of beginnings and endings that occur in life. Of course, like any other human being I have normal reactions that range from excitement to sadness depending on the situation. I don’t avoid the emotional labor of transition altogether. I simply prefer to expedite the process i...

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“Unit of Memory and Love” by Kathy Trevelyan

Submitted to Contest #185

Units of Memory and Love Rita carefully squeezed past the first towering row of boxes and precariously stacked furniture, eager to reach the centre of the storage unit. She picked up a small basket that had toppled over and threaded her way to her sanctuary, the place she came to think and remember. The overhead lighting in the unit was glaring, and Rita reminded herself to get it changed for something more soothing, to get an extension lead and plug in a couple of her lamps. The old hatstand almost fell as she squeezed by, but it had no...

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“To Kill Or Not ” by Kudzaishe Muvirimi

Submitted to Contest #185

Revenge – the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their handsRevenge at its finest is meant to be pure. It’s meant to be something beautiful and peaceful. Revenge is the act of you undoing something that has been done. It’s the act of you finding closure and finally coming to peace with terms. Revenge was never meant to be this boastful thing of getting an upper hand on someone. It was merely you finding peace with the situation. Truth be told how can I just let a murderer go unpunished? when eve...

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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

138

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 17, 2023 EST

Won by Lynda Williams 🏆

Title: Jesus and Jockeys

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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