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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#19: Talking Shop

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be behind us, there are still weeks of shopping ahead as many of us gear up for Christmas.

While Hallmark holiday movies might have us believe that holiday shopping is a relaxed and cheerful activity that involves dipping into quaint shops with a hot chocolate in one hand and a bag of goodies in the other — we know the truth. Often, holiday shopping is a chaotic, several hour-long excursion through a packed mall, where you down cups of coffee just to keep yourself going. Or maybe you prefer to shop online, from the serene comfort of your couch. Finally, perhaps you avoid the whole thing altogether, because, like the Grinch, you know that "Christmas doesn't come from a store."

Whatever the case, it's clear that shopping can conjure up a range of emotions in different people. And your challenge this week is to capture those very emotions in a short story about... shopping!

This week's prompts

Write a short story about someone in the middle of a very long and busy retail shift.

Funny – 41 stories

Write a short story about someone searching for the perfect gift for their partner.

Romance – 60 stories

Write a short story about someone watching a convincing infomercial.

Funny – 20 stories

Write a short story about a shop that takes place over a span of years.

Narrative – 41 stories

Write a short story about someone based on their shopping list.

Character – 49 stories

Stories

“First Impressions” by Annie Percik

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #19

“Hey, Jad, I’ve got something!” Yisaheur swivelled around in his chair, waggling his eye stalks excitedly at his crew-mate. He stabbed a tentacle towards his console, where jagged lines were jumping about across one of the screens. Ma'jadaloon was more jaded. “Really?” She yawned widely, all three rows of her teeth on menacing display. They had been out in deep space for a very long time, with nothing whatsoever to show for it, except incredible boredom and a tremendous desire to lay eyes on any being at all, except for each other. They had ...

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“Silky ” by Trenea House

Submitted to Contest #19

Kathryn Turtle never thought that learning every president of the United States would take her this long. Surely, she would do anything to get an A-plus on a test, but the clock says 4:32 a.m. and she’s been studying since six in the afternoon. She should be in bed. But then she would have to get up two hours later to get ready for school. It’s not like she’s tired, though; the television has been on to provide background noise. She probably would’ve been done a little after midnight if she didn’t look up now and then to glance at the TV. F...

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“The Corner Shop that Wasn't” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #19

FLOODIt was one of those businesses that was always known as a Corner Shop, even though it wasn’t, strictly speaking, on a corner. Other inhabitants of Liston Road would generally not say, “I’m going round to Stowes,” or “I’m going round to the Post Office” or even just “I’m going round to the shop.” It was always the Corner Shop. It wasn’t as if it was the only shop on the long street running the length of the longest street in the coastal town, the one that was more or less parallel to the seafront.&n...

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“Mr Mulholland’s Christmas Emporium” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #19

Toby sighed as the train pulled into the station. Why am I here? he thought, not for the first time. Because, the rational side explained, if you hadn’t come your sister would have come to fetch you, and she has enough on her plate with work and the children. It was either here or go and spend Christmas with his son Matthew in Germany. At any other time, he’d have been pleased about that, but with Greta about to give birth, and their tiny flat, he thought he’d just be in the way. At least in the old family home where...

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“Every December” by Itxy Lopez

Submitted to Contest #19

Lilah used to believe there were only two things that attracted people to a bookshop—the aesthetic, and the books. As long as the place looked pretty and there were great books, people would come in to buy. The day Lilah’s mom opened Read Like a Girl when Lilah was twelve, it was a snowy, December day—although, in her town, the snow wasn’t strong enough to keep people inside. It certainly wasn’t strong enough to keep them out of the shop on opening day.Lilah remembered standing behind the counter with her mom, watching all of these stra...

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“The Craft Shop” by Rowan Taylor

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #19

She slid inside the little craft shop, one town over from where she lived, flinching at the tinkling sound of the bell. The store was overwhelmingly vibrant; fabrics every colour of the rainbow lining the shelves, a thousand different balls of wool, and enough needles to make a haystack. It felt wrong of her to be here, all mousy and plain and beige, as if she was sucking the life out of the store around her. Yet, despite her reservations, she was here with a purpose. Apprehensively she made her way around the shop, gazing at the vast array ...

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“My Two Brollies.” by Jon Tittley

Submitted to Contest #19

My Two Brollies. I have never owned an umbrella. That’s the long one right? Can be used as a walking stick. Kingsman. John Steed. That one. I have only ever owned two brollies. Much smaller. Fits in a pocket, bag or a utility pouch (pronounced pooch). My first brolly was purchased by me at a High Street retailer in the mid 1990’s prior to my first trip to Southeast Asia. A friend and seasoned jungle warrior in Special Forces recommended the purchase as an essential addition to your webbed gear and fighting order when I was due to attend Jung...

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“The Man I Want to Be” by MJ Pennell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #19

MilkCheeseChocolateChipsCookiesVodka Search history:hot girl takeshot bitches gettingwhy am i alonewhy dont people like me Best answer: all bitches want are muscly guys w/ pea brains not fat fucks like us MilkCheeseBeerMountain DewCheap Flowers (for Mother’s Day- attach note: Sorry I couldn’t make it home this year, but I’m thinking of you.)A Reason Why She Would Care Search history:met a girlhow to flirthow to get a girls numberwhy would she ever like me MilkEggsCheeseSugarBread (White)CookiesBirthday Cake (For Soni...

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“Shopping Lists and Farmer's Markets” by Jacob Towne

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #19

My Abuela's house was always full of warmth. The wafts of steam and aromas enticed you in, and the food kept you there. Walking into the single story mission-style home that my Papi had bought when they were first married, the smells emanating from the kitchen made your nose tingle and mouth water. As I stood there, barely tall enough to see over her counters, I watched as my Abuela weaved her kitchen magic. Every action had a purpose, and every ingredient had a reason. "Everyone is special, mijo. Everything has its season, and everythi...

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“Easily detected.” by Ahmed Draz

Submitted to Contest #19

“Get back to work you lazy schmuck,” barked Dilan, the manager of a big store, at the face of a 20 years old young Brat.Brat wasn’t a school fan guy, maybe because he wasn’t smart enough to pass high school exams according to modern credentials, or he just quit school to help his sick mother paying hospital bills. Either way, poor Brat was nice, skinny and always has a naïve kind smile on his face, his mother told him to put it on all the time, whenever he is shy or anxious or does something wrong. But Brat wasn’t in need of a smile to get h...

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“The Grocery Game” by Sage Henry

Submitted to Contest #19

“Okay, the woman in front of the milk” “The one in the red coat?” “Yeah” “Alright. She’s uhh. She’s married-- was married, there’s a shadow of a ring on her finger. No kids, her ex husband didn’t want any. She looks defeated, probably gave up a umm vegan lifestyle and is regretfully going back to dairy products. Two cats, maybe a bird--” “A bird?” “Yeah why not? Anyway, she looks like a teacher, probably for lower elementary: She still has hope left that she can change the world. You’re up, how about the man next to her?” Making up lives for...

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“Marian” by Medeea M

Submitted to Contest #19

Marian has always been odd. It is almost like his parents predisposed him for weirdness since the day they gave him a gender uncertain name. Marian enjoyed things most people repel such as making friends with the biggest cockroaches or spending time in obscure metro places. But that was in his spare time, ‘cause he had a job like the rest of us. Marian liked his job as it provided him some kind of freedom and odd fascination. He made and delivered shopping orders to people too busy, too lazy or too invalid to do them themselves. He felt as i...

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“to buy” by Sara Petkovska

Submitted to Contest #19

"Eddie!" I heard my mom's distinctive voice yell for me, from the downstairs. I felt all too comfortable in my bed to leave, reading my comic, but I knew I'd just get into trouble if I didn't. The springs in my bed loosened and the door to my blacked out bedroom, let in the ugly bright light of the Saturday morning. "What mom?!" I leaned on the railings and yelled back, so I didn't have to go downstairs, but of course she hadn't answered. "Ughh." I ran down the steps and went straight to the kitchen, where I assumed the source had come from....

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“Rest Day” by Celest .

Submitted to Contest #19

She arrived, barely on time. Greeting the people that are already inside the store, she rushed to the back room to set down her belongings, grab her apron and get her work started. She couldn't wait for this shift to finish.Walking to her throne. The cashier. She was met by Dan, an older-but-not-old-old co-worker that wasn't supposed to be there. "Good morning Grace" Dan beamed at her, extra cheerfully to her liking."Good morning, where is Albert?" as she asked, she looked around hoping to find her friend somewhere. Yes, it was weird, she ha...

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“The Night Shift” by Natalie Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #19

"Yes, uh-huh, right over there ma'am, no sir, yes, okay, of course, right this way, will that be all? your total comes out to...." Holy crap I'm exhausted and Black Friday hasn't even officially started. I have to be here for just five more hours. Five more hours and then you can go back to your room, watch Netflix, eat some leftovers and fall asleep happy."You need the money, you need to eat and not starve." I try to tell myself to make me feel better about working in this piece of crap store, but Jesus Christ this is insane. There are abou...

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$50

Prize money

211

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 13, 2019 EST

Won by Kelsey Marlett 🏆

Title: Man-Eater

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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