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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

“Sunday” by Serenity Storey

Submitted to Contest #19

You know that song “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show? I used to think that song was so cool. But that was Sunday. Now it’s Sunday and I hate it. I hate that song and any other song, movie, show, book, and whatever else that talks about time loops. Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee is shitty enough as it is, but repeating a Sunday in Leiper’s Fork is incomparably worse. I’ve been stuck at this old rundown gas station register for more Sund...

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“The Snowman” by Sylvia Bailey

Submitted to Contest #19

I was four hours into my shift, but it felt like I’d been there for about 800 years. If you’ve ever worked retail, you know that after a couple of hours, it all starts to blur together. If later on, you’d asked me to pull the woman who yelled at me because I told her I couldn’t process her return without the receipt out of a lineup, I might have mixed her up with the… other woman who yelled at me because I couldn’t process her return without a receipt. Yeah, people really take issue with that particular store policy. They’re also enraged by ...

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“The Old Ones” by Kayla Thompson

Submitted to Contest #19

Another day in the office, or the store would be the more correct term I suppose, can be a blessing or a curse. “Michael!” This screech from the manager is a sure signal this day is to be one of the not so blessed ones. One foot barely behind the counter and jacket still half on, all I can do is respond with a smile, “Yes Mrs. Yates?” “Where have you been?! The store has been packed since the doors opened! It’s chaos in here!” her face was red with fluster and her hair was reminiscent of something one sees on a rollercoaster. “It’s 9:50, I...

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“Yule Tidings ” by Kenzie Weitzeil

Submitted to Contest #19

“Mama, can I have this?”“It’s your money Sally, it’s up to you” came the absentminded retort of the girl’s mama, scrolling through her phone. “But, don’t you think you should be getting something for your sister for the holidays?” Little Sally seemed to mull over this notion of getting something for someone other than herself.It was always a difficult task to stay in the moment, to concentrate on the ever-mounting purchases laid out on the rolling conveyor line that never stopped. It was the holiday shopping season, and I had taken this posi...

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“Dave Walks Among Us” by Maryn Thompson

Submitted to Contest #19

In retail, you see pretty much every crazy thing and/or person imaginable, but you never expect to meet someone THAT crazy. When I say crazy, I mean, pretty sure just escaped from mental hospital crazy. Who else goes into a grocery store wearing tattered black robes and carrying a scythe? This guy wandered around for 15 minutes just looking at everyone. That’s not the strangest thing people do in stores, but at least they do it in normal clothes. Eventually, he comes up to my register. I managed to get the one tucked in the corner and I’m ki...

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“Do you Hear me: a Christmas Story ” by Ash Burdell

Submitted to Contest #19

Do you Hear me: a Christmas Story A rainbow of hues blur together in my peripheral vision as my eyes haze over in defense from the swarm of individuals who demand my attention. Christmas themes of reds and greens are fighting generic holiday displays glowing white and blue, and florescent Yellow light is piercing into my eyeballs and adding a sickly sadness to the tacky light displays. My ears are consumed by the hoard of customers who have joined to produce a debilitating dull roar. Occasionally a shrewd comment lifts to the surface an...

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“A Smiley Christmas” by Yair Ron

Submitted to Contest #19

"We at Smiley's Toys want to wish you a Smiley Christmas!" the giant green emoji shrieked from the great screens towering over the cavernous space. The sound surrounded the worker, the high-pitched voice of god emanating from the vast and well disguised speaker system covering every foot of the massive store.The neon green face smiled at her beatifically, the red stocking cap that marked the season hanging foppishly on its brilliant head. Three years working here and she still wasn't used to that emerald grin leering at her from every damn c...

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“Christmas shoes” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #19

There is no too much time left, after Juliet was diagnised with cancer stage four. Each day, each moment her strength continued failing her. Looking as she lied down helplessly, surrounded by her family. Tears couldn't stop running down my cheeks, even though I tried to close my emotions inside my heart, they always found a way out of my heart. Hiding my face right at the corner of the room, being noticed by Juliet's sister as she held my shoulders trying to console me. Looking directly at her, "why Juliet my love, I wish I could be on her p...

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“Rose” by Connor Abate

Submitted to Contest #19

I paced around the dining room with my arms folded across my chest as I began to brainstorm ideas for the perfect anniversary gift for my wife. My hand lowered to clutched my stomach gently as I stopped in my tracks to sit down at the dining table. I took a pen and notepad out of my purse that resided in the chair next to me to compile a physical list of gifts. I started with something simple - a bouquet of her favourite flowers. The list stayed small as I added only simple items she's sure to love. I bite my lip gently as I put the last ite...

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“Our Little Forever” by Yihan Wang

Submitted to Contest #19

As soon as I woke up, my mind was clouded with dizzying thoughts.It was my boyfriend Jared's birthday, and I'd forgotten to buy him a present.I turned over in bed and checked my phone.25 missed calls and 39 texts.Another text.'You obviously don't need me, I'm too ugly for you. There's no reason to live anymore.' it read.'I love you, and you're hot babe, don't go crazy like that!' I replied.'If you love me, why didn't you answer my calls?' came the reply.'I was sleeping, Jared.' I answered.'Excuses.' he retorted back.I thought about just brea...

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“Bonded” by Shannon Meyers

Submitted to Contest #19

Lucas didn’t care for going into the human domains. He had no strife with the humans but the villages and towns themselves. Having so many of them in one place. The bustling around nearly hurt his ears. Evesdale was a four-day run from his pack lands but he did not mind the journey as long as he got his spoils. When he was just outside the city, he headed to some bushes. He shifted into his human skin and cleaned himself up a bit. Evesdale was a port town. They saw many-a-folk from orcs to fae to elf. It wasn’t unheard of for shift...

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“Modest Lola ” by Falodun Omolola

Submitted to Contest #19

I am strolling through the aisle between long shelves of detergent at the local supermarket, I am heading to the gift shop ,I am done shopping for groceries. It is Ben's birthday in two days ,practically a day and half. I need to get get him a present fast. A wonderful gift ,a gift that is significant, a gift that will serve as a memory. That's why I haven't bought a long large bar of chocolate and junks . Ben is a dab hand at junk consuming. I remember meeting him for the first time in an ice cream shop with lot of it on the ...

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“Full Moon in Ludingsburg” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #19

“Well holler if you need anything,” she said walking to a closet towards the back of the store. Charles looked at the ring again. “Why does it have the words, Olivia & Charles?” he thought to himself this time. He went up to the counter where the lady was standing. “How much for this ring?” he asked. “$12,” she said with an evil smile upon her face. “I’ll take it,” Charles said handing her the $12 dollars she said it was. He was wondering what was up with the weird smile but didn’t care much. He took the ring quickly and hurried ou...

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“The Thought That Counts” by Tuesday Michael

Submitted to Contest #19

It's the thought that counts, but you've known me for two years. You should know exactly what to get me.His words bounce around in my head as I enter the mall. No pressure or anything, I just have to get him the perfect gift. Truthfully, I have no idea what to get him. He doesn't have a lot of room for stuff, and he doesn't really talk about the things he likes. I kinda just have to guess. Walking into GameStop, I browse around hoping to get ideas. I could get him a new video game, but he's really picky about them. If I get him a gift card, ...

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“A Bigger TV” by Sannah Parker

Submitted to Contest #19

My teeth chatter and bones rattle beneath my big wool coat. I didn't layer nearly enough to wait outside this Target for what feels like an hour. Really it has probably only been about thirty minutes. Time truly freezes when you're frozen. I am packed in against the entrance like a last minute toiletry stuffed inside a suitcase, bursting at the seams. At this point, I don't even remember what I came here for; do I even have a plan? The bundled-up ladies next to me equipped with Venti Starbucks lattes seem to have a whole itinerary. I envy th...

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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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