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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#193: A Bear's Favor

One of the perks of being a Reedsy Prompts judge is the constant exposure to new ideas and words. While reading Olivia Lake’s story ‘Grateful Nuisance’ recently, I was introduced to a new (to me) Japanese word that instantly captured my imagination. The story explores the idea of arigata-meiwaku, a combination of arigatai (thankful), and meiwaku (nuisance). In essence, it describes the all-too-relatable phenomenon when someone insists on doing you a “favor” against your will, only to wind up causing you even more inconvenience than you started with.

In Northern Europe, this concept is often referred to as a “bear’s favor,” derived from a fable about a bear who kills his master by hitting him in the head with a boulder, when he was in fact trying to kill a fly.

I’m sure the mere mention of such a favor has already conjured some examples from your own life, and this week’s prompts draw on the idea of “bear’s favors” and half-baked acts of kindness. Is it truly always the thought that counts?

This week's prompts

Write a story inspired by the concept of arigata-meiwaku — a favor that turns out to be a nuisance for its recipient.

Funny – 53 stories

Write about somebody whose intentions are pure, but somehow always manages to do the wrong thing.

Character – 45 stories

Write a story where someone insists on giving your main character a ride to the airport, only for their car to break down.

Fluff – 26 stories

Write a fable inspired by a relatable life experience (explaining the moral before or after the story, if you’d like).

Kids – 16 stories

Write a story containing the words “it’s the thought that counts.”

Dialogue – 46 stories

Stories

“Only Eleven Minutes Away” by Harriet Andrews

Submitted to Contest #193

Only Eleven Minutes Away The twelve hour flight from Dublin to Seattle was, as expected, long, crowded and uncomfortable but there were no dramas. The bizarre fact of travelling so many thousands of feet up in the air while eating or watching a film or, stranger still, watching the progress of the plane you are sitting in crossing the world on a small map in front of you always gave her goosebumps so she tried not to think about it. Instead, Angie looked forward to landing in an hour's time and stretching her stiff bo...

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“The Trouble with Threes” by D Feliciano

Submitted to Contest #193

“See you later, alligator.” “In a while crocodile,” Jake giggled back to his mother. He lay in bed with his favorite stuffed banana. It was the middle of summer but Jake was tucked in with a reindeer blanket that he’s been obsessed with for the past six months. He was also obsessed with dinosaurs and would not go to bed without his dinosaur jacket. It made him look like a baby T-rex curled up in a nest. “Bye hon, see you tomorrow,” said Leon as he waved at his wife on the screen and hung up. “And sweet dreams to you, little man, I’ll see you...

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“Everybody Knows” by G. Poirier

Submitted to Contest #193

Randle, a dyspeptic sort if there ever was one, was already at odds with Bob after Bob arrived fourteen minutes late for their tee off time. He came trundling up the path from the clubhouse, his ancient golf bag on its rusty cart behind him, head swaying in that way of his, white hair radiating out from under his hat. He had a sloppy way about him, with wrinkled brown shorts and a Hawaiin-print golf shirt under a fleece vest that looked like it had crawled up from the bottom of the laundry pile.“Sorry, Rand, sorry”, he said when he arrived a...

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“Accidental Enema” by Douglas W. Carr

Submitted to Contest #193

It was another Thursday night at O’Sullivan’s Pub where Tom and Jerry had been meeting for about a year after becoming friends. Both lived in the same neighborhood, which was just a couple of miles away. The pub hosted two pool clubs – one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. Tom and Jerry had just finished a successful round of eight-ball and were bringing the night to an end with one last pint while discussing how the night had played out. The previous week had ended with Jerry accidentally cracking the shaft of his pool cue and Tom had...

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“Reluctant Resurrection” by Amy Bush

Submitted to Contest #193

Nathan stalked through a moonlit graveyard, with a squirrel perched on his shoulder. The squirrel, who Nathan had decided to name Gary, was the reason Nathan felt confident enough to stride through the graveyard with his shovel and his candles. Gary was unusually quiet and still for a squirrel, but he had a heart beat. A heart beat which had been noticeably absent when Nathan found him. There were still puncture wounds in various places from his run in with the neighbor’s dog. His fur stood up straight, his nervous whiskers ben...

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“The Bakery Box” by Evan Thorne

Submitted to Contest #193

He wasn't a baker, but he loved the idea. Cakes and pastries and breads and cookies—some of the best things come out of an oven! But baking takes patience and discipline and thumbs, and Bear was just a bear.Still, he was determined to make something beautiful, something to finally repay the Baker for all the delicious treats she'd put in the big metal box out back for him every night since the bakery had opened. He would try and fail and try again—as many times as he had to—until he figured it out.He knew the first step was setting up his mi...

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“Young Bobby Brown ” by Amy May

Submitted to Contest #193

There once was a boy named young Bobby Brown, he lived in a shack on the outskirts of town. He lived with a bird and also a dog, he lived with a mouse and a big friendly hog. He had no neighbours and I'll tell you why, his farts were so smelly they made people cry. As well as a rather stinky behind, employment for Bobby was too hard to find.Poor Bobby meant well but he wasn't so bright, every job he attempted he couldn't do right. Old farmer Macbernum once gave him a job to shear all the sheep but Bobby sheared all the dogs. " Git off me pro...

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“CACTUS” by Ilayda Doğan

Submitted to Contest #193

CACTUS From the moment he closed her eyes and went to bed, a deep journey and intrigue begins for her. For this play to initiate, the curtain has to be pulled aside. The eyelid opens like a curtain because Mrs.Catherin...

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“Consequential” by Carolyn Carter

Submitted to Contest #193

What began as a light tapping sound, quickly turned into loud pounding on top of the umbrella as the raindrops grew heavier and larger. The chilly wind blew the rain sideways and made it impossible for Phillip to avoid getting wet, no matter which way he stood. He stepped closer to the curb at the same time a car drove through a huge puddle, splashing muddy, cold water on him from head to toe. “Shit!” he said, “what’s the use.” He lowered his umbrella, shook off the excess water and squeezed into a small, crowded bus shelter with a dozen oth...

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“R.C.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #193

Melinda was her name. Melinda Marshall. Of poor, but hard working parents, she had been born and raised in their faith. She was a good girl, and studied hard to be a primary teacher. She was thrilled to land her first teaching position, in a holy R.C parochial school. Being a newbie teacher, Melinda was stiffed with a difficult task. She was assigned a feisty class of Grade Six students. She had to teach this grade to use their brains, often wondering about the true nature of God's little sunbeams. The boys could have their moments, but then...

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“Its the Thought That Counts” by Jeffrey K Schmoll

Submitted to Contest #193

It’s The Thought That Counts By Jeffrey Kedrick Maya heard the jackboots, clunking in unison on the sidewalk outside. She pulled back the frayed curtain a tiny nervous bit and peeked out. The Thought Crimes Unit (TCU) squad of six patrolled in a tight formation, left and right feet pounding the pavement together. Maya’s chest tightened as each footstep felt like a hammer between her shoulder blades. She shuddered, looking down at their all-black military uniforms and bright white kabuki masks. She could see the patrol leader, tall and burl...

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“Dirt” by Tammy Battaglia

Submitted to Contest #193

“So when they said we would be hosting an auditor from corporate this week, I didn’t imagine he would look like that,” Jeanie said motioning toward reception. Starbucks cup in hand, Lisa pushed her glasses further up on her nose and sipped her hot chai tea latte with caramel syrup as she swiveled in her chair. Jeanie wasn’t wrong. The man at the counter was easy on the eyes. 6 foot-ish, dark wavy hair that had clearly been brushed but was still a little unruly, soft blue eyes and full lips that now stretched over perfect white teeth i...

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“A Meeting of the Glorious Immortals” by Daniel Dundin

Submitted to Contest #193

You’ve got this, Felix. You’re practiced and prepared. Show them you were the right choice.“Good Evening, Everyone! We have a very, very exciting… um, hello? Hi?” The crowd, chatting excitedly amongst themselves, took no notice. He was tempted to tap on the mic as some people do, but he feared that would seem amateurish. “Excuse me? Please, everyone…if you would, uh, take your seats and…ok, uh, let’s quiet down. Shush, shush.” Felix could feel himself losing patience with the noisy group. His face was pale, angular, and freakishly ...

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“A Dali Portrait” by •Bubble _ Tea •

Submitted to Contest #193

Our Fearless Leader Chuck told the cabbie he wanted to hear jazz like he was mainlining angel dust on chatter Bill Evans had the trio back together. Cabbie nodded -- tacit engagement -- took a minute to register maximized distances. Northside Tavern amp volume seared a blue gash on my consciousness. It nullified my taste for draft beer. Chuck smoked and John chortled in silence only visible. Headless beers all around. The waiter withdrew the tray behind his back like a butler. Chuck beamed-in to deliver to his...

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“Hail to the A.I. Chief” by Zach Martz

Submitted to Contest #193

In the year 2032 A.D., the American people, fed up with their incompetent and corrupt government, voted to abolish it in favor of establishing an A.I. to decide and implement national policy. The A.I. draws from a dataset and set of algorithms that are programmed manually, by a 25-year-old genius by the name of Jake Pullman. Mr. Pullman sits at a computer in his house and guides the A.I. to shape and control everything that happens in America. This system operates much like playing a very large world-building game. You can probably see where...

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$250

Prize money

186

Contest entries

115

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 14, 2023 EST

Won by SCOTT GEORGE 🏆

Title: To Plant a Garden.

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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