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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

“Alien Fascination” by K A Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #193

At the center of a long-deserted coastal city on Earth, there was a small, portable fusion-powered robot. It had three hands: one that it used for gripping objects, and two that it used for welding. In a former life, it had been one of many military-grade sentinels that had betrayed its creators. With no hope of survival, someone, somewhere, had remotely programmed it to execute one final, indefinite task. To create a monument to its predecessors out of what remained. But the aliens didn't know that. All they saw through their instruments...

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“Schrodinger’s Serendipity of Cause (Intention) & Effect (Action)” by Rajiv Iyer

Submitted to Contest #193

[Themes: Dark Humor/Comedy, Satire] [Disclaimer-1: mild profanity (one or two occurrences of a-word and f-word)] [Disclaimer-2: The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed here are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.] [Disclaimer-3: Fair use (Parody) might apply in some situations.] It was just after Midnight. 2 am to be precise: what would be called “the coffin corner” in aviation parlance could equivalently trans...

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“Cyclops as for dating advice ” by Roy Harp

Submitted to Contest #193

the mask of minea short story by Eli (roy harp)Cyclops wants dating advice.When my eyes discovered a gray gnarly old smelly cyclops of hairy monstrous proportions was sitting beside me on the beach, eye wasn't bothered by it, and instead of getting angry and horrid about the smell of garlic and curry and cumin seeping through his pores, eye constricted and constrained my compulsion to kick sand in the massive gargantuan Hollywood beast who had been inhibiting the sun rays from sprinkling me with its life giving vitamin D. And for the first t...

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“Drive Me into the Sunset” by James Howard

Submitted to Contest #193

Drive Me into the Sunset April Thornton pulls a dress from her closet and holds it up next to her. She frowns and hangs it up. April is a tall, auburn hair beauty with green eyes. She just received a meeting with a powerful producer in Hollywood for her script. She dances with glee with another dress. The break arrived in the form of her agent four days ago. She sticks her head out her Manhattan apartment and shouts,” I am awesome.” Her long hair she shakes and holds an air microphone and sings. The night is long as April can’t sleep from t...

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“Closer on the Shoulder ” by Dylan Wrenn

Submitted to Contest #193

“I’ll take you.”“No, thank you,” I said, drawing it out.“Stop?” “Would you? Stop. Please.” She took a sip of coffee and slammed a bite of toast. She looked at me as it all went down. I looked back. “You’re being weird,” she said. My half-sister was overbearing. She felt she had a lot to make up for. Years spent gallivanting and what not. Tattoos in Indonesia administered the traditional way. A shaman, a branch, a nail. An optimal amount of pain and a suboptimal amount of sterility. She had to fly home because of the ...

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“Fly Away With You” by Molly McNabb

Submitted to Contest #193

Christian checked, double-checked, and triple-checked his bags. He quite literally could not deal with leaving something behind, even if it was as simple as a toothbrush. (Did they have toothbrushes in Paris? Yes. Would Christian be thrown into a full-on panic attack if he made it halfway across the globe, only to discover that he was missing his toothbrush? Also, yes.) So, he checked his bags for a fourth time. He was brought out of his OCD-inspired anxiety, by the buzzer of his apartment going off. He closed the lid to hi...

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“The Getaway Car” by Jungnan Yim

Submitted to Contest #193

People say there’s two worlds, the rich and the poor, but I think there’s more. There’s levels to both. I’ve been at the highest level since I was born, and I can’t deny it. Up until primary school, I was tutored. Then middle school came along, and I started at a private school. I was all alone, my mom was my best friend. Today is my first day of high school. At lunch I went outside to sit in the grass. I brought a little picnic blanket to school today and it was nice and peaceful outside. The sky is the type of blue you see in fake ...

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“Arigata Meiwaku ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #193

Author's Note: This story contains some images of prejudice and violence against men of an alternate sexual persuasion. I was born in these hills near where Old Man River runs, but I always claimed that God did not complete me when I was in my mama’s belly. As I get ready to walk these halls for the last time, I remember thinking back on all of the painful memories of my youth. My daddy telling me that I’d never become a true man. He was right. I never did. But I somehow feel that I was not at fault, because the...

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“Little Chicken Grayfeather” by Heather Sidwell

Submitted to Contest #193

Once upon a time, there was a very talented little chicken by the name of Gray Feather.Now I’m sure everyone is familiar with that famous tale about The Little Red Hen. Well this is not that story. This story is about Red’s cousin, Gray Feather, so...let’s stay on track shall we?As the story goes, Gray Feather had heard all about how Red’s bread experience and how it had evolved. Sure, Red wound up eating all the bread, in the end, but she also wound up doing all the work too! That method, for Gray Feather, simply would not do.“I will ...

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“A Pawsitive Revelation” by Ian James

Submitted to Contest #193

In the heart of a bustling city, nestled within the tranquil enclave of Purnama Park, there lived a dog named Steady. With his sparse fur, sluggish gait, and tendency towards confusion, he spent his days in solitary reflection within his owner's abode. For he believed that he was unworthy of the companionship of the other dogs in his neighbourhood, who seemed so much more glamorous, fluffy, and astute than he. They effortlessly caught flying frisbees and sprinted with great speed, leaving Steady feeling inadequate and alone.But one day, an e...

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“Renewed Hope” by Lachandra Dean

Submitted to Contest #193

It was the thought that counted, or so they say. But to Emma, it didn't feel like it. Her boyfriend, Jack, had forgotten their anniversary. It wasn't the first time he had forgotten an important date, but it still stung. Emma had spent weeks planning the perfect surprise for Jack. She had reserved a table at his favorite restaurant, bought him tickets to his favorite band's concert, and even made him a personalized scrapbook filled with their memories together. And all Jack had to do was remember the date. Emma tried to brush it off and pret...

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“Which thought?” by Tamarin Butcher

Submitted to Contest #193

Violet stared out of the window, trying to find the bees whose minds she could just feel on the edge of her consciousness. This was her not-quite-a-secret spot, behind the curtains on the window seat where no one could see her. Mother and father never spoke about anything important in the living room without first checking behind the curtain for little ears that weren't supposed to be listening. Violet had never understood why. What was the point of keeping their mouth silent when their thoughts were so very, very loud? A bee buzzed past...

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“A Deadly Favor” by David Reynders

Submitted to Contest #193

Jarome and Jesse had dreamed about attending the University of North Carolina since they moved to Charlotte when they were young boys. They grew up next door to each other and were best friends in high school. Jarome and Jesse worked hard throughout high school, both earning top grades and participating in various activities. Jarome was an avid basketball and soccer player, and he volunteered his time to help the local Boys & Girls Club. Jesse was a member of several clubs at school, including the student council, debate team, ...

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“DO ME A FAVOR… DELETE THAT LAST MESSAGE” by Laura Orrantia

Submitted to Contest #193

“Hi, this is Amy. I’m away from my phone right now but if you leave a message, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” (BEEP) “Hey…It’s me! I really need to talk to you!! I’m freaking out!!! I don’t know what to do! I don’t think I slept at all last night!! My head is killing me. I can’t think clearly… actually, what I think is that I’m still drunk?! To be honest… I don’t know what the hell happened!? Wait… Oh god… I think I’m going to throw up again. (Retching sound) Sorry about that. Anyway, I really need to tell you about last night… You ...

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“Chicken Little's Revenge” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #193

Chicken Little’s Revenge As dusk quickly enveloped the abandoned farm, Sam Jones struggled to get his heavy package into the grain elevator. Making sure that the rotting grain covered the package completely, he securely locked the elevator’s lid in place. Then he climbed down from his perch and sped back to his farm. Apparently, no one...

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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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