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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#195: Sidekicks and Second Strings

Growing up, I was never a huge fan of superheroes. Maybe because I didn’t really identify with the grand, brave acts and main-character energy of the likes of Spider-Man, Batman, or even Sherlock Holmes. Instead, I was partial to the less flashy, secondary characters: the Watsons working quietly behind the scenes, the bassist in the band, or the defenders who quietly keep the team from conceding points, while the quarterback gets most of the credit.

This week, I want your stories to be an ode to the unsung heroes, the underdogs of storytelling, and the small acts that, collectively, can be just as heroic as catching the bad guy or defeating evil in one grand swoop.

This week's prompts

Set your story in a staff room of an essential profession that is often undervalued — nurses, cafeteria staff, sanitation workers, etc.

Character – 51 stories

Write a story from the point of view of a sidekick, or someone who is happy to stay away from the limelight.

Character – 87 stories

Write a story about someone who receives — or makes — a life-changing, anonymous donation.

Dramatic – 23 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Dialogue – 27 stories

Write about someone who is learning to recognize and take credit for their own achievements.

Character – 18 stories

Stories

“Jarek The Defiler” by Paul Besancon

Submitted to Contest #195

The hall is crowded. It’s always like Raymond to have such company in his court. Barons, duchesses, knights, mages, ambassadors of the dragon and demonic realms, and do I even spot a Hermonian wizard of all people? I've not seen one of their kind in decades…centuries, even? Lavish company indeed, Lord Raymond. I have no doubt they will be pleased with the feast and mummers. Raymond is no amateur when it comes to entertaining his guests. Evident in this positively intoxicating Sythian wine. Deacon’s black hand raised a jeweled cup to his lips...

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“Charitable Donations” by John Lente

Submitted to Contest #195

Romie’s parents didn't talk about where the money had come from. Her parents were arguing and fighting over bills for months, and there was talk of selling the house. Then her father went away for a weekend. Romie’s mother said he was offered a job out of town, but he’d be back soon. “Soon” was apparently sometime in the middle of Monday night. Romie arose for school Tuesday morning and found him sitting at the kitchen table. His skin was clammy and grey, and he stared across the room, not even acknowledgi...

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“⅘ Of A Hero” by Louise Wernham

Submitted to Contest #195

“Dammit!” The Hero screamed, punching the resilient wall with his fist. “I almost had her! I almost had her!” I didn’t flinch. The poor wall was peeling and cracked, bruised and broken, loose sediment falling off it with each forceful blow but it never gave way. The room shook, almost as if it were trembling in fear. I, however, did not hold fear for the mercurial man before me, nor did I look at him in awe or admiration as I once had, not even with pity. Resentment - it was with resentment that I watched him as he pounded ...

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“Betsy’s Rainy Day” by Christine Casey

Submitted to Contest #195

Betsy was in a mood. Normally she worked quietly in her cube leaving only to go to the occasional meeting. She rarely ventured off her floor except to go to the lunchroom. Even that was rare as she usually ate her lunch in front of her computer while surfing the internet for the latest news on her favorite celebrity. Today felt different. It started when she walked into the building and the man in front of her, shook his wet umbrella, soaking her in the process. She waited patiently to smile a...

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“A Counselor's inner dialogue ” by Nabi H. Akhtar

Submitted to Contest #195

“He’s one of the good ones Jolene,” I said to my wife who was standing over the kettle across the room. She was pouring the hot liquid over the coffee beans which were slowly releasing their fragrant musk around our small 2-bedroom apartment. “Anything to go along with it?”, I asked my wife as she handed me my cup. She sauntered back over to the cupboards and pulled out a pack of lemon biscuits. She plonked herself on the couch besides me. “Well, if he’s so good maybe he would have given you some money instead of just calling you to that stu...

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“Five Days” by Gowner Jones

Submitted to Contest #195

Five days to retirement Eugene sat at the table like he always did during his break. Some of his younger coworkers liked to spend their breaks across the street at that new juice bar. Eugene didn’t think much of juice. He preferred coffee - and these days, a shot of rum to ease his back pain. “What’s up Euge?” asked someone from behind. Eugene’s hearing wasn’t as good as it had once been but he would recognize Vanessa’s shrill voice from across an ocean, he reckoned. “I told you, my name is Eugene,” he said. “Awe, don’t be such a grumpy ol...

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“Special Delivery” by Teresa Hiatt

Submitted to Contest #195

Tonya had been delivering mail to the same neighborhood for over 20 years. Each morning, she got up at 5 am and made it to work just as her mail was ready to be sorted into the bins that put it in order for her to deliver. She would then load up her cart and begin the 6 mile daily walk that put her in touch with the entire population of her neighborhood. Sometimes, if the weather was good and the load was light and she was ahead of her schedule, she stopped to talk with residents on her route and trade information on what was g...

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“March” by Andrew Audibert

Submitted to Contest #195

[This is fiction, but it shows many real stresses teachers face every day. None of the issues are exaggerated.] Amanda glowered. She stared ahead at the green piece of paper on the wall, adorned with the meme of a glamorous woman in oversized sunglasses, hiding her face from a group of paparazzi. The caption – You could’ve been a movie star! If it was ever funny, it’d lost its charm. With its bent, frayed corners, it added to the dull dreariness of her surroundings – the only decoration in a stuffy, windowless room with antique yellow wall...

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“Lunch Break” by Spankin Rainbows

Submitted to Contest #195

Lunch Break *TW FOR GUNS* Sandra opened the microwave and took her lunch out to eat. She came in early this morning, around 8:00am. According to the job description, housekeeping starts their shift at 9am. No one comes in that late. Most of the crew makes their way in before 8:30, to give them time to prepare their cleaning carts. Everyday is a new battle for clean towels, sheets, and duvets. Sandra sighed wearily, thinking about the 2 duvets and 3 sets of towels she had for the 15 rooms on her list. She spooned up the liquid fire of ...

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“For the Laughs ” by Brooklyn Judd

Submitted to Contest #195

“Can I say one Mormon-boy rizz?” Kathryn resisted the urge to rub the pinching headache building between her eyes.“No.” She was considering banning the word ‘rizz’ across the board, in all her classes. (According to dictionary.com, ‘skill in charming or seducing a potential romantic partner, especially through verbal communication’. Urbandictionary.com had a decidedly less appropriate but more accurate version of that.) “Please? Mateo and John need to hear it.” “Still no,” Kathryn said firmly. Possibly it was harmless. More likely, it ...

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“Little Paper Notes” by Daniel Dundin

Submitted to Contest #195

The scent still transported him after all this time. It was so familiar and so singular. A blend of old brass, newspaper, dried ink, and pencil shavings. He'd grown to love the smell. It was one of the few constants in his previous life and this new chapter. It had been his daughter's idea to do this. Once she had stopped insisting that he move in with her, something he felt sure was done out of guilt more than anything, she had suggested he find a way to keep himself busy. He had seen an ad, the post office was looking for help, so he ...

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“Recorded Logs of a High School Counselor” by Cassandra Fan

Submitted to Contest #195

tw: mentions of violence, and incompetent leadershipMarshall came in... Yes, that Marshall, the one with the oily black hair and acne. He’s been coming more consistently over the past few weeks… Yes, really! Today we talked about college, what his goals for the future are, all that jazz. He still needs to retake a few classes if he’s going to graduate with the rest of his class, but you know? I think he’ll be able to pull it off. He’s changed. He’s taking charge of his life again, thinking about what major he’ll take and scholarship programs...

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“A Hero in the Shadows” by Stephinie Johnson

Submitted to Contest #195

SongBird was the sidekick and often forgotten partner of Black Hawk, one of the world’s greatest superheroes of all time. After the duo would save the day, fans would rush up and push her out of the way to get to Black Hawk. The world adored him, and many wanted to be just like him. SongBird did not care how others saw her. In fact, she was glad to be invisible. Although her powers were strength, vocal persuasion, and the ability to transport herself to any location, she felt that she had nothing over Black Hawk's ability to fly and use voca...

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“I saw the man who pulled the trigger ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #195

“Are you comfortable, Mrs. Wingard?” Fred Lockley asked the aged widow as she sat in his Oregon Journal office. “Yes I am, Mr. Lockley.” She was quite spry for a woman of her eighty-eight years. She wore a starched white bonnet that was nearly forty years out of fashion in 1925. “Good, good.” He clasped his hands togethers as she made herself comfortable in the cushioned chair. “The reason I want to interview you is that you have a connection with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s ...

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“Mellow” by Corky Farmer

Submitted to Contest #195

“Mellow!” Boris yelled as he darted across the living room at light speed. On the return trip, he yelled again, “Mellow! Come on!” Boris’s tail was just a beige blur against the tan leather couch that I wished I was curled up on. Instead, I sat on the kitchen island and watched the cocker spaniel chase that filthy frightened grey mouse around the house. It had been said that it was my duty as a cat to catch that “thing”. But I’m being honest, I’d rather my tabby grey tail be shaved than catch and or eat a mouse. Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Atwood ...

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$250

Prize money

206

Contest entries

92

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 28, 2023 EST

Won by Geir Westrul 🏆

Title: Untold

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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