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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#202: A Friend Indeed

We often assume the great loves of our lives will be romantic ones. But how true is that really? Some of our most valuable, enduring, and complex relationships are right in front of us — and they're entirely platonic, in the form of the friends who've stuck with us through thick and thin.

June 8th happened to be Best Friends Day, and so this week’s prompts take a moment to reflect on the importance of friendship, in its many forms — whether your characters are besties, frenemies, or somewhere in between.

This week's prompts

Write a story about lifelong best friends.

Character – 60 stories

Write about two friends who were once inseparable, but now find themselves growing apart — or even friends turned enemies.

Dramatic – 79 stories

Set your story at a wedding reception, where a group of high school friends are meeting for the first time in years.

High School – 16 stories

Write a story about two friends who find themselves competing for something: a job, a prize, a love interest, etc.

Funny – 16 stories

Write about two people striking up an unlikely friendship.

Character – 95 stories

Stories

“Ill Wind” by Andrew Bell

Submitted to Contest #202

ILL WIND Hilda tried to ignore Cassie's yowling at the back door. She drew her head under the covers, reclaiming the tip of her nose from the morning's chilling touch. The yowling continued. Guiltily, Hilda eased out from beneath the covers. She winced as the slipper caught on her corn. Her arthritic fingers fumbled with the cord on her dressing gown. Cassie pushed up on her hind legs, rubbing her body against Hilda's legs....

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“The Ripple of Belief” by Glenda Toews

Submitted to Contest #202

(Author note; While I listed this as fiction, do know that it is fiction based on real events. Because the fictional aspect outweighed the non-fiction, I felt compelled to put it in that category.)Sebastian stretched like a cat. A big cat. A cougar cat. He scratched his stubble absentmindedly. Tattoos and veins juddered over his forearm as he did so. The sun streamed through the window calling the day new. It was Friday, but a holiday Friday. He remembered the day and eased his mind back into his pillow. “Ah, no rush.” The digital clock on t...

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“Grandma Pearl” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #202

Riley was thrilled about her college acceptance until she heard her parents' idea of a solution to her student housing needs. “Stay with Grandma? You must be kidding.” “No, we are not,” said her mother firmly. “You’re going to be in the same town as her. Her husband recently died, so she could use some company. The Lord knows our budget’s tight enough that we can use the free accommodation. It’s a win-win situation.” Riley had sulked for a week but finally gave in. Her dad was in the military, and they had moved frequently, including over...

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“Tik Tok Tenacity” by Tessa Jones

Submitted to Contest #202

“Last night I dreamed I wore my elf ears to work,” I say as my co-worker scrolls through my TikTok feed while we sit together at lunch. “It was hard to use my stethoscope, though. My ears kept falling off.”Monica looks up from my phone and cocks one eyebrow at me. “You sure it’s a dream? After all, you are still wearing your tiara. I meant to talk to you about that.”My hands fly to my head in horror. She laughs. “Kidding! Geez, you’re easy. That’s so funny.”“Hilarious,” I mutter, and take another bite of my tuna sandwich. “Check out the pinn...

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“Stanley and the Undertaker” by Mitchell Kaye

Submitted to Contest #202

The undertaker flipped a switch on the casket-lowering device and the pine coffin descended into the dirt. No adornments, no family, no friends, no pallbearers. A simple pine coffin with the remains of a simple man. Cloaked in a blinding sunshine, the undertaker prepared to fill the grave plot with soil. As he pushed the first weighty pile of dirt onto the coffin, a voice sang out. “Wait!” The undertaker jerked back and turned around to see who had screamed. There’s little screaming at a cemetery for an undertaker to get accustomed t...

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“The Reunion that Changed my Life” by Peter Wyatt

Submitted to Contest #202

I was not psyched about attending my 10-year high school reunion. My high school memories are awful. I had practically no friends. I was basically a social outcast. Things got somewhat better in the intervening years. I went to community college and got an associate’s degree in business. I am now the assistant manager of Chick-in-a-Bun and I manage a good group of young men and women. It’s a fine establishment. I am not exactly what people might call a ...

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“Maev and the Enemy Within ” by Daniel Rosas

Submitted to Contest #202

"Bengt Skara Brae you have got to get out of here and stop moping around!” scolded Senzel as she pulled back the drapes allowing a beam of light to shine into the room. Bengt rolled over and put his pillow over his head. “You know you’re not even supposed to be in here. This is the boy’s dormitory.” “Rank has its privileges,” Senzel said with a smile to which Bengt lifted his head briefly to shoot her a sarcastic smirk. Senzel was the daughter of the First of Magi in the Court of Antioch, Moniak Illnoi. She could go pretty much whe...

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“The Naked Truth” by Patrick Samuel

Submitted to Contest #202

Whatever the Countess expected, it wasn’t the modest cottage (modest by her standards at least) that appeared among the foliage. A doll’s house, pale green shutters on white walls made whiter by the glare of the afternoon sun, tucked away in the lush garden where bushes had been allowed to grow wild. She did not recognize Arthur’s touch in any of this and suspected that some choices had been made for him.Neither did she expect the door to be answered by a rosy-cheeked young woman in an apron. The surprise must have been mutual. The maid was ...

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“Return To The Aurora ” by Kimberly Straub

Submitted to Contest #202

Arthur kept his eyes down as he navigated through the dining hall, weaving around walkers and wheelchairs. He ignored the side glances from the Whispering Pines residents and settled on an empty table in the back, hoping to eat his dinner in peace. But before Arthur could swallow his first bite of what he assumed was Salisbury steak, the Home’s day manager occupied the empty seat across from him. “Mr. Osment, may I have a moment of your time?”Arthur didn’t look up from his plate as he scooped up a spoonful of limp green beans. The ...

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“The Cheater” by Jennifer Trimble

Submitted to Contest #202

The steady beeping of the heart monitor tells me that my husband, the bastard, is still alive. I arrived two hours ago, after a phone call that changed my life. You’re husband and daughter have been in a car accident, the caller said. I do have a husband, but we don’t have a daughter. In a fog, I drove to the hospital, confused and angry, but responding because that’s what a good wife would do. I’ve always been a good wife. I arrived to find, not only him, but her. In the same room next to him, is another bed, a...

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“A Friend to Treasure” by Emilykay Tan

Submitted to Contest #202

A Friend to Treasure Leisurely sitting at a Thai restaurant and having dinner with my friend, Eva, we talked about friendships. I said I didn't have many friends in quantity, but I had a lot of quality friends. Eva said the same was true for her. We proceeded to describe the quality of friendships we had. When I shared some, they stopped her in her tracks, as if in competition in comparison of stories; Eva said, "Well, I never had a friend like that. I never had a friend that helped me that much." Feeling proud, I continued to share details ...

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“Best Friends Forever” by Seshadri S

Submitted to Contest #202

There is nothing quite like the solace and support of a true friend in a world where life can be unpredictable and challenging. For Chaya and Zeenat, their friendship was a lifeline that carried them through some of life's most difficult moments. Despite their different backgrounds and experiences, they found a deep connection that strengthened over time. Together, they laughed, cried, and celebrated, forming a bond that would last a lifetime.This is the story of their enduring friendship, laughter, tears, and the bond between two women.Chay...

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“The Action Fraction Franchise” by Allan Bernal

Submitted to Contest #202

Action Fraction (2010) “That was the greatest movie ever! What’d you think Isaac?” “Jackson Fraction was so cool! He whipped out his ruler sword and went bam! Bam! Wasn’t he the coolest Lexi?” “I liked Lap-Lacey more!” “Ew, of course you liked the girl character more.” ...

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“Unlikely but Unconditional” by Rya Johnson

Submitted to Contest #202

‘ Doesn’t the sky just fascinate you? The way it can depict a constant battle in nature, with no words? The way the velvety beep blue and steel grey clouds imposes upon the wispy white and light blue ones as a storm ensues; the way the golden beams of the sun can penetrate all of those dark pillowy clouds- dissolving them to nothing; the way the pinks, purples, blues, and yellows seamlessly melt together to make the perfect sunset. All of which can bring people to tears with the surge of emotion that it induces… and al...

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“A DOUBLE LIFE” by Shirley Horwich

Submitted to Contest #202

In front of me was a room full of small children. They were running, jumping, squealing and crying and they terrified me. I clung to my mother’s hand and tried to hide behind her. One of the little boys detached from the group and came toward me with his hand held out. “Will you come and play with me?” he said. I took his hand and from that moment school didn’t scare me, because Rory was my friend, my helpmeet and my idol. Everybody liked Rory because he was as nice as he was clever. His natural position was top of the class just as mine sho...

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$250

Prize money

266

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 16, 2023 EST

Won by Victoria Macleod 🏆

Title: Emma

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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