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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#234: Time Out

Often, it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day. We juggle dozens of warring obligations — work, home, friends, family — alongside our own wants and needs. At one time, you might back out of a friend’s birthday to visit an ailing family member. But at another, you’ll go to an important work conference rather than visiting your mother across the country. You never know how much time you have — to make your career, to follow your dreams, to spend with your family. It’s an uncertainty we all learn how to live with, one way or another.

In the spirit of this uncertainty, this week’s prompts focus on time. Who has it and who doesn’t, and who is trying to carve it out, minute by minute.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone whose time is running out.

Angst – 112 stories

Write a story about someone who wishes they could turn back time.

Character – 70 stories

Write about someone taking advantage of some unexpected free time.

Fluff – 31 stories

Start or end your story with someone saying, “We have all the time in the world.”

Dialogue – 71 stories

Set your story in a place that’s frozen in time — literally or metaphorically.

Narrative – 56 stories

Stories

“The Unimagined Life” by Luna Lin

Submitted to Contest #234

Annie looked over at the two young women by the SK-II counter, about five metres away from her own Bobbi Brown one. They were probably in their late twenties, perhaps now looking for ways to slow down the inevitable changes that time brings with age. They were pretty, each in her own way. The taller one–Annie decided her name should be Suzy–has big, hooded eyes and high cheekbones. Annie noticed she had long dimples when she smiled. Her hair flowed down nearly to her waist, shiny and in big wavy curls. Her makeup looked very natural,...

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“Life Is a Funny Fickle Thing” by Mandy Fischer

Submitted to Contest #234

Life is a funny thing. A fickle, funny thing. Time ticks by. Second by second. Moment by moment. Everyone is always chasing something in life. Fame, fortune; health wealth and happiness some say. But what is a life? How do we measure a life’s successes? Is it the time spent creating a life saving measure? Is it the family you have built and helped to grow? What is a life, that is the question. *** Life for me began one fall day in 1937. Five months earlier was the Hindenburg disaster. And the Golden Gate Bridge opened. But during the year I ...

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“Closure” by Chase Clemens

Submitted to Contest #234

It’s been a year since my brother Nolan died in a car accident. Climbing this mountain was something we always wanted to do together, but his time was just too short. So I was climbing it alone instead, because I just couldn't let go. His accident was so sudden that I'd never gotten a chance to say goodbye. I'd never gotten the closure I wanted. Closure I needed. I'd reached the top. Wow. The view from the top was amazing! If only my brother were here to see it with me. I desperately wished I could turn back time to see him again, just fo...

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“The Pirate Jig” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #234

“It’s two o’clock! Time for my eye drops!”Aye! Aye! Captain,” I said. “What you be wantin' is just a little rest and cheery talk. Mind I be talkative is sure!”“Just get the bottle! And don’t forget to wash your hands!”“Alexa, how many pirates be washing their hands?”“I don’t know that one,” that Alexa says.It was the new bedroom furniture that I be barkin’ my shins on as I round the bed. Maple Dark, expensive wood there be, suited for any pirate’s water-logged chest, too. If I had the gold to show fer it!“I’ll mind me hands and squirt l...

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“The Item in Question” by Macauley Moffatt

Submitted to Contest #234

She stared at herself in the mirror. Her long brown hair was ratty from sleep. She stood, immobilized from exhaustion and pining for ten more minutes. Her pyjama bottoms were frayed and tattered. She got them in college and refused to retire them, claiming they brought her luck. Her lower belly gently protruded from beneath her shirt, round and soft. She poked at it with concern. “Why do you taunt me so?” She wondered. “I eat vegetables, I walk the dog, but you remain.” She sai...

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“Chocolate Milk Naps ” by Eliana Smith

Submitted to Contest #234

Chocolate Milk Naps by Eliana Smith If Beatrice could go back and turn back time, you best believe she would. She would have started at the ripe age of 7. She would have done some things the same like staying at her Grammy's every summer, but some things differently like staying away from the older neighbor boy who knew more about life than she did at the time. She would brush her Grammy's hair more often and hold her papas hand during prayer. She would pet her...

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“Only One Take” by Elizabeth Sloughter

Submitted to Contest #234

Take 2 Josephine thanks Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan for the money as she exits their two-story brick home after breakfast. The kids are still in their pajamas, but they’ve eaten well – Josephine prepared them homemade pancakes – and now they are watching Saturday morning cartoons. She’s done her job well, and the parents are happy. As she heads towards her car, she feels the fatigue draping ove...

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“Carousing in Your Arms” by Jean Ballard

Submitted to Contest #234

Evelynne darted her eyes back and forth at the people nearby and discreetly wiped the bit of drink she had spilled on the bartop without them being any the wiser. Moonlantern Bar was her happy place. She was best friends with the bartender and often came to keep her company and people-watch to see if she could find some inspiration for her writings. "You will not believe who I just saw walk in upstairs," Diana leaned down to tell her. Evelynne waited for her to say who, but Diana always needed dramatic pauses. "Aiden from high school!" The n...

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“Train Thoughts” by Alex Stephens

Submitted to Contest #234

(The events of this short story, as well as the narrator, are completely fictionalized.) Journal Just got on the train to London, and decided to start journaling on my notes app. It’s pretty informal but maybe that adds charm or something. I’m just going to stare out the window, and every significant thought, I’ll write down. Go. Are masters of their craft always miserable? Smart people always seem so burdened. Maybe I should try writing music. I shouldn’t lose touch with my housemates. Or are we just doomed to be li...

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“The Hunter Museum ” by Kacie Foos

Submitted to Contest #234

I had just finished dropping my daughter off for her first day of a summer camp. It tugged at my heart strings watching her wave goodbye with her nervous 'first day' smile. I had given her a warm hug and the words of encouragement she needed. But now, it was time for a 'me day'. Words that were rare and far in-between the realities of my busy life. I was on my way to do something that would bring me joy beyond words, a visit to The Hunter Museum.When I found my parking spot and my car engine had officially been turned off, a wave of child-li...

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“4 AM- An essay on Mortality” by Susan Winters

Submitted to Contest #234

It is my favorite hour of the day, the hour of solitude and ownership. The hour out of 24 that I have found just for me. By five, alarms are going off, the pipes are rattling with showers. But 4 AM is mine. The sky is still dark and many have just fallen into their deepest slumber of the previous evening. But for me, I am most awake, more awake than I shall be all day.As the aroma of the coffee soothes me, the intermittent whoosh of the heater warms my body, I sit, and listen. I don’t do this enough, just sit; and li...

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“The Retirement List” by Amy Walliker

Submitted to Contest #234

To say that Max Cameron had been excited to retire would be an understatement. He had longed for days where time would crawl by like a wounded insect. He couldn’t wait for the clock to become just another item of furniture, rather than his time-keeper glaring furiously from the corner of the room. Now that day had finally come. As he walked through his front door, after his last ever day, he knew that his new life was about to begin. Time, now, finally, stretched out before him like an open sky. On his first day off he hadn’t set his...

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“Cooper's Day Off” by Mortimer Ridgewood

Submitted to Contest #234

Ask any dog, and they’ll tell you- being the Family Dog is a 24/7 job. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my family, and I love caring for my family. Sometimes, though, I wish the Little Ones would keep their own noses damp, or Dad would stop antagonizing that ‘Bissell’ demon. My humans need near-constant care and protection, every hour of every day of the week. Breaks are few and far in between… so you can imagine my surprise when, just the other day, I got one.I had been just a few minutes into my midday nap when I heard my favorite human, Mo...

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“The Survivalist’s Guide to an Idle Mind” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world now!” Megan said, brushing her hands off on her apron. Somehow in meeting that twinkle in her brown eyes, I couldn’t be honest. I gave the best grin I could, but it was strained at best. Good enough I suppose, Meg hardly noticed as she darted past to clock out of work. Can’t really blame her. It'd been a long busy season, and today we got the first go ahead to close the bloody shop. She all but threw the apron on the hook before grabbing her jacket and heading out. “I’ll lock the place up,” I said. “...

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“The Buzzmachine” by Agnieszka Baczkowska-Maśluszczak

Submitted to Contest #234

“We have all the time in the world,” Frank sank into his fluffy armchair and sighed. He loved his job. All he had to do all day was to sit in a room filled with action figures and memorabilia, with his best friend Burt at his side, drinking coffee and joking around. Only once in a while, an order was delivered. It came in an envelope, and as soon as they received it, they had to type in a special type of code into the buzzmachine. He had been working here for over two years, but if anyone asked him what he did, he'd have trouble explaining i...

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$250

Prize money

340

Contest entries

132

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 26, 2024 EST

Won by David Pampu 🏆

Title: 6:47 PST

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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