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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#32: This Magic Moment

Last week, we challenged you to write stories about life's ordinary moments. This week, we're thinking along the same lines... but with a twist. And that twist is: magical realism.

Magical realism is a literary style that weaves threads of fantasy into depictions of everyday life. For instance, a story might be about someone sitting on their couch and channel-surfing — that's the "realism." Then they might walk up to their TV and step right through it like a portal into a fantasy land. That's the "magical."

An important distinction of magical realism is that it doesn't explain the fantastical elements or occurrences. The magic that's woven into the story just is: a character turning off the rain with the snap of a finger is as commonplace as another character opening an umbrella.We hope you enjoy the prompts — and if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation of magical realism, as well as some of the genres best reads, check out this blog post!

🥇 Winner

“The Tragedy of the Trainee” by Thiago Loriggio

“Next, please.” Paul pressed his eyes, tired, and took another aspirin. Easy job my ass, he thought, as the next interviewee entered his minuscule room. At least he had a room where he could rest in the few seconds it took for another person to come in; few trainees had that luxury. Few trainees, though, had a job as unfruitful as his. The door was opened and Paul raised his eyes, seeing an old man walking in with a stick. The man sat in the plastic chair in front of Paul and smiled. If the elder...

84 comments 84 WINNER 🏆

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Waiting for Manny” by Mike Garrigan

Every Saturday, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Fred Flannigan sat on the third bench to the right at entrance of Oscar Park. Sometimes, his best friend, Manny Mandinkos, joined him for the hour. When Manny actually showed up—you never could tell with Manny Mandinkos—Manny brought a thermos of camomile tea. Manny was unpredictable like that. Manny was also dead. A year ago, Manny decided, on a whim, to climb Mt. Everest. He did none of the rigorous training one normally does before ...

2 comments 2 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“My Name Is Elias” by Barbara Eustace

I wake from dreamless black into a semi-conscious haze. My body moves, pins and needles firing, forcing me to rise before I’m fully awake. I’ve fallen asleep in a chair, an old functional armchair with thin cushions. I’ve a feeling it’s not the first time I’ve done this.I force myself to rise, still wondering who I am. I push myself up with my hands, gnarled knuckles, prominent veins, blueish tips to the fingers. Some old sod then, I thought.I look round the strange yet familiar room, at the old furn...

2 comments 2 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“To Be the Man I Once Was” by Miz Erie

The years haven’t been gentle. Benjamin’s legs don’t move as quickly as they once did, and his gait falters more often than he cares to admit. He pauses just before the glass front of Déjà Brew to straighten his cinnamon cardigan and comb his fingers through—“Damn it!” Benjamin grimaces at the smart of his old shoulder injury from when—he can’t drown in the helplessness and dejection that paralyzed him for months after the collision again. At least, not right now. His shaggy, white hair will just have to remain wind-tousled....

2 comments 2 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“Until We Meet Again” by Franny Behrman

I don't even know that he's there until I hear his voice behind me, ordering a cup of tea (lemon, no sugar) as I pay for my coffee (black). After all these years, his voice, even when he is not speaking to me, changes everything in my body. First, I tingle, as if a charge of light has gone through me, and then every muscle relaxes, as if I have just come home and have nothing to do but eat soft food and sleep. And finally, something deep inside me smiles. I turn my head and catch his eye, and I know that something deep inside of him is sm...

0 comments 0 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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This week's prompts

Write about someone who works an average job — but incorporate elements of magic into it.

Fantasy – 77 stories

Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often.

Fantasy – 115 stories

Write about two people in a relationship. One of them has special powers, the other does not.

Fantasy – 77 stories

Write a story that includes characters who are aware they are a work of fiction.

Fantasy – 74 stories

Write a story about someone who can pause time or re-live old memories at will.

High School – 65 stories

Stories

“The Tragedy of the Trainee” by Thiago Loriggio

“Next, please.” Paul pressed his eyes, tired, and took another aspirin. Easy job my ass, he thought, as the next interviewee entered his minuscule room. At least he had a room where he could rest in the few seconds it took for another person to come in; few trainees had that luxury. Few trainees, though, had a job as unfruitful as his. The door was opened and Paul raised his eyes, seeing an old man walking in with a stick. The man sat in the plastic chair in front of Paul and smiled. If the elder...

84 comments 84 WINNER 🏆

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“Another Cliché Murder Mystery” by Anoushka Jain

'Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have gathered you all here today to inform you..........I have been murdered.' She dragged out the last words, enunciating each word, drumming her long nails on the oak table. Several of the deceased's 'feint - hearted' neighbours passed out, landing with a soft thud on the carpeted hall. A tumult of gasps resonated around the room and Adelaide sank back into her leather chair, trying to hide her smirk, while...

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“Room of the Departed” by Waverley Stark

It was very late at night, but the room was still full of chatter and the clinking of cups. The glass chandelier reflected off of the polished tables; thick red carpets coated the floor and the occasional servant floated past in a pure-white uniform. He was there on the side, dabbing sweat off his brow and nervously massaging the place where his right index finger used to be. He jumped at an of...

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“Fairies, Witches, and Sorceresses, Oh My” by Lynn Penny

“Where am I?!” Waking up in an unfamiliar place was never fun. Maxi was having the time of her life last night. Drinking free liquor and being surrounded by half-naked college students was something to be called exciting. This dark and dusty room was nothing close to the same. Maxi pulled herself up from the floor, stopping to lean on the wall after ...

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“Falling in Love with a Haunted House” by Najwa Zandlo

Not all hauntings happen in Victorian-style houses with stained-glass windows and wrap-around porches. They aren’t limited to old, porcelain dolls, or leather-bound books with ancient languages scribbled inside. People can be haunted, too - hearts

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“Ice Cream With Grandpa” by Stephanie Albright

On September 24, 1981, I was home alone. The doorbell rang, my grandpa was standing there with a container of chocolate ice cream in his hand and a big ole' smile on his face. My dog was jumping up and down with excitement and inside so was I. I grabbed two bowls and the ice cr...

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“Maledictions and Muffins” by Joshua G. J. Insole

The witch waved her wand in the direction of her victim, whispering the ancient incantations under her breath. The words snaked out from between her lips, like a worm out of an apple. Her opponent began to expand — growing, widening, fattening. Mavis knew that it wouldn’t be long until the object of her spellcasting finally bid adieu to this mortal world and exploded, insides splattering in every direction.But Mavis wasn’t going to let them give up t...

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“Unknown creatures” by Yoomi Ari

Her thoughts are a strange ocean. One filled with transparency to those whe invade them. She just wanders through life with every friend by her side but some use her to their advantage. They would get jealous of her and maybe say a few bad words about her. A few in her books double, then triple, then quadruple and then fill up her strange ocean with strange fishes. Unknown creatures.She cowers from the blank canvas opposite her and in view. Inches away from the door, he stands penny picking every detail about her. The su...

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“Dear Diary” by Kaye Boone

Dear Diary, Sept. 16, 2019I feel absolutely dreadful this morning. The hangover, I can handle. It is the arguing that I can’t get over. I’m not even sure that what happened constitutes as an...

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“Spirits Don't Catch Colds” by Laurentz Baker

I figured with all this grand universe to explore you likely wouldn’t be back for a while. What gives?“Wow...It’s been damn near a month⎯and the green tea with lemon and honey will help with this cold.”“You don’t look sick to me.”

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“Lost in a Moment” by Kennedy Smith

“Daddy,” Adaline’s voice came from upstairs, making Miles smile at the sound. “Daddy, I need help with my shoes.” “I’m coming princess,” Miles called up to her rising from sitting on the couch. “Miles,” Kassie's voice came from the kitchen making his head turn as he walked to the bottom of the stairs. “Closed ...

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“The dead have no smell” by Deepa Ravi

“Sometimes I feel like you are the only friend I have.” She told me, looking me straight in the eye. “When I talk to others, I feel like they are judging me. I can smell their feelings for me.” She whisperedI sat up, suddenly interested. That was a new one. She had never told me about this smell thing. “What do you mean ‘smell their feelings’.” I asked encouragingly“I was speaking to Judy today and I could smell her dislike for me. It reeked of sour yogurt.” She said nodding her head and squishing up her no...

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“The Epilogue” by Keri Dyck

“It worked.”Rita panted, lying flat on her back. The smells coming through her nose were unfamiliar… and yet she knew exactly what they were.“It worked.”She opened her eyes. The sky above was a placid blue. There were a few clouds, but they looked too far away to do any good. She looked around. Brown stone walls hemmed her in on three sides. The fourth side opened up into a street. She got up. Her muscles were stiff, but she shook them out and continued.The street was empty. There were a few food carts, picked ...

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“In The Cherrywood Forest” by Devestation M

James worked as an accountant for a large business in New York City, you may be thinking how busy he must be everyday since he works for a large business and in NYC! Well it was actually quite the opposite for since Mr. James Steele (as he was formally known at his work) worked in such a large business there was already five accountants and about a thousand other people doing his job, in fact, he felt rather unimportant sitting from seven A.M until six P.M for five days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year in his diminutive ye...

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“Tales from Yújìn” by Bree Kokiri

“The wicker basket, with the red stain, please.” Luò Wei handed the stall keeper ¥34, and dropped what he was carrying into its new home. “Xiè xie!” The young man nodded. “You’re very welcome.” Luò Wei replied, smiling. He was ashamed to think it had been a few years since he’d last visited his home village of Yújìn. It was a historic and quaint town, where everyone knew everyone. The cobble streets were decorated beautifully for the festival. Despite being on an island, the agricult...

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$50

Prize money

408

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0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 13, 2020 EST

Won by Thiago Loriggio 🏆

Title: The Tragedy of the Trainee

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.

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