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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#33: Bad Hair Day

The best stories are the ones that make us feel something; the ones that tap into some kind of universal emotion or experience. And there is one feeling that stands out as being particularly universal. More than joy, sadness, fear, or love. More than the excited nerves of a first day at school, or the sweet relief of a spring breeze after a long winter. Something that connects us all is the feeling of... a bad haircut.

This week, your challenge is to write a story that evokes the feelings of a bad hair cut. (Whether or not your story involves this actual plot is up to you!)

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character who can't make up their mind about something.

Character – 64 stories

Write a story about a character who's too polite to tell someone they don't like a gift given to them.

Funny – 49 stories

Write a story about a character making a big change.

Teens – 65 stories

Write a story set in a salon or barbershop.

Fiction – 70 stories

Write a story about miscommunication.

Fiction – 48 stories

Stories

“8-Ball” by Megan Hyland

Submitted to Contest #33

Standing in line, Michael could feel the customers behind him becoming increasingly irate. Their tuts and audible eyerolls were not unnoticed by him, though they did nothing to speed up his decision-making process. The barista looked at him with pitying eyes framed with dark circles and a minimum-wage salary as he frantically scanned the menu behind her. Caffe LatteVery doubtful.CappuccinoDon’t count on it.Flat whiteMy reply is no.Hot chocolateIt is decidedly so.“One hot chocolate, please.” Michael said with confidence, much to the other cus...

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“New chapter” by Dream AR

Submitted to Contest #33

Sia touched her hair for 20th time since setting foot in the office. She couldn't decide if she should be happy or angry. She had decided to get a haircut and on last weekend, after delaying it multiple times, she had finally gone ahead with it. She had asked the girl from saloon to keep the original cut and only cut the excess. She didn't like short hair. But instead the stupid women decided to turn her hair into a fashion disaster. Her hair now fell just below her shoulder in an awkward bob and she looked like a school kid. She hated it. B...

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“The things we don't see ” by Amanda Anaya

Submitted to Contest #33

Sentiments knew nothing about dishonesty and somehow those bastards were the masters of all the lies. Reality is mostly built on feelings. Reality is nothing but a lieJust like Kayra's new haircut. Okay she gets it, all that dramatic entrance and a haircut is the issue? Let her explain it: "This is great... great as the initials on my grave!" "Oh darling, I don't understand why the fuss, this suits you" Across the mirrors, she glared at the stylist. Natalie was her name, Kayra would need to remember the name of her assassin. This wasn't her...

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“"I'm Not Sure"” by Nathan Dean

Submitted to Contest #33

“I'm not sure,” she said, “Do whatever you want.” Though the woman with the purple hair and the fearsome scowl didn’t acknowledge the stub girl in the seat she did ,in fact, do whatever she wanted. As she snipped and snapped her scowl slowly ,but surely, upturned. Not into a happy, joyous smile as one might assume, but rather a sort of nefarious ear to ear grin. As most people usually do the girl ,with her brown hair messing up the already dirty white gown, said nothing despite her displeasure. “The barber knows best” She figured.&nbsp...

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“The Conversation Inside my Head” by Anisha Sahni

Submitted to Contest #33

She had to make a decision. A simple yes or no. But it’s a big decision in a girl’s life; one often accompanied by questions like “why’d he break up with me?” “Is this what rock bottom feels like?” and, perhaps most importantly, “do I really want bangs or should I just go to therapy?” Ah, yes, bangs. Every girl wants them, very few can pull them off. That’s the perception, isn’t it? And with her frizzy curls that fall right below her collarbone? Forget it, there’s no way. It’s not like she has the beauty, confidence, or stylists of Ze...

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“Red or Blue?” by Book Worm

Submitted to Contest #33

Red or blue? She couldn’t make up her mind about choosing between the blue and the red dress in the store like she couldn’t about most other things. It was the red that had first caught her eye but blue was really her color. She couldn’t possibly be seen wearing the bright shade of red to work. But if she were to buy the blue, it would make it the fourth blue in her wardrobe this season. She decided to come back the following day after making up her mind. The next day, she purposefully strode up to the shelf where she had found it. But it wa...

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“Between A Rock And A Hard Surface” by Ayuba Muhammad Muhammad

Submitted to Contest #33

We usually have disagreement with her, but this one was different. It started last night when I caught her chatting with him.On the day before the one we had the disagreement, she disclosed to me that she has fallen in love with me beyond repairs . He was her classmate from secondary school. She had a crush on him when she was just fifteen years old. After their graduation, he started taking drugs. She had to avoid him due to the fear that he would jeorpardise her life and the career she wanted to pursue. For almost ten years , the duo ...

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“Be perfect or just be myself...” by Annabelle Norwood

Submitted to Contest #33

Our hair is a part of our body that most people either don’t bother with or take really good care of. It is supposed to be part of our outside presentation and how we want other people to see us. I am one of the first types of people. I don’t really bother with my hair normally. I would put them either in a bun or a high ponytail accentuating my long neck in the process. I say normally because today I have to have perfect hair, a perfect dress and definitely a perfect posture. I am supposed to have my first ever job interview. After I f...

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“Diamonds” by Amelia Wood

Submitted to Contest #33

“So? What do you say?”I can barely speak. It’s not a good barely speak, either. This is panic-is-bubbling-up-in-my-chest-and-I-can’t-speak.Chandler is so expectant, a hesitant smile plastered on his face. He wobbles a little bit, as he’s still kneeling.“I-uh-I-” He stands up.“What’s wrong?” The box disappears into his back pocket, and I cry out against my better judgement.“Wait!” His eyes light up again, and a dart of guilt rips into my heart, hitting the target dead on.“Yes,” I say, forcing a smile. “Yes, a thousand times yes!” He lets out ...

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“Nessie's Gift ” by Alefiya Lokhandwala

Submitted to Contest #33

“Nessie is such a sweetheart!” I turned to Robert “Rob” Gray to give him the most chilling smile I could muster. “Of course she is” I replied but bit off my tongue before I could add, Nessie is also a weird paradoxical combination of narcissism and sensitivity. I stared back and forth from the brown wrapping paper to the white box in my hand. I couldn’t help but feel curious of what a classy slob would gift to her mortal enemy. “Do you think it’s a bomb?” Tess whispered. She peered over my shoulder and gasped as she read the first ...

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“My honesty” by Rohan Mehta

Submitted to Contest #33

My name is Jon Centina and I am 15 years old and I live on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. My dad is a cruise ship captain, his route always passes Cozumel every 3 days so we moved here. My mom, dad, sister, brother and I live together in a beachfront villa. My brother's name is Brady and my sister's name is Lindsay. On the island, I work as a part-time tour guide and I'm known for being very honest, a tourist dropped her diamond-encrusted purse, it had more than a $1000 in cash, her credit and debit cards and her passport. I had alerted her ...

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“Mother’s Greed” by Elizabeth Lee

Submitted to Contest #33

The gift wrap is exquisite; translucent, pearl white adorned with a large golden bow. I carefully peel off the paper to reveal a gorgeous glass serving dish. The edges fan out slightly, tipping over to show a hint of tinted pink glass. Some sort of intricate design swirls around the center, like a flurry of snowflakes. The dish sits upon a small but sturdy holder, wide at the bottom for balance. Typically, dishware does nothing to tickle my fancy. My cupboards and drawers hold the bare minimum for a young couple and our dishes...

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“Ghosts of the Past” by Tanya M

Submitted to Contest #33

You sit on the bed, worn quilt draped over you. There’s a hole in the quilt, one that your knee fits through perfectly, edges frayed from years of sitting in this exact position. Sunlight from the window streams in, lighting up the words on the page of the book in front of you. Black type-written words on creamy background; you stare but don’t truly read. You read the first few pages, and that was enough. How could she? You stare at the book in your hands, florid, garish colors illuminating the cover. Annmarie ...

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“The lemonade pitcher ” by Rachel Goguen

Submitted to Contest #33

It’s September, school is starting up again and I can just feel it. This school year is going to be great. My son is starting kindergarten and the surprise in my belly will make it even better. I can’t wait to share the news with so many. I’m just enjoying life. On top of it, I love my job and I love the school my son attends. First day at work is going so well, all the kids are so happy to see me and I’m so happy to see them. The week goes by so fast, school activities and the smiles on everyone’s faces is just perfect. September goes by so...

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“The gift ” by Emma Gouzil

Submitted to Contest #33

Alexia was ecstatic: today she was seeing her lifelong best friend for the first time in what seemed like FOREVER. Julie and her had been sister-of-heart for as long as she could remember. They were inseperable, that is until Julie had to leave for San Francisco to pursue the job of her dreams. Alexia had supported her in her decision and had even pushed her to go: this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Julie simply couldn’t miss it, she had to go! Even though it broke both of their hearts to know they’ll be so far away from ea...

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$50

Prize money

296

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 20, 2020 EST

Won by Phoebe Barr 🏆

Title: Pennies and Years

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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