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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

“The Choosing” by Emma Welsch

Submitted to Contest #33

Being feminine. If you're born a female, this is your only goal in life. In this world, all that matters is looking beautiful and feminine enough to make your way up the social ladder. At age 18, the kingdom's girl's life long work of looking pretty comes down to if a boy in a line of prestigious suitors chooses us to be his mate. Of course, there are other factors in who they chose but that's the main one. If one does not choose a girl, then that girl is doomed to working in our kingdom's mines, or working for the staff at the castle i...

2 comments 2
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“A Magical Moment” by Althea Keaton

Submitted to Contest #33

“So? What do you think?”Taylor knows what she’s supposed to think. The look of expectant, self-satisfied glee in Aggie’s eyes tells her that she’s supposed to think this is the greatest birthday gift she’s ever received. And it is, isn’t it? Her witch girlfriend is offering to cast a spell that will enable Taylor to share in her magic powers for a full day. She’s going to be magic. It’s the kind of thing that ordinary people dream about. So Taylor swallows down the panic rising in her chest and puts on her most convincing imitation of a smil...

3 comments 3
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“The Decision” by Randi W

Submitted to Contest #33

1949      Benjamin wiped the sweat from his brow as the sun beat down mercilessly on him. Confusion filled his face while he observed the two paths before him; unsure of what to do he walked over to the tree that stood behind him, his suitcase suddenly felt heavier than usual. He lowered his tired aching body and leaned against the tree, grateful that the tree was in full bloom. The shade lent him a bit of relief from the hot sun; Benjamin plucked his fedora from his head and set it on top of his suitcase. "Which p...

2 comments 2
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“With Clipped Wings of Butterflies” by L. C. Son

Submitted to Contest #33

“Delia, I’ll meet you there in the morning. Okay? You don’t have to do this alone. We can do this together,” my sister’s syrupy sweet tone comforts and aches my heart all at once. I know she only wants to help, but I’m not yet sure I want to do this. Still, everything in me tells me it’s the right thing to do. “Thanks Caressa, I appreciate it.” I know she can hear the mild timidity breaking through my otherwise stubborn demeanor, but my big sister remains quiet on the other end of the phone and I know she’s waiting for me to affirm my decisi...

5 comments 5
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“Partners in Crime” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #33

It was for the best. Susan knew it was. It wasn’t even as she’d been happy or settled in The Crossing House since Paddy died. It was too full of empty spaces and cluttered spaces and happy memories and unhappy memories. Too many rooms that were no use and a garden that was starting to overget her, though it had seemed such a good idea at the time, when Paddy had been fifteen years younger, and in good health, and delighted to have finally got his hands, quite literally, on what he called a bit of land. He had gr...

2 comments 2
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“A Comprehensive Argument as to Why The Decimation of Planet Earth Was Not My Fault” by Abigail Mathi-Amorim

Submitted to Contest #33

Dear Judge and members of the esteemed Intergalactic Judiciary,I am writing to you to explain that the unfortunate turn of events which in the end led to the complete annihilation of the planet called Earth, was entirely unintentional and a result of many unrealized mistakes. I am a scientist by trade and I was signed aboard the cruiser, Nova, as the lead researcher for young world studies for which we would be studying the humans on planet Earth. The spaceport bustled with people of all shapes and sizes and as a man of books and journa...

2 comments 2
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“Bad Hair Day or How I Learned to Love My Curls” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #33

“When are you going to change your hair style?” asked the man, whose name I no longer remember. He was my hairdresser, and this was 1989. It was not a good time in my life. Sometimes a major change in hard times is necessary. Refresh, recharge, start over again. Sometimes that’s a bad idea.“What’s wrong with my hair?” I asked him, thinking Jesus what isn’t wrong with me? I could go through the list. I had been let go-oh hell let’s not sugarcoat it. I was fired because I didn’t have the experience my boss wanted. My feeling about that, rightl...

1 comment 1
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“Can I Leave Them Behind?” by Elle Parker

Submitted to Contest #33

For most people family is the single most important thing in the world. The problem is, not all families are good.  With the news today we hear stories about families ripped apart, about domestic abuse, familial murders, and worse. My family isn’t bad. No one is abused and at the end of the day that means that we’re okay. Right?See what many people forget is that family really isn’t everything. I came to that realization today when my acceptance letter arrived. Harvard. I actually got into Harvard University, a school I’ve dreamed of at...

2 comments 2
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“Free and Easy” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #33

Free and Easy One of Amalia’s faults, or maybe it was merely a weakness, was her inability to make up her mind. Her ex-husband had often accused her of being unable to decide on anything. Some of the decisions she could not make were regarding very important things, too. What was wrong with her? Amalia currently blamed her indecisiveness on the failure of her marriage. When they were still married, he would be disgusted when she couldn’t make up her mind on what color to paint a room. (There were so many colors, so hard to choose one over al...

0 comments 0
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“Metamorphosis of the Monstrosity” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #33

Gwen and Martin didn’t believe in wedding present lists. “There’s something clinical about it,” said Gwen. “And cheeky,” said Martin. Of course that didn’t mean that they ruled out a certain judicious dropping of hints – some of them with the best of intentions, like making sure a friend who was in a pretty parlous financial position knew that they would really love a couple of nice bright mugs, and some of them were “Cynical,” said Martin. “Pragmatic,” Gwen countered. And it was true that Dan, who worked in a carpet...

2 comments 2
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“Preciprocated” by Candela B

Submitted to Contest #33

If your best friend jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?The age-old question, voiced innumerable times by generations of exasperated parents. I never thought I’d genuinely have to answer it.It’s not like her to spring such choices on me. Forget fight or flight, for me it’s either freeze or fret away all my sanity, and I am quite literally frozen in place. I am still not sure how our casual spelunking expedition suddenly turned into being faced with what seems like the most important decision of my life, but again, here I am, toeing the b...

0 comments 0
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“The Time I Almost Crashed a Customer's Car ” by Carlie Beth

Submitted to Contest #33

It was a hot August day when that dirty grey 1995 GMC Jimmy came barreling into the repair shop. It had mixed match paint, dents and scratches all over it. That thing was loud, had cracks in the windshield, covered in rust holes, was missing both of the side-view mirrors and reeked of cigarettes. The customer brought it in for an oil change; the technicians finished working on the car pretty quick and just needed someone to drive it out.  Guess who that someone was.  I was still extremely new and had no business being in that death...

4 comments 4
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“Sideburns” by Felix Rico

Submitted to Contest #33

Throughout my life I have found the communication is key to solving most issues that come about. It’s important to make sure that each party in any scenario has a good understanding of what is going on at all times to avoid conflict or unfavorable outcomes. Coming to this very logical understanding of life required many instances of trial and error overtime. Here is just one of those many minor instances in which my lack of understanding caused me to have a unfortunate time.As a child my parents would take me to a local barber shop to get my...

1 comment 1
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“The Right Kind of Love” by Annony Mous

Submitted to Contest #33

Melanie walked down the sidewalk, skidding her feet over dirt, sending pebbles flying in all directions. Trying to keep her mind off of what lay ahead. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose. She coughed as she sucked in dirt. Hoping her disguise would work, she turned onto her road. Halfway down the road, she grinned. Taking off at a run, Melanie jumped over the curb and splashed into a muddy puddle. She laughed, knowing the mud would add to her father's discomfort and disappointment. She peered down into the dark reces...

2 comments 2
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“No Mirrors” by Magnet Marsdaughter

Submitted to Contest #33

Parker Avenue was quiet except for the steady patter of the rain outside, and the occasional distant rumble of thunder. It was a dark gray day and there was only one establishment still open on the street. The customers of the barber shop sat and read magazines and squirmed awkwardly in their uncomfortable plastic seats. No one removed his hat. No one made eye contact. And no one spoke. It was an unwritten law. There was always religious silence while Jack cut someone’s hair. All that could be heard in the barbershop was the snipping of the ...

2 comments 2
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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