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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#41: Fuzzy Friends (or Foes?)

Hey, writers! I'm Tracy Gold, an editor, writer, and mom to a toddler, horse, and dog. And this week, I'm taking over Reedsy Prompts!

As an editor, I've enjoyed working on young adult fiction (like Amanda Searcy's Watch You Burn), non-fiction (like Gary Vikan's The Holy Shroud), and sci-fi/fantasy (like Nikki Richard's Demon in the Whitelands). Visit my Reedsy profile to learn more about me and my work!

My theme for this week is "fuzzy friends." From Hedwig in the Harry Potter series to Enzo in the The Art of Racing in the Rain, nothing captures hearts like a beloved animal. Animals can be powerful antagonists, too: just look at Jurassic Park! Perhaps what I love most about books featuring fuzzy friends (or foes) is that they mine the depths of the human heart by exploring how we interact with animals. I hope these prompts help you sniff out a good story!

This week's prompts

Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Kids – 232 stories

Write about an animal species that doesn't exist in real life — an alien, new discovery, imaginary creature — it's up to your interpretation!

Middle School – 145 stories

Write about an animal who goes on a journey.

Kids – 69 stories

Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations (like a snuggly tiger, or something more magical, like a literal fish out of water).

Kids – 69 stories

Write about an animal who causes a huge problem.

Middle School – 99 stories

Stories

“Home safely” by Roxie Van Der Linde

Submitted to Contest #41

The mist rolled through the forest as Jacob and Amy made their way towards the main road to wait for the school bus. These early winter mornings were getting to Jacob. Amy had been accepted onto the swim team at their high school and she needed to be there before 5 am. Their mom had asked him to go with her to school in the winter mornings when it was still dark. They walked silently through the forest, Amy in front, excited to be on a team her first year at high school. Jacob usually dragged his feet. This morning he was so tired and kept r...

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“Cousins” by N.L. Mustard

Submitted to Contest #41

“In all of God’s green earth, what in the hell is this?”“It’s highly unlikely this was in God’s original plans, Lucy.”“Why are you so goddamn negative all the time?”“It’s called being realistic.”“Nothing about where we are is realistic, Damian! You seriously think this place, of all places, is a natural occurrence?”“I’m not drawing any conclusions until I know any better. For all we know, this is a dream, and as soon as something bad is about to happen, we’ll wake up.”“Get your head out of your ass and open your eyes!” So Damian reluctantly ...

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“can't look back now” by Miles Benipayo

Submitted to Contest #41

Miles Benipayoreedsyprompts#41: Fuzzy Friends 5/15/20can't look back now“Write about an animal who goes on a journey”Have you ever gotten lost before? Lost in the woods, lost in a store, or lost in a park? The truth is, everyone has trouble figuring out where they are. Even astronauts get lost trying to find which way is up! As your narrator I’ll do my best not to get confused about where I am, because I’m going to guide you on a quiet little story about a quiet little animal. They get confused just as much as us, but they almost always find...

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“Spotlight” by Synia Sidhe

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #41

I drag my trunk through the cool sunset orange water of the lake. The golden tassels dangling over both sides spread out on the surface like the legs of waterbugs. I swing left and right. The bug legs scurry in formation, like humans on parade. THWACK I jerk my trunk up and flecks of water fly over the sand, darkening where they land like blood drops. As usual Gavith is standing near the line of stinging flesh on my side; he has a stick. He's my handler and has been for three years, I see him everyday and he hits me everyday. What is u...

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“The Invisible Toad.” by Susie Pedigo

Submitted to Contest #41

A little over two months ago I had adopted a puppy. The mom was some sort of spaniel and the dad was supposed to have been a Saint Bernard. The puppy had paws the size of salad plates. The Principal of my school had adopted the brother from a student and I had seen the puppy in the office. Adorable, soft fuzzy and friendly, I thought, I want one. So The Principal put me in touch with the dog owner and I visited. While the principal's puppy really did look like a miniature Saint Bernard,y the fuzzy, fur ball the owners introduced me to wa...

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“Rats” by Robert Mackey

Submitted to Contest #41

“Jenny! Jenny!” Jenny rolled her eight-hundred-pound body into her father’s in-home laboratory in her custom scooter. “Yes Papa?” “I got it! It works!” “Really?” “Yup. I’ve been force-feeding this rat for a month. It could barely walk. After just three days on the treatment it has lost a whole pound while I’ve kept its diet constant.” “It’s only a pound Papa.” “A pound is twenty-five percent less than what he weighed three days ago.” “Wow. That’s great!” “Are you ready to give it a try?” “Oh, yes. Please.” Papa handed Jenny a beaker with hal...

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“Never a Dull Moment” by Avani Mitra

Submitted to Contest #41

I turned the key in the lock and pushed open the front door. I heard a jingling from the other room as Ringo appeared from around the corner, bounding towards me. I barely had enough time to set my keys down on the table before Ringo leaped upon me.“Hi, Buddy! Hello! Hello! You’re so excited to see me!” I exclaimed, a smile breaking across my face. Ringo’s tail wagged enthusiastically as I showered him with lots of love and pets. Mom’s head poked out from the kitchen entrance. “I thought I heard your voice. Aren’t you suppose...

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“mothers love ” by Pragya Khadka

Submitted to Contest #41

The storyTitle: - Mother's loveThere was a house next to a forest and a man lived there. He raised an elephant together to make a living. The man used to ride elephants around the forest and earn his living by riding elephants. The elephant was very obedient because it was a pet. The elephant made everyone who rode on the elephant very happy. Everyone praised the elephant and paid more than they asked for. Due to which the income of the owner was getting very good. According to the behavior of the elephants, the owner of the house took good ...

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“The Memory” by Hamadryad 77

Submitted to Contest #41

The Vadenais house had been haunted for days. Not years, months, or weeks, but precisely five days come two o'clock A.M. tomorrow.Let's see if haunted's the right word. Let's look at the facts. Ever since the 'haunting' began, those living near enough have heard strange noises coming from what their sleepy brains think is the direction of the Vadenais house.No one's lived there for a year, but young Lucille Penning saw a light in the second floor window.And... I necessarily add, purely as evidence... there have been almost countless ani...

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“A Dragon’s Tale” by Felicity Edwards

Submitted to Contest #41

The four children from this world known as the Quartet of Innocence here in Quandah were seated on the grass in The Clearing in front of the magician Ozymandias’s cave dwelling. They were relaxed and chatting with their friend Lamghi. Vikram as the only boy of the Quartet, tended to talk first. He had no patience with all this stuff about absorbing the atmosphere or getting in touch with his emotions. He just wanted facts and then he could act. “So Lamghi, what kind of dragon are you? Everyone says you are the only dragon in the country, so...

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“Angel of Light ” by Timothy Coupland

Submitted to Contest #41

New recruits often ask me, “What’s the scariest monster you’ve ever faced?” I’ve worked at the Paranormal Anomaly Department for over ten years, which is nine years longer than half of our recruits will last. These young men and women already have their preconceived notions of what we deal with. See, they think I’ll tell them about some horrific winged beast with razor sharp claws, or of a cult with dark magics bent on bringing about the apocalypse. “Sure”, I tell them, “I’ve come up against plenty of these, but none of them keep...

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“elizaBEEth's day” by Micah Lewter

Submitted to Contest #41

elizaBEEth was ready to go with the first sign of light. Even if the sunlight didn’t wake her up, the sound of her thousands of sisters buzzing their wings did the trick. This was the way every day started. As soon as the sun went up, the sisters began their work. Some were guard bees, keeping watch day and night over the entrance. elizaBEEth looked at those stationed out there today. Good. They were the same ones from last night. She was always sad when new ones were there, because it meant something happened to them overnight. ...

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“SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #41

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERSBy Andrew Paul Grell“Why not, Lloyd? If Julius Caesar had a horse with toes, why shouldn’t a squirrel have thumbs? DNA runs deep. We’re all walking around with ring-tail lemur and slow loris genes; they’re just not switched on. There are squirrels that fly; nobody thinks that’s odd because of Rocky the Flying Squirrel. There’s no cartoon about a squirrel with thumbs.” Janelle Jaeger was in charge of the Bronx Zoo’s Withit department, an attempted acronym of What the Heck is That. Lloyd Waner was the head groundskeeper of ...

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“Perceive the beautiful souls around.....” by Rita Parekh

Submitted to Contest #41

"Oh my! Hey just stay back.Please,if you can use another lift"Orrr..um let me get off.""Woah,don't panic!Trust me,they won't hurt.Stay there,the other lift is out of service."It was a question of just a few seconds but panic was swelling within me.My eyes constantly stuck on the duo four legged blackies.As the destination arrived one of them came sniffing towards me and I just ran out impulsively crying out in alarm.Next day the young lady was at my door apologising."Oh,I am so sorry for yesterday."she said."Hey,No worries"I continued feelin...

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“How Animandrill saved his life… and mine too” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #41

I woke to the sound of pebbles tossed against my window. I looked at my clock. It was two in the morning. Who would wake me up this way at this ungodly hour? I got out of bed and opened the window. At first, I didn’t see anyone in the front lawn.“This isn’t funny,” I said in a suppressed voice. “Your prank worked. You got me out of my bed. Now show yourself! Don’t be a coward!”“But I’m here, don’t you see me?” a tiny voice whispered back. “Wait, I’ll put my light on.”Something started to glow in the dark shadows of the boxwood. I blinked my ...

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$50

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0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 15, 2020 EST

Won by Jack Basson 🏆

Title: A Cat of Ganymede

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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