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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

“A Dragons Tail” by Braxton Jones

Submitted to Contest #41

As I slowly wake I see my parents waking up as well. “How long do we have to stay in this cave? I mean first, it smells like rotten guts. Second, it's dark, and I mean very dark.” I say as I slowly stand up. “There is a difference in where you want to live and where you must, to survive. After Queen Faren evicted us from her kingdom this is the best we’ve got.” My dad says as he looks at me. “If you want, you can go try and fend for yourself out there.” Three years later… I then walk over to the ledge where I normally sleep. When I get...

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“Until I See You Again” by Katherine L

Submitted to Contest #41

The door shut so fiercely behind her that it shook the floor a good deal. I could finally breathe again. My best friend- and really my only friend- stared off into space, focused at the closed door that her mother had just slammed. I leapt from where I had angrily been disposed of on the floor and onto the bed where she was sitting. I could tell she wanted to cry but was refusing to let the tears fall. A small smile crept on her face when she realized I was purring. Her hand gently pet my fur that was rough after years of wear and tear. “I k...

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“1997” by Emma Gaughan

Submitted to Contest #41

England, 1997.Twelve-year-old Mary May was in a much brighter mood than usual that evening. She was sat at the kitchen table as her mother prepared the family’s evening meal. She was only half concentrated on Jane Eyre and her brother and sister were sat either side of her revising for their exams. Eleanor’s head bobbed back and forth to the music coming from her Walkman, and Mary May thought she could hear the faint strains of “If You Wanna Be My Lover”; James was intent upon some insane looking algebra. The kitchen filled with the steamy c...

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“A Shopping Spree” by Barry Litherland

Submitted to Contest #41

Buying groceries at the Marlborough Road Tesco Superstore is like visiting someone in a high security prison during a period of particularly high tension. To begin with, you have to queue to get in; and it takes ages. And that just the start. I don’t go often because I get impatient as I stand on my designates spot outside the doors with Eleanor, a perfectly delineated distance from our nearest neighbour. It’s just far enough for spittle to fall short, and close enough to converse by shouting. Mrs. Symonds is telling us, and everyone else wi...

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“Bug and the Red Felt” by Emma Knights

Submitted to Contest #41

Bug & The Red FeltBy Emma KnightsOne sunny day, Bug made her way inside. She had heard of the inside and wanted to see it for herself. Bug was an ant, and she was small even for an ant. She raced under the door and looked around. There was a large black mountain that caught her eye. She headed towards it and started her climb. Up, up and up she went. She stopped a few times along the way. She could see herself in the mountain and wondered if she was seeing herself or whether there was another ant who lived here. She raced as fast as she ...

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“More than Human” by Janet Joos

Submitted to Contest #41

In this modern day and age you’d not think there would still be problems with parenting, at least not with animals. I imagine this statement has you also wondering which animals this could pertain to. Well, strain your brain a little and ask yourself which animals are closest to being human clones. You have to admit it must be within the ape family. Bingo, you’ve got it!We have been living with our family problem since the birth of a set of twin chimpanzees, a rarity in itself. Actually, upon reflection, the problems started with the new hom...

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“Working Like A Dog ” by Spencer Rubin

Submitted to Contest #41

Big-O-Pharma Closing In On Vaccine Success.The headlines exploded across the country overnight. Excitement replaced the uncertainty millions of citizens had resided to feeling for months on end. Contracts were being signed, schedules for the vaccine deliveries established with dozens of subsidiaries across the country, and grossly expensive bottles of champagne ordered in lieu of the novel celebration at Big-O-Pharma laboratories.It was an exhilarating time for Morgan. Her overtime and intensive commitment to working in the lab was about to...

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“Hippolyta, the Chestnut Horse” by Kelly W

Submitted to Contest #41

I peek through the cracks of the wooden barn. Figures of dark, light, chocolate coloured, and golden horses ponderously moved around in their stables. I cannot tell if they enjoy sleeping upright all night and listen to the sounds of crickets from the outdoors or if they desperately want to run around the open space around them. My eyes move to the last stable, and a small horse with a blonde mane, and chestnut coloured fur looks out the small window to her right. She stares for a long time, as if she sees something remarkable outside that m...

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“Thanksgiving Feast Heist” by AJ Franks

Submitted to Contest #41

Ursula prowled the backyard hunting for food scraps that may have missed the garbage bin thanks to her owner’s clumsiness. It was warm for November, and the sunlight shimmered off the remaining leaves persistent enough to still cling to trees. By noon, the temperature might be plus or minus ten degrees, as was common in the Midwest. A banging from the kitchen caused the cat’s muscles to tense, and she arched her back. Movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention, but she soon relaxed. ...

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“The Very Odd, Very Persuasive, Very Talkative Black Cat” by Hailey Monnie

Submitted to Contest #41

“You are grounded!” Those words echoed in Charlotte’s head as her mother guided Charlotte, who was holding the cat, into her room, slamming the door behind her. Grounded. Charlotte had never been grounded before. Wilbur, the cat, jumped out of Charlotte’s arms and onto her bed, sitting down, waiting expectantly. His black fur shimmered under the single light bulb on the ceiling, his yellow eyes seeming to glow. “I can’t believe you got me grounded.” She pointed accusingly at Wilbur, who just tilted his he...

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“Pet Breeder - A childrens story” by Willow Leah

Submitted to Contest #41

Grrrrr! Stop making noise!! Gosh, I hate all my brothers and sisters. If I could see I would claw their eyes out, but I'm not old enough. I'm at the stage where I can't open my eyes. It happens for the first 2 weeks of a cat's life (also my baby claws are uselessly blunt). I'm really excited about opening my eyes!! I wonder if things will look weird and scary. I was born from a big litter so I can't really drink milk as much as the other kittens because it's so pushy when everyone is hungry, So I like to wander. Because I can't see, I d...

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“Monarch Nymph and his Emergency Swarm” by Toby Jaffe

Submitted to Contest #41

A very important butterfly hung downward and stiff on a special and very important twig at the Grand Capital Butterfly Reserve. Wood reserved just for him, this very important butterfly, very smart butterfly, very handsome butterfly. The MOST handsome, believe me. The BEST wings, morphos… the best damn antennas you or I have ever seen. This twig was his own personal abode in the shade. Monarch Nymph had always gotten what he wanted at the Grand Capital Reserve, and that was sure as hell not going to change now that he was in charge of t...

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“The Dog at El Rancho Savaria” by Ronda Everson

Submitted to Contest #41

Brace yourself. This is actually a true story that happened in my childhood, and as you read, you will understand why I said, "Brace yourself," just don't cry, be forewarned. If anyone knows anything about my childhood, it wasn't spent in America. My early school years were spent in England, and then Morocco. This story takes place in Morocco. My dad worked out of the embassy in Rabat, Morocco. There were no military bases, but there were American military people around. My dad taught electricity in Arabic to th...

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“The Gift” by Catherine Howard

Submitted to Contest #41

A shrill brring from the telephone broke into the normal Saturday ambience as the woman was taking the washing through to the laundry room. It was her custom to do this on a Saturday morning and then change the sheets on the bed followed by the vacuuming. Then, checking the pantry and fridge, she would make the shopping list. She did these chores with an air of resignation, lately wondering if it would make a difference if they did not get done at all. The man was outside fiddling about with the lawnmower or was it the strimmer or did ...

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“Big Mouth” by Alisa Burdick

Submitted to Contest #41

When I was ten, my mom went outside one rainy morning to start my father's car. My father was, among other things, a chauvinist. He believed women were subservient, men ruled the roost, et cetera. She'd heard a loud mewing coming from under my father's car. After investigating, she'd found three kittens abandoned in my father's undercarriage. Wondering just how they got there, my mom wrapped them in a blue blanket. She came inside with said blanket awkwardly in her arms. My brain, being who I am, looked at the blanket."What's in there?" I as...

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$50

Prize money

614

Contest entries

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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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