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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

“Fluffy the Interpreter” by Patricia Srigley

Submitted to Contest #41

The old couple wasn’t senile, at least not too senile, but they had been married for so long that they no longer spoke to each other. They only talked to the dog. Most mornings, Walter would walk into the kitchen, sit down for breakfast, pat the poodle on the head and say, “How’s Fluffy?” Fluffy couldn’t actually talk so Marge might reply, “Fluffy is quite well today.” If that was not the case, she would say something along the lines of, “Poor Fluffy was up half the night. Someone was snoring even louder than us...

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“A Vintage Whine” by George Davis

Submitted to Contest #41

A Vintage Whine George Davis A Vintage Whine George Davis Some folks say I am uncouth, but since I don’t know what that means, I am going to assume it is the opposite of couth. That doesn’t really help because I don’t know what that means either. I only finished obedience school last June, and in school we didn’t learn English or American History. Instead we learned how to obey ou...

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“My New Friend” by Jessica Bell

Submitted to Contest #41

I was never a big fan of pets. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate them, but it adds to another mouth to feed to the household, another thing to worry about, spend money on and if you want to take trips or vacations, you have to worry about finding a pet sitter. It was just another thing that requires work, time, and money. So no, I would rather not have a pet, something to clean up after. I have many friends with pets and honestly, animals don’t seem to like me much anyways. So, you can imagine that on that rainy night coming home from work, t...

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“Twinkle Twinkle Little Starla” by Anneke Prinsloo

Submitted to Contest #41

I had driven all the way to the next town to pick up the puppy. My husband had only agreed to a new puppy if it was a Jack Russel cross. I just left out the other breeds that the pup was also crossed with. The lady that I got the pup from had told me it was an accidental litter, someone had left a gate open and the Border Collie x Lab had gotten to the Jack Russel x Pug. And as a result, we are contributing towards the dogs being fixed. So, there was Jack Russel cross in her. Somewhere. The lady had sent me a few photos in the week...

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“From Timid To Talkative ” by Genevieve B

Submitted to Contest #41

Arden Brigson was a shy sixteen-year-old who barely said a word. She was so shy and insecure she seldom found a point in doing the simplest of things such as brushing her dull blonde hair. She could barely hold eye contact or easily start a conversation unless it was someone she’d known for a long time and trusted.She was bullied by classmates and even school faculty. Within the first month of tenth grade, things were still horrible for Arden and her parents had, had enough. They mutually decided to pull her out of public school and enroll h...

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“Head Over Paws For You” by Yvette Cano

Submitted to Contest #41

I can sense the ocean’s ebb and flow just like my heartache. “Moving out here was supposed to be for the best,” I tell Gigi, my miniature Maltese. She looks up at me and gives me that knowing look like she absolutely understands me. Of course she does. She blinks and then goes back to barking at the seagulls, the couple walking on the beach a mile away, and everything else. She can’t stand to be outside or inside, for that matter, without barking at something. Little yappy dog. As I sip my coffee on the porch, I look out into the o...

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“Fur Ball” by Sue Heath

Submitted to Contest #41

On Friday morning we got in our pickup truck and set out on a journey to an unknown destination. We had no plan and no real direction. We certainly didn't know that this journey would forever change the path of our lives. With my husband at the wheel, we pulled up to an SPCA in a nearby town. My husband suddenly found the need for a dog. As much as I loved animals and dogs, I had grown tired of getting attached to them only to have something dreadful happen to them. He opened the door and we entered the facility with no expectation but one d...

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“A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS” by Dorothy Williams

Submitted to Contest #41

A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMASThe vet had a fluffy, black, homeless kitten for inspection. He was irresistible! A kitten for Christmas? I hesitated over the kind offer. I had never raised a kitten, and my declining joints over the last sixteen years spoke louder than my fond memories of puppy training. ‘You need the company,’ my dear friend said positively. Living alone, I could not argue with that. We only argued about who would pay the bills. He was home with me to enliven my quiet Christmas Day, cautiously learning a room...

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“Friends in service.” by Roxie Van Der Linde

Submitted to Contest #41

The day started out like any other day, or so she thought. Abigail had gone out with the troops to do a sweep of the surrounding village where they were based. They walked in formation along the dirt road, stopping every now and then when they heard a chopper or tank and hiding in the tall grass. When they entered the village everything seemed fine, normal even. Then suddenly Hero, the brigade’s dog, started barking. This was the last thing she remembered. When she woke up, her ears were ringing and noises seemed muted. Shaking he...

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“Murphy” by Shirley Johnson

Submitted to Contest #41

MURPHY I would like to tell you the tale of Murphy, who is 120-pound half |Great Pyrenees and half Labrador Retriever. One of the best dogs that could ever have been called man’s, or young girl’s, best friends. Our family- Mark, my husband, me, Jackson, and Alana –acquired Murphy from an acquaintance, who himself could no longer keep Murphy; Murphy was a big dog … he took up a lot of room, he ate a lot of foo...

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“Confronting Him” by Linda Karney

Submitted to Contest #41

Confronting HimA can of shaving cream, a disposable razor and a worn red toothbrush were sprawled on the bathroom sink, the toothbrush a mere two inches from the toothbrush holder where it should have sat tidily next to hers. There was a sprinkling of minute dark hairs in the sink like overspray from a can of paint, despite evidence that an attempt had been made to wipe them away with the hand towel.Chris proceeded into the living room. The poster-sized black and white photograph of a 1950’s Paris street presiding over the sofa looked partic...

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“Finding Purpose” by Alyssa Ludwig

Submitted to Contest #41

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I ran my fingers over the grainy printout in my hand. I glanced up at the suitcase across the bedroom and the tears came faster. I couldn’t control it anymore. My body was wracked with the hardest sobs I had ever felt in my life. I wanted him to comfort me, touch me, wrap me up in his arms and legs, tell me that he was wrong. I knew it wasn’t going to happen no matter how desperately I needed or wanted it. When I heard the bedroom door open, I let myself hope for a moment that he was coming for me. I couldn’t s...

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“The Legendary Companion” by Carolyn Bagnall

Submitted to Contest #41

The old man examined his withered hand as though he did not recognize it as his own. Twisting the worn, golden ring around his calloused knuckled finger, twigged a memory of a bright spring day when he married his young bride. Then his mind went further back to a farmhouse on a hill. The years of time lay heaped and jumbled in his mind like an overflowing box of toys. He dug further until, near the bottom of the box, he retrieved the memory of a Collie dog. The dog surfaced through his congested thou...

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“That Old Dog” by Michael Stiles

Submitted to Contest #41

I remember it like it was yesterday. The day that old dog came waddling down my street, proudly beaming like he just won a gold medal in a race only he knew about. I remember that first night, trying to throw together a couple of cans of Lord knows what, just knowing that dog was going to starve to death. I took him out to the garden, out by the edge of the woods, a shovel in my hand, that dog already faithfully by my side. I dug up what I needed, and he popped up and followed me back home like he already knew where it was. A couple of fresh...

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“My Boy” by Mackenzie Stuart

Submitted to Contest #41

My Name is Good Girl for that is what My Boy calls me. My Boy is mine and I love him and he loves me too. My Boy has always been with me since I could remember.Sometimes My Boy is sad and I do not like that. My Boy should be happy so I will make him happy. My Boy is happy when I bring my toys back so maybe he would be happy if I brought him my toys now.I quickly grab my toy and go to give it to My Boy but I get distracted by the noise it makes. That noise makes me happy, maybe if I bite more it will make more noise! I love that noise! Oh the...

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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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