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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

“Edwina The Elephant” by Sarah Watson

Submitted to Contest #41

Christina woke up early one morning to the sound of various wild animals. This was the best part of her holiday in South Africa with her mum. It had been 8 months since her fathers passing when her mum decided they should visit her father’s side of the family in Zimbabwe. Christina thought the town of Zimbabwe was boring but staying at Kruger National Park with just her mum was amazing.Heather, who is Christina’s mum, could tell her 12-year-old daughter was getting fed up with her Grandmother and Grandfather fussing over her and sensed ...

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“Unconditional” by Promiti Phukan

Submitted to Contest #41

It was a bright April morning. I still remember it so vividly, as if it was just the other day. I was thirteen years younger than I am now. (I realize that sounds more satiating than revealing my actual age!) It was a perfect day, as perfect as it could be. The golden rays of the sun felt pleasantly warm on my face, leaves of the trees were a bright green, the flowers of different hues were in full bloom, a gentle cool breeze blowing, bringing along with it the whiff of the blossoms, and the birds playfully chirping, perched on the tall tree...

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“My partner and best friend, Milo” by Mariana Russell

Submitted to Contest #41

I'm running, well, more like stumbling as fast as I can. The forest is rushing past me. I look behind me and gasp. Fluffy is still bearing down on me. She roars and it makes my knees go weak. I feel a painful pinch on my foot but I pay no attention, I have more than enough things to worry about. As she gets closer my mind clears, I'm not sure why. Maybe because I knew there's no escaping her or maybe I know it's only a matter of time before I die. As I slow down I remember, there is no way anyone can outrun a grizzly bear. My brother arrange...

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“Home” by Lili Hauser

Submitted to Contest #41

She reached out to Julie, her spine curling up when she saw her potential new friend, her speckled brown and orange fur expanding as she stretched back legs to the front, her somber blue eyes lifting from her downwards gaze. She rubbed her back against Julie through the bars. They seemed to belong together. “Who’s going to go home today?”Her plastered cat smile seemed to have lifted somehow. She let out a soft mew as she was pet softly from the top of her nose to the damp bottom through the confining cage. “Nutmeg, huh?” Juli...

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“All one needs is an encounter with an animal to realize the importance of unconditional love” by Garima Batra

Submitted to Contest #41

’Passengers traveling on A-456 for Mumbai, please proceed towards gate no. 1 for boarding.’This announcement broke Anita’s concentration. She closed her book, got up, and approached the required gate. 20 minutes later, she settled inside the flight. She resumed reading when she heard a voice, ''Excuse me. 12B is my seat. Do you mind shifting a bit so that I can sit down?’’Her eyes went away from the book towards the voice. Her gaze was hooked on the guy; he had an average height, was probably the same age as her, and was dressed in a b...

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“Dorothy” by Rose Finches

Submitted to Contest #41

Life was good, really good! The sun was shining and I was exploring the park, running around, sniffing whatever I liked. I even had a great roll around the grass. I had managed to break free when Molly was distracted for a moment and now I was enjoying my outing to the full. I could go and do exactly what I wanted without anyone tugging me back or leading me where they wanted to go. Molly was all right. I liked her, she was really good to me especially after everything I had been through. She gave great belly rubs too. I heard her calli...

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“The Sebastian Variations - by Rod Carley” by Rod Carley

Submitted to Contest #41

THE SEBASTIAN VARIATIONS By Rod Carley It wasn’t a heart attack and it wasn’t a stroke. But, on the eve of his sixty-fifth birthday, Uncle Irving woke with a start. Before I go any further, let me try to provide a context for my uncle’s dark fright of the soul. Ira Sandberg the painter married my grandmother. They had a baby boy, named him Irving, and had a modest happy life until Ira was conscripted by Prime Minister Borden to fight in Europe...

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“Pachu and Enano” by Cecilia Della Vella

Submitted to Contest #41

This is a true story, it happened to a friend of a friend of a friend of my cousin.Well maybe I just wish that. It happened to me, and my family, but mainly me.A couple of years ago, my sister moved away (the thing is, it took living 960km apart for us to really connect, but that's another story), a few weeks before the big day of moving out she called her dog a problem because she didn't know how to move with her, and even if she wanted to take her with. It took everything in me not to punch my beloved sister, so I took the dog from her. We...

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“How a Little Black Dog Changed My Life.” by Gilles Parker

Submitted to Contest #41

How a Little Black Dog Changed My Life.byGilles N. Parker When I think of which animal has changed my life the most, a whole bunch of candidates show up on my Bucket’s List. You see, I love animals. Now that does not seem so uncommon, to most of you, but my next statement might. And, animals love me too. Animals seem to work mostly on instincts, am I right? Following this line of thinking, it would be logical that animals are attracted to a child who refuses to eat them, hurt them, and who has often stepped forward to protect them. In m...

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“Living Death” by Vakula Surendar

Submitted to Contest #41

“I wake up in my office. There’s nothing so horrible in the world as having wakefulness pounce on you in a tiny room, with your eyelids crusted together and cheek pressed against the sharp corner of your desk. My muscles are sore from an uncomfortable night, and severely protest my feeble attempt at movement. I crack my eyes open and pain shoots up my skull as bright light assaults them. I groan at the familiar ache brewing behind my temples. Another drinking night, then.I brace myself before opening my eyes again. Blurry shapes flicker vagu...

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“Cold Blooded” by Sandra Nelson

Submitted to Contest #41

I always had pets growing up. Some I liked, some I didn’t care for, and just a few that I felt were there just for me. When I turned twelve, I received two hamsters, one a golden brown and the other the softest grey. I was in love and I couldn’t wait to set up a maze of tubes for them to play in. The next morning, one of the pair had died and the other was eating it. Yeah, what the heck! I cried and the body was taken back to the pet store for a replacement. She was a big girl, a honey color with a white stripe around her middle. Three days ...

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“The Broken Friendship” by Tanvi P.

Submitted to Contest #41

Reyna’s hands shook as she unbuckled her seat belt. She startled as she felt a thick substance coating her fingers and realized she was bleeding. One look in front of her told her the windshield had broken and a piece had pierced her bare legShe turned her head slightly to her left and inhaled sharply at the gruesome sight. Her mother’s head was motionless against her window, cracked from the tree they’d rammed into. From what she could see there was a trickle of blood going steadily from her forehead into her lap.Against her better judgment...

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“When You showed Me Love” by Addison Prom

Submitted to Contest #41

"Jessie, wait!"The door slammed into my face before I could tell her that she forgot my copy of "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner. A book I never got to finish. Now I'll never know if the characters made it out of the maze alive. I hope Chuck wasn't the one who died. I guess I could always buy another copy but, knowing that's how Jessie and I met in the first place. Forget it. I guess I could get into another book series. And just like that it rains. Hard. So I decided to get into my car as quickly as I could, only to trip and fall on my bo...

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“Venomous Misfortunes” by Sam Pollak

Submitted to Contest #41

Alex checked his phone again. 12:37 and no new messages. He unlocked it and dialed the seller’s number. His new ball python was supposed to have arrived an hour and a half ago, and he hadn’t been able to get in contact with the guy who sold it to him. Alex kept pacing, willing the man to pick up. For the third time that day he was sent to a robotic voice that said This number does not have a voicemail box set up. Try calling again. Goodbye! It wasn’t until 6pm that Alex’s doorbell finally rang. He eagerly opened the door, expecting a deliver...

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“My Mojo” by Eric Wharton

Submitted to Contest #41

“No. I shouldn’t have allowed this. I’m done with your bullshit. You are to be at my house tonight, and you won’t be leaving again for the rest of the year. End of discussion.”The phone call with his father that morning echoed through his mind as they came over the hill into town. As lights came into view a million places he’d rather be flashed behind his eyes. Anywhere but where he was headed would do. Clif had no intention of obeying his fathers orders and returning home though, or of staying in town at all for that matter. He’d been gone ...

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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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