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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 Most Beloved Pet” by Peggy Gerber

Submitted to Contest #41

A Most Beloved PetBy Peggy GerberRosie was jolted awake by a thud in her backyard just as the sun was blooming on the horizon.  As she raced outside her rickety farmhouse to investigate, her heart began to beat like a jackhammer: there in front of her was an enormous, glowing, cigar shaped, spaceship. Before her brain could even process what she was seeing, the hatch slowly began to open, and out stepped the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.  He looked like Tarzan from the Disney movie. Long scraggly auburn hair, cobal...

8 comments 8
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“The Thing About Great Whites...” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #41

The great whites never attack us in Atlantis. They stay in their world and we stay in ours. The fish of the coral leave us alone, as we do they. The sea animals never do us wrong. Until about three weeks ago. It was the eve of the Bejeweling Ceremony. Another girl in my colloquium group was brutally torn apart. I never really knew her. But the Bejeweling Ceremony was postponed, so now it is set to a week from now. Queen Anahita has suspicions that the great whites were up to this one. The merpeople have been extra cautious while in public or...

1 comment 1
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“Savannah Brought Us Together” by Charm Elizabeth Merchant

Submitted to Contest #41

“Where are you?!” Rebecca, teary-eyed, called out. She had searched everywhere – her whole apartment twice, under the kitchen table, even rattling the little toys that were on the floor, in the hopes that her furry little friend would come running. Rebecca then took a look outside, frantically scanning the well-kept building grounds, and for a second, she caught a glimpse of movement, but then her heart dipped when she saw it was only a squirrel scampering by. Once back inside, she zoomed up and down the stairs to the various floors knocking...

7 comments 7
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“We Need Beasts” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #41

I have two turtles. Their names are Ike and Mike. They aren’t very big - their shells are about 6” long - but size is irrelevant with these dudes. My guys are really special. So special that I’m seriously considering renaming them: Ichabod and Michael. Sounds a little more fancy, yes? Unless somebody goes over my head and gives them nicknames like Ick and Mick, which are worse than Ike and Mike, for sure.What you should know about this pair is that they have special abilities. Not only can both of them play fetch as well as any dog, but they...

6 comments 6
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“The Curse of the Swans” by Thistle Arellano

Submitted to Contest #41

The swan wouldn’t go away. The windows rattle as she slams into it again, letting out an indignant squawk, her white feathers ruffling as she tilted her head to the side, staring at me as if trying to say, Come on! I reach over, fumbling for the remote, throwing the blankets off me. The TV snaps off with a satisfying click as I walk toward the window. The swan is still perched on the fire escape, staring at me. Frost coats her wings and feathers in a glistening coat of silver. I look past her, into the alley illuminated by pale yellow s...

2 comments 2
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“Brandy” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #41

                                                                   The day Brandy came into our life was like any other, my brothers and I were in the backyard under our big mulberry tree. We were making a c...

6 comments 6
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“Happy little Hero” by Sucheta Regikumar Nair

Submitted to Contest #41

Lucy walks into the shelter with her mother, shaking with excitement. While her mother chats to the lady at the counter, Lucy wanders around the shelter, peering at all the lonely dogs in their cages. As she walks down the rows and rows of cages, she notices a small Pomeranian puppy trying to squeeze its face through the bars of the cage. Lucy walks over to it and pats its small, fluffy head. She looks around the whole shelter. “I wish I could keep all of you, but mummy would get mad” she sighs. Lucy skips over to a large cage and insid...

6 comments 6
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“Werewolf Tells All ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #41

I’m writing this to dispel the many ugly stereotypes about so-called werewolves. Mercenary hacks promote salacious rumors without regard for who gets their tail stepped on. Anyone desiring the truth, please read on.I wish to clarify that what is popularly known as the werewolf actually exists. I prefer the French term Loups-Garous which has a lyrical sound to it, more in keeping with my sense of self. Yes, we exist. And  no, this isn’t a shaggy dog story. The negative popular image from over-wrought novels and movies is exaggerated beyo...

3 comments 3
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“Toby” by Alex Pitones

Submitted to Contest #41

There is something truly fascinating about watching the one you love just … living. We get so caught up in our own lives and minds, trying to scramble through a day, that sometimes we forget to look up. To really see the being before us.Today, like everyday before for the last month, I looked up. I saw this being I opened my heart to and let into my life. Saw every little thing that made them who they are. At first, it was hard. When you spend so much time looking down, you forget the simple act of looking back up. You forget what life outsi...

4 comments 4
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“The Turtle Who Yearns for the Moon” by Jan Querubin

Submitted to Contest #41

“Luciana, can you swim?”Luciana looked down at the coursing water lightly reaching for her feet. “Of course, I can. As the daughter of the best fisherman in the island, swimming is almost like breathing.”She glanced back at the children she was playing with but they’re already running towards the other side of the beach. Except for her great friend, Tala, the only daughter of the island Leader, and the only girl her age. “You sure know how to boast, Lulu. But we’re living in a place where swimming is like breathing for everyone.”They weren’t...

3 comments 3
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“Leading Lights” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #41

Author’s Note:   This story, though I hope it can stand alone, is also intended as a sequel to my earlier story “The Rise and Fall of Project Usher”. I’m not sure about this, but the idea of the creature seemed to fit into the setting. Would welcome comments!At first, most people, or at least most families, thought that they were probably the only ones to have survived the cataclysm that happened when humans went that one step too far in playing with nature and the universe. They wandered around, scavenging for food,...

5 comments 5
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“Blixer Discovers The Blisters!!” by Dhyani Patel

Submitted to Contest #41

In the dense forest forests of Duskery, there lived generations of varieties of animals. They had a town built in the forest which they called ‘The Animal Kingdom.’ Sherin, the lion, was the king of the town, which was designed and brought up by the most aged and experienced gorilla dwelling there, Gozara. Gozara was the oldest of all the animals existing there. Also, he had magical powers which he utilized to help and do well for others.Blixer, the monkey, was the youngest member of the town. Being the youngest, he was the naughtiest and th...

5 comments 5
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“taking meemaw down to sunny dunes” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #41

“Are you sure?”“Yes! I took two different tests from two different brands and they all said the same thing!” Mary says into her iPhone, biting her lip to trap a sob. It’s not fair to cry during a phone call - the other person is forced to silently bear your auditory snot, unable to give much real comfort. Mary sits on the toilet, knees to chest, back curved, a disheartened queen upon her porcelain throne.  “Who’s the dad?” Lily asks from the other side. “Cooper.”“Oh. Does he know?”“No, and he’s not going to. God! I can’t belie...

0 comments 0
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“A Loaded Donkey Doesn't Stand Still” by Rose Gaspard

Submitted to Contest #41

A loaded donkey doesn’t stand still. Those were the first words she thought of when she saw the donkey from her hiding place. Celine was in trouble again. She was always in trouble. She tried to behave like everyone, she really did. For a fews days she would hold her tongue, keep her observations to herself and not challenge anything her Mother told her. Then it would happen, the words would crawl out of her heart, swim though her mind, and break loose from her lips. Gran would get that smile on her face, the one she tried to hide from Mommy...

6 comments 6
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“Millie's First Walk” by Natalie Strawbridge

Submitted to Contest #41

Her feet slammed into the pavement as she ran down the hill from her house. Her head bobbed from side to side, desperately searching for a glimpse of brown fur as she called the same name, over and over.Evelyn hated running. Despised it. Whenever she had to run a mile in gym class, she faked cramps. The irony was not lost on her now as her side cramped painfully.Her father was the runner in the family. Every day that she could remember, he was up at dawn to run, and sometimes ran 10 miles before Evelyn even got out of bed. Once, when Evelyn ...

2 comments 2
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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