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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#43: Kidding Around

Want a quick way to lift your spirits? Revisit the books you loved as a child.

This week, we got a chance to do exactly that while writing a blog post on 100 Classic Children's Books, and we quickly found our minds swirling with imagined places and whimsical characters.

While our prompts this week are inspired by those same children's books, whether you write a children's story or not is up to you. Pick up your pen and let your imagination do the rest!

p.s. – Are you interested in coming behind the scenes of the Reedsy Prompts contest as a judge? Head here for more information!

This week's prompts

Write a story about transformation.

Nonfiction – 172 stories

Write a story about the relationship between a parent and a child that spans several years.

Adults – 122 stories

Write a story about someone who discovers a mysterious object in their home.

Kids – 118 stories

Write a story about an average day turned upside down by an unexpected visitor.

Kids – 111 stories

Write a story about an unlikely friendship.

Kids – 113 stories

Stories

“Amigos Ants” by Jeremy Jain Babu

Submitted to Contest #43

She was wearing her favourite yellow frock with polka dots, that day. Not just that day, but every other day she wears the same dress. When she always asked her mother for getting dressed in the same frock, she stitched for her two other costumes, with the same garment. She can only be seen wearing this yellow frock with polka dots. She loved them! She wanted everyone else to wear the same as it would make them all look similar because her close companions whom she played with looked indistinguishable always. &nb...

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“The Man in the Tan Trench Coat ” by May Mills

Submitted to Contest #43

Nora sat alone on her knees in the small sandbox. The bright sun was shining down on her, but she did not mind; she had work to do. Her hands were covered in damp sand and her thin, black hair fell over her face. She wanted to push it back but she didn’t want the sand to get in her eyes. She knew how much that hurt and she did not want to cry, or look like she was crying, in front of the other kids in the park. Her dad was at the office, and her mom was around somewhere, probably on a call for work. She knew how busy her mom was, ...

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“Josie's Journey ” by Anja Z

Submitted to Contest #43

“Nanna Nanna can I have a cookie please.”Nanna is my most favourite person in the whole wide world. She always gives me lot of hugs, kisses and cookies. Nanna is just short for grandmother. I know her since I was a little one and she almost everyday reminds me that she is older than me. When I am at Nanna’s house I feel safe and protected. Other than being at Dad’s house where Auntie Britney pretends to be my mommy.My mommy died when I was only 5 years old. I don’t remember much about her only that she loved mermaids just like me. ...

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“A German Shepherd's Predicament ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #43

I was dozing quite happily on Jack’s bed, dreaming of chasing sticks and trying to catch ducks. Jack had taken me for a long, tiring walk earlier, which had disturbed my compulsory late morning nap, so I was trying to catch up on it now. There was a small sliver of sunlight coming through the window that was warming my belly and I heaved a deep, sleepy sigh. Suddenly, my ears shot up at the sound of keys jangling at the front door. Instantly alert, I leapt off the bed and rushed down the stairs. It took me a moment to find my vocal cords but...

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“The Moon and Star prince” by Lourdes Cruz

Submitted to Contest #43

Atlalune stared with pride at the small sleeping bundle in her arms. She smiled at the new prince Astrum. Merely by looking at his beautiful ivory skin and silver hair. She lay back, making sure not to wake her precious baby. She hummed a sweet little lullaby, almost giving in to the peace from the darkness of the room. Before she had completely drifted off, a bright figure entered the room, giving off a comforting warmth, her skin becoming silver. "I have arrived, my love." Her husband, Sol, stated warmly. "Hello my dearest sunlight." She s...

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“Again” by Deborah Angevin

Submitted to Contest #43

Daniel sits still on his desk, holding the paper that was handed by Miss Emilia just before the school bell rang. The colourful paper with an F written with a red pen at the back. Feeling embarrassed as he looks at it, Daniel shoves the paper into his bag.“Hey, the worst artist of the class!” the short-haired boy, Bill, called out to him as Daniel opens the classroom door, about to leave.“No, Miss Emilia said he is the worst painter of Year 2!” the brown-haired boy sitting beside Bill shouted. The other boys around him immediately laugh.“The...

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“In pursuit of calm” by Goblin King

Submitted to Contest #43

A golden beam of light shined its way through my window and lit up my room with an angelic orange glow leaving no spot darkened, despite the blinds attempting to protect my window from this sort of interference. I looked outside to see the world illuminated with this same beautiful radiancy. Outside, various birds, insects, and other land-dwelling animals assembled to perform a joyful symphony for all the world to hear. The usual hustle and bustle of the city failed to impede their song as no person dared step outside. After observing this s...

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“Ice Blue” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #43

It was like any other late spring day in May. If any other late spring day started out at 75° degrees and dropped to 0° degrees. The official holiday celebrating our service members was yesterday and today was the day to wind down and burn the extra calories I scarfed down with a bike ride and run.It was still early⎯5 a.m. My plan to be out of the house by six...six-thirty to avoid being cooked liked the shrimp, green peppers, and pineapple on the kebobs I consumed the day before. Before I left the house I could feel the heat rising like any...

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“Chasing Pirates” by Tula Singer

Submitted to Contest #43

The baby yawned and Nora smiled. For one, two, three hours, she stared at the face that peeked out of the white bundle, forgetting the nurses and the other patients and the exhaustion. Out the window, cars drove, friends complained, birds flew, lovers kissed, strangers avoided the rest of the city. But none of this existed to Nora; all she saw was the baby in her arms — the little nose, the little lips, the little everything. In the evening the nurse came back with a tray of chicken, potatoes, and jell-o, and asked if she wanted to sleep. No...

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“Nightmare” by Prathamesh Chavan

Submitted to Contest #43

I had been waiting for Monday to arrive desperately, It had been since one month before that , I would been making preparation. First time in life , I woke up early without any alarm , I got dressed and drifted to the bus stand as early, I was contended beacuse my friend had been too coming for five day camp by school . I couldn't wait to meet her nervous but excited, though some days before we mate each other and instantly become friends.I waited at bus stop for her . She made her appearance, she was tall , stunning ,gorgeous looking dark b...

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“Blood or Bliss” by Ash Brinton

Submitted to Contest #43

Charity watched the dark clouds on the horizon roll closer. She breathed in the salty air of the ocean and felt the wind running through her hair. She envied her younger sisters, Joy and Hope, safe at home while she was on a ship on the rolling and crashing waves. She had been on the boat ever since her father had promised her hand in marriage to some rich duke in another country that neither of them had ever met. Her father had shipped her off like a package that he was thankful to get rid of. Just the thought of her father and future husba...

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“Say No Words” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #43

14 years ago “Awh. Steph! I think they’re playing! Look!” Kandie said. Steph was her neighbor that lived four houses down. Steph always brought her twin daughters, Allisia and Victoria to play with Kandie’s son, Oliver. Oliver was in the middle. Victoria always played with Oliver. However, Allisia always played by herself. She either did that, or was hanging on to her mother’s side. She was quieter than her sister. She was also taller. Oliver and Victoria always played together nicely. The three children were all three years old. The twins w...

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“Kidding Around” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #43

Stretching her arms above her head, Simone heard her neck click. It was an odd crunching sound that seemed to vibrate through her body, making her shudder.She’d been sitting too long in front of the screen.And what had she achieved?Glancing back down, she saw again the empty page, the cursor blinking at her.What was she going to write about? The deadline was only a few hours away.Looking around the cluttered room, she noticed the dust accumulated on every item, the crumbs of food scattered across the floor and the pile of bills stuffed into ...

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“Black hole ” by Prathamesh Chavan

Submitted to Contest #43

"Mom did you saw my books they were lying on the table, " said a frustrated looking voice . She was pretty looking girl but cunning too and had forgotten to punch his brother in hurry! I got up lazily up from canvas bed , there on wall hung the poster of cricket players and football palyers . The room was lit by sunshine which was falling thorugh a wide window . I didn't wonder for ten minutes as soon as , I noticed the time , I rushed into the washroom got dressed and took off from bicycle. Nothing has changed since, I went to High sc...

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“The Monster in the Alley ” by May Mills

Submitted to Contest #43

It wasn’t the obscene graffiti or the stagnant water filled potholes that I hated most about the city. It wasn’t the constant honking of car horns or the irritating voices of street vendors either. It was the smell. The putrid mildew smell combined with the musk of thousands of bodies along with the thick smoke from the factories filled the air in a dense cloud. I tried plugging in my nose while walking through the city, but it was not as efficient as I hoped it would be. So I gave up. I took quick, long steps on the city sidewalk. I wa...

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$50

Prize money

636

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 29, 2020 EST

Won by Guilherme Copati 🏆

Title: Reunion

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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