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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#48: Superpower

The faces of superheroes have long emblazoned everything from our t-shirts to our lunch-boxes. For over a decade, the Marvel movies have dominated box offices, and for almost a century, superhero comics have remained prized possessions.

A Smithsonian article describes the broad appeal of superheroes: "At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose. (Wearing a cape or tights is optional.)"

This week's prompts are for anyone who's ever wondered, "If you could have one superpower, which one would it be?" And as always, our prompts are open to interpretation! Whether your entry includes familiar superhero tropes, or ends up being a piece of literary fiction about someone who just so happens to move faster than the speed of light is up to you.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Middle School – 333 stories

Write about someone who always comes to the aid of others.

Teens – 108 stories

Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.

Fiction – 128 stories

Write about a person who collects superhero comics.

Middle School – 89 stories

Write a story that features a protagonist with an archnemesis.

Character – 112 stories

Stories

“Senior Superpower” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #48

Doris opened the door and welcomed her guests, waving at Mr. Hodges, her neighbor, who was trimming his hedge. He blushed and averted his gaze as Hortense, an ample Jamaican lady, blew him a kiss. Doris covered her smile.“Nosy old coot. He’s out there chopping that hedge every time we come. It’s going to be down to a nub soon,” said Hortense.She settled herself on the couch next to Judith and Maude. Lillian sat down primly in the armchair. Doris wheeled in the hostess trolley and began to distribute teacups and pour tea. Doris was famous for...

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“The Most Important Power” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #48

I sit behind my desk, pretending to busy myself with paperwork, while I wait for my students to finish filing into the classroom. It’s the usual eclectic mix, a complicated cross-section of young people, defying simple classification. Sure, there are a few with tells, like the big kid who even at fourteen has a burly physique and a likely future as a school jock, or the one who’s helping to program another kid’s smart phone, revealing what some might call a nerdish bend, or the very quiet girl who takes a ...

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“Conversation With an Angel” by Rudy Uribe

Submitted to Contest #48

Jennifer and I circled the park on our daily walk. Under the shade of a tree sat a table with a built-in bench. It sat on a pad of concrete. An elderly gentleman sat dead center. Off to his left was a sign that read “Free Tarot Card Readings.” “We walk this park every day,” Jennifer said, “I’ve never noticed that guy before. He’s probably some homeless guy looking to make a few bucks for a bottle of wine. I’m going to call the cops. He could be dangerous.” “You always assume the worse,” I said. “What if he legitimately wants to help peop...

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“The omniscient” by Adhena Madhu

Submitted to Contest #48

“Close your eyes, Chris!” “Yes, Aster.” “Now what do you see?” Young Chris smiled. “The chocolate you hid behind your back.” “You peeped at me!!! That’s not fair!” Aster protested while Chris tried to convince her that he didn’t. As usual, she didn’t believe him. Nobody ever believed him when he said he could read their minds. He found out about this when he bit his mother’s hand and felt her pain through him. That happened during his pre-schooling period. When he told his mother, she merely patted him and didn’t even stop for his expl...

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“Inner Demons in the Mind” by Talia M

Submitted to Contest #48

She closed her eyes, focusing in on her target while letting everything else around her fade into the back ground.She took a deep, steady breathe, and she was in.She watched him reach into his suit pocket for his card, tap the machine on the counter, then return his card loosely to his pocket. She watched as he starred at the cups of hot lattés, demanding a tray from the young, petite barista behind the counter, then shaking his head impatiently as she handed it to him.He expected everything to be done for him abruptly and without question. ...

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“Someone's Hero” by Amber Shepherd

Submitted to Contest #48

It’s one of those nights where time is slow. Where my eyes are tired, but my mind is buzzing. I have to get up for work in the morning, though if anything, that just makes me more reluctant to sleep. The living room is dark for all but the lonely glow of the television. I pull my blanket around me and settle in. I’m kidding myself if I think I’m going anywhere but the fridge anytime soon. I’m watching some sort of documentary about whether the titanic was haunted – or was it whether the chef was from outer space? All this late-night telev...

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“start of a fantasy” by Zakaria Attioui

Submitted to Contest #48

I sat at the front table of a famous restaurant with my mom, who doesn’t seem to understand when to stop talking. “Like I said, I will have you attend Middlegin School after next year. Registration will start in a few months,” my mother said, but my mind was miles away. I passively listen while she spoke as I flipped through the dinner menu. People occupied all the tables inside the restaurant that night. “Sarah, didn’t you hear what I said,” she repeated tapping near my menu. I raised my eyes off the table. “Yes, mom. I heard bu...

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“The Myth of Gina” by Rhonda Everett

Submitted to Contest #48

Gina Baker pushed her light curly strawberry blonde hair back behind her right ear and sipped her coffee in the bleak sunlight that seeped through the faded kitchen curtains. “Meow” Purr… She felt a cold wet nudge at her ankle. She picked up a small little tabby cat, whom she named Trixie. She held Trixie in her lap petting her softly as she sipped her now warm coffee. After morning coffee, she would feed Trixie, then be off to the library to study the latest batch of antiquities. Gina was a 26 year old bombshell. She was absolu...

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“It's What I Do” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #48

Henry Wallace did not actively seek out people in need. To say they sought him out would not have been entirely correct also. The only way he could have explained it was that he just happened upon people in need and they upon him. Random impulses to check out a diner on the side of the road while driving or walking aimlessly until he saw where he was headed always ended in the same destination, regardless of location. It’s my superpower he joked in his head as he ambled along the park path, surely heading toward another human in ...

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“The Dying Surgeon” by Javeria Sheikh

Submitted to Contest #48

"Mom" she yelled "Mom it's hurting" 9 year old Emily cried with her hands on her forehead. Mrs Williams came running, the little girl was lying on the floor crying heavily, She took Emily in her arms and ran towards the car She raced the car along the pavement.A few moments later she reached the Neuro hill hospital "Stretcher" she shouted The medical staff took the little Emily and rushed inside "Take her to the emergency room and check her vitals" The resident officer ordered "Miss ! could you please give some breif his...

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“Brother Bayani” by Zion Hintay

Submitted to Contest #48

Well I guess I can begin at the time my brother died. He drank a glass of milk. A few minutes in the bathroom and a trip to the hospital later and soon he'd die. On the way, he had fainted in the car with my aunt. He told me he said to ask my aunt to turn around that he was fine. The feeling was the greatest thing he'd ever felt. In the afternoon they resuscitated him. Like in the movies. My whole family was distraught and learned the importance of deadly food allergies. After that his life perspective changed forever. He wanted to do ev...

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“Stink Bug Boy” by PETER Inserra

Submitted to Contest #48

Stink Bug Boy in “Origins” Waldo Emerson Winchester was a normal sixth grader in Avon, CT except that he was a bit overweight, was named after an activist/poet/non-conformist from the 18th century and had celiac disease. The last three items, when combined into one child, gave him the perfect storm of idiosyncrasies to be a target of the Maserati Street bullies. “Hey Waldo!” yelled Robert Watkins, the meanest ...

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“Victim to Victor” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #48

Rachel Timmons strode into the courtroom with confidence. She felt like all eyes were drawn to her as she proceeded to the table for the prosecution. She suspected some of those eyeballs were glued to her tailored Saint Laurent double-breasted lamé-striped wool-blend jacket. “Maybe even to my double-breasted body filling it out,” she allowed herself to indulge in a small lack of humility. Others were probably paying closer attention to her pin-striped wool-blend trousers, also by Saint Laurent. The thought “I hope they’re not staring...

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“But Why Me? ” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #48

Ipu and her family were finishing their last minute shopping before leaving for their hotel as they had a very early morning flight to Toronto to catch the next day. Egypt had been an amazing vacation. Ipu loved visiting the old towns especially. They gave her a feel of Arabian Nights, of what it must have been centuries ago. “Mum, I would really like to buy some oriental makeup before we leave this place tomorrow,” Ipu said to her mother as they crossed many little shops by the pavement. “Makeup? You are too young for it, Ip...

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“The Keys of Life” by Anisha Yagnik

Submitted to Contest #48

Ansel Walter Sherman, the online piano-lesson phenom, is a hero to many people, but not to me. I, who am closer to him than they are, see through his presentation. They want to be shown a hero. I want to be shown a mentor. We were built on trust, jubilation, companionship, transparency; all of this strengthened by time. Attendees of his master classes feel a kinship with him that is derived from connecting to his celebrity. They forget that celebrity does not endow character. He is a talented pianist—a virtuoso, even—and a meticulous teacher...

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$50

Prize money

770

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 03, 2020 EST

Won by Jeff C. Carter 🏆

Title: Primum Nil Nocere

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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