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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#50: A Moment Like This

Throughout this contest, we’ve read wonderful entries that provide sweeping overviews of characters' lives (such as "The Tree"), as well as submissions that offer glimpses into distinct life-phases (like "Time Bomb"). We’ve also been captured by stories book-ended by the start and end of one particular moment in time: such as "The Price of a Nice Guy" (a woman gets a flat tire and parks on the side of the road), "Who Speaks to Death" (a story told through a single text conversation), and "To You" (a 50th birthday party).

In the spirit of those last three examples, this week's prompts challenge you to embrace the short story's ability to really dive into and explore one single scene.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a proposal.

Valentine's Day – 211 stories

Write a story about an argument that seems to be about one thing, but is actually about another.

Dialogue – 121 stories

Write a story about a person experiencing pre-performance jitters.

High School – 162 stories

Write a story told entirely through one chase scene.

Thriller and Suspense – 143 stories

Write a story about a summer afternoon spent in a treehouse.

Summer – 303 stories

Stories

“Before the Show” by Steve McKenney

Submitted to Contest #50

The beginning of the semester was always long. Students thought that professors had it easy, just pull out the same lesson plan from the previous semester. They didn’t understand the time, preparation and effort that went into getting everything ready for the start of the term, not to mention the help that first-year students needed in finding rooms and getting adjusted to college life. Anthony certainly didn’t when he was in that position a few years ago. Even if he had known...

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“Ally Sighs” by N. Thorne

Submitted to Contest #50

Ally sighs as she lets out a frustrated breath. Steadying herself against the door frame she closes her eyes and lets her forehead rest on her arm. Every goddamn time. Steeling herself she leans to pick up her husband’s socks and shoes strewn on the bedroom floor. She throws the socks in the hamper and puts the shoes in the closet on the shoe rack, but leans down to straighten them all so this pair will fit. Slamming the closet door she lets out another frustrated sigh. Every goddamn time. “Hey Hun what’s for dinner? I can hear m...

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“Ashes to Ashes. Dust to Lust.” by Eric Deitch

Submitted to Contest #50

Ah, the fire. The fire was the blasting cap to my marriage (I shall get to that a little bit later). I met her at a party in Doha, Qatar, and we became fast friends. We had texted each other, as we all do these days. A week later we met once at my apartment. I made her supper (I’m a great cook; writing a cookbook now) and we watched a movie on my LCD video projector. It’s like being in a small theatre all alone. I already owned it, but was trying to impress her. Our romance grew, and we started seeing more of each other. Talking every day,...

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“Portrait of Time, Personified” by Aidrielle R.

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #50

Brian was already inside, mocking me from the doorway. He had to duck to even fit. Below him, I was trying to inch my way to the top. Every step I took seemed to send the rope ladder swinging.“Come on, old man!” he shouted from up above. I could practically hear the grin in his voice.“If I remember correctly, you’re older than me,” I panted in between steps. “By three months.”His laughter was swept away by the summer breeze. “Shame your memory’s not as good as your legs.” I eventually made it to the top. Brian scooted further inside to ...

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“Don’t Call Me Stupid” by Samantha Salomon

Submitted to Contest #50

“Karen almost shot a man before. She told me that in the moment she could have pulled the trigger and felt nothing.”“She is such a weird lady.”“Not really. Let me finish the story. One day, after Karen had just got married, she was out checking on the cows, and a truck pulled up. It was a matte color grey like the paint had all been sanded off and it was left with just a base coat. You know what I’m talking about. The truck had a white stripe up the center of the hood. It’s something you would have recognized a mile off. There weren’t doors ...

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“The moment I fell in love with black!” by Debomitra Das

Submitted to Contest #50

I’m standing just behind the red curtain. Sweat popped out on my face. My head is dizzy with confusion, I can’t think anymore! No!… No!.. No!.. This dark world haunts me everywhere I go, I can’t breathe! I want to see the colorful world again, wanna get back to those different shades of colors, that define life- a true life! Suddenly someone entered into the room, I am listening carefully to the footsteps. I asked, “Who is this?” The woman with a soft voice replied, “There are only ten minutes left to rise the curtain”...

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“Peregrine” by Tim Maddox

Submitted to Contest #50

The radar ping went from searching to a solid tone. I didn’t need a missile from the backpack launcher to hit this plane. I’d spun right onto his tail almost near enough to grab him. The plasma caster would more than suffice at this range. One more enemy to take down before Highwire destroyed the final missile silo. I extend my arm and take aim. Cloudstreak’s voice came over my headset. “Peregrine, enemy wingsuits at the silo!” In an instant I dove away from the enemy fighter and towards the distant silo. Above it I could see a flurry of t...

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“Forgotten Celery” by Ashley Beeby

Submitted to Contest #50

Annabelle had just turned on the light over the stove and activated the overhead vent when the front door could be heard closing. It was a normal event so Annabelle continued moving through the kitchen casually. She pulled out vegetables out from a mountain in the fridge to create a smaller mountain on the bench, but there was a sudden stiffness in her narrow shoulders. David kicked off his shoes in the front room, both hands carrying shopping bags. He barely lifted his feet as he walked, yet took great care to still move silently through th...

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“Sapiosexual” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #50

I basically had a temper tantrum because I accidently burned her grilled cheese sandwiches and she was trying to give me advice and be helpful. I slammed the spatula down and told her that she could do it explicitly herself and went to our bedroom with thoughts of mentally, spiritually and intellectually killing her.I tried in vain to explained to Mrs. Rolanda Outhouse that I have issues with me being sapiosexual. I’m someone who is sexually and mentally turned on by smart people.Yet she’s so physically beautiful that even dudes and chicks i...

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“The Official Praise of Bob” by Ben K

Submitted to Contest #50

With a light tap against Mr. McCormik's office door. Gob pushes it forward an inch asking. “Hey, Mr. McCormik? Is this uh. Is this a good time?”With a friendly smile Mr. McCormik gestures for Gob to take a seat. “Why. Sure thing Gob. Would you mind closing the door behind you?”“Oh. Not at all.” God says shutting it behind him. Walking a few steps inside. Gob really takes in the scenery of the office from the 40th floor. He stares at the golf clubs in the corner of the room and the coffee cup used for practice. He picks up a framed picture of...

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“Cozy Summer Day” by Brandon Johnson

Submitted to Contest #50

A breeze swept through the air that brought the scent of pine trees, flowers, and summer. A little squirrel caught the wind current with his nose and smelled deeply. The wind was blowing the leaves around him and he looked up to the neverending blue that was the sky. The canopy of the tall trees partly obscured his view but that didn’t stop him from enjoying it.He kept looking at the sky for many more minutes. I wish I could relax here every day, he thought. He may have had a small stature, but that didn’t stop him from having big ideas and ...

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“About A Cactus” by Sabrina Howard

Submitted to Contest #50

When Flight JX 2593 reported engine failure, Anne Haddox, in her home on Sycamore Street, had her hand around a little clay pot. She liked to hold this pot and gaze at the plant within whenever she felt troubled. But right now, the plant itself was the trouble. While she was used to seeing a bright, vibrant green, the contents of the pot were different now. There was a brown, shriveled succulent inside it that had no spikes but cut her just the same. She glared down at it for several long moments, and then cursed loudly. Her husband spille...

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“The Camelot Proposal” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #50

The Camelot Proposal Suzanne Marsh The old man stared silently at the castle, it was his dream. His Cumberland Spaniel, walked freely over the grounds. The old man begins his story of how he made his dream come true, the happiness and the heart break of building his castle. He continued to stare at the stone castle as he began: “I began this project over sixty years ago. I purchased the land for four hundred and fifty dollars, I was fifteen at the time. It began with the idea of a cottage but it grew into a life long project. My dad and mo...

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“I Object” by Emily B.

Submitted to Contest #50

The altar was set with light cream draping and flowers. Sunlight gave the elegant room a sweet shine. The groom stood and waited to marry the love of his life. Family and loved ones sat in the pews for the bride. Music played and the crowd stood. First was the bridesmaids in long pretty gowns, gliding down the aisle with their handsomely sharp best men. Then when the aisle was clear the bride appeared. Her glow was blinding, her hair that laid flawlessly, the dress emphasized her stunning body. She was perfect.After the priest said his bless...

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“Moonlight Reflections” by Catherine MacKenzie

Submitted to Contest #50

Jaxsen stood on a dock that looked out upon a small lake. The party behind him raged on and it wasn’t until about half an hour ago that he was able to sneak away from the blaring music, alcohol and pot smoke and the abundance of college graduates in attendance. Jaxsen leaned against the wooden railing, the smoke from his blunt dissipating in the light spring breeze. He knew Basil was in the house, probably still tearing up the dance floor with Bailey. Jaxsen smiled at the tho...

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$50

Prize money

940

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 17, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Hemmings 🏆

Title: Life in the Trees

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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