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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

“The Treehouse” by Kayla Goldie

Submitted to Contest #50

The sweet smell of oak fills my nostrils as I climb into the old treehouse. A slew of memories make their way to the front of my mind as I make myself comfortable on the shag carpet decorating the wooden floor. I lean back onto my elbows, taking in the old decor. Posters of boy-bands, fairy lights and bean bag chairs span the majority of the modest space. I take it all in, wanting to memorize all of it before I go. “Ava?” A sleek, blonde ponytail pops into view as my best friend, Bella, climbs in and sits beside me. Sh...

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“In Those Days” by Conan Helsley

Submitted to Contest #50

In Those DaysBy: Conan Helsley2,430 WordsBobby opened the door and for a moment thought it was an oven he was walking into. His eyes automatically narrowed and he turned slightly, considering very seriously just going back in and playing some video games. It seemed like that was all he'd done the last few months. Every day his dad was complaining that he spent too much time inside, he had all the opportunity now to do outdoor things and who knew how long it would last, that pretty soon things were bound to get back to normal.&...

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“The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far...” by S. F. Brooke

Submitted to Contest #50

“Babe, when I was thinking about our third anniversary I was thinking something like a fancy dinner,” Darryl complained, after getting hit in the face with a branch for the third time. “Not getting kidnapped.” His wife’s laugh made him smile and he reached up to pull the black blindfold up but his hand was gently slapped away. “No, Darry not yet! We’re nearly there,” Eden told him, pulling his hand some more and making him duck under a low tree branch. Darryl felt the summer sun land warmly on his face as he stood to his full ...

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“Tree House” by Munmun Singh

Submitted to Contest #50

Do you also associate smells and tastes with memories? I might have an idea how our brain works. When we are eight, we hardly have enough references of the hardships that life is strewn through. As children, we are bestowed with the divine gift of non-judgement. Acceptance is all that a child knows and embraces everything that he has been divinely provided, with open arms and heart. I vividly remember that particular afternoon, of the many similar ones that I am blessed to have experienced during my childhood. The tree house, which was newly...

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“Toby’s House” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #50

Toby again. It was always about Toby. Toby, Toby, Toby. It wasn’t fair, it just wasn’t. Esther climbed up the ladder and into the tree house. Even this place, even this was Toby’s. Toby’s House it said on the outside. Well, no one would notice if she was there or not, so she might as well come here. Dad had built it before Toby had been born. “I always wanted a tree-house when I was a boy,” he’d said, yet he’d never built a tree house for her. “I’m sure he’ll let you play in it when he’s older,”...

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“Chase's Tropical Treehouse” by Aimee P

Submitted to Contest #50

“Ugh, I’m bored.” Chase moaned, sprawled on a beanbag in her treehouse. She was accompanied by her best friend, Nico, who was also laying on a beanbag and futilely trying to fan himself with a couple of coloring pages that had been left on the treehouse floor. The treehouse was stuffy from sitting in the hot sun all day, the tree's leaves doing little to deflect the sun’s rays away from the wooden structure, and both kids were racking their brains for ways to cool themselves down as well as entertain them. “We could… turn the treehouse into...

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“Standing Out” by Jay Seate

Submitted to Contest #50

Standing Out By J. T. Seate All of us have days or moments that stand out in our lives. It might have been when we found the right person, or were married, or when we held our newborn infant in our arms, and so on. One day can often change everything, and for me, that day came within the walls of a small church in an equally small and relatively quiet town. John was home again and his presence completed made possible the event which brought with it such significance. On that day, in the presence of sixty or so gatherers, my son wa...

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“WHAT IF” by BATHABILE MTETWA

Submitted to Contest #50

Have you ever felt a pounding and stomping sound in your heart? Thump! Thump! Your heart goes then the temperament changes to bam! Bam! Bam! That moment when it feels like your heart will burst and fall right on the floor, right in front of everyone. You can feel the sweat dripping down both sides of your face. In that moment, you silently pray that no one is watching or paying close enough attention to your nervousness. Dear reader that is what I felt minutes before my presentation. At that very moment, the only sound I could h...

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“Two Different Coreys” by Alex Solomon

Submitted to Contest #50

The morning was perfect, the brunch that he’d planned for weeks had been perfect, and now the perfect moment was upon them. Corey Leeds, meticulously plotted the details, ensuring that his girlfriend, Corey Wright, would be free on this day. He knew, her hectic work-life made scheduling a nightmare, but not today, today was their day. Weeks ago, he called her boss and pleaded with him, “please just let her have this one day.” Luckily, he was a romantic himself and agreed. They were side by side, strolling through the scenic park, once...

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“Running With the Band” by Samantha Garcia

Submitted to Contest #50

The faint scent of a blown-out candle lingers in the hallway. Opening the window to let the smoke flow its way through the living room and out onto the trees, but it's stuck. I blow it along, but it just won't budge. I walk away knowing with time it'll find its course. I then fell asleep on the couch.***I suddenly wake up to a slight breeze tracing my shoulders. Like the scent was saying its salutations. Just as I crept to close the window, I hear a shout from below."Hey! Kennedy!" A familiar voice shoutsI look down to see nothing but white ...

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“Starry Night Eyes” by April Lectrice

Submitted to Contest #50

I walked down the street, head hung low with my hands deep in my pockets. The rain hit my hat and overcoat, allowing a few stray raindrops to fall onto my neck and face. I still had a few more blocks to go and I wasn't about to be late because of a rain storm. After evading a stray umbrella, I opened the door to a small bakery. The bell chimed over the door as I walked inside. There was no one at the register, but the smell of fresh baked bread and pastries reached my nose. I took in a deep breath, taking in all the wonderful smells. A young...

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“Bushington’s Big Proposal ” by James Offenha

Submitted to Contest #50

I snuck out last night. Everyone was sleeping, so I snuck out, but I didn’t go outside, I went to Roseta’s desktop on the first floor. I would’ve gone to her laptop, but it was closed. I started thinking about my proposal: What should I say, what should it sound like, when should I deliver this great letter out loud? Maybe see what the weather feels like the next few weeks; I want to make sure everything’s perfect. I only have one shot...

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“Lipstick and Love” by Lynda Freeman

Submitted to Contest #50

A blind date setup by a friend who apparently is in fear I just might marry a guy twenty years younger than myself. Apparently this friend doesn't know me as well as I thought. Fun is what I enjoy with my younger young man, and fun we do partake in quite often. Jessie, my friend and my own kids don't like mom dating the younger man, did that stop me heck no. Jessie and I met another friend of ours for cocktail hour. While enjoying our drinks Jess saw a guy she used to date and introduced him to us. Somehow along the way the conversation flow...

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“6ixes Get Stitches” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #50

“We know that you were involved, so talk dammit!”Officer Marcus slammed his fist on the table, causing it to shake from impact. The young man who sat across from him was unimpressed and gave no reaction. The suit and military haircut of Officer Marcus contrasted heavily with the man being interrogated, who wore a sleeveless top that showed off his tattoos, and had long hair dyed with multiple colors.Officer Jane, dressed in the same manner as Marcus, stepped up to the interrogation table. “Look, Danny,” Jane said in a soothing voice, “we’re ...

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“He finally proposed” by Xara Shariq

Submitted to Contest #50

“Hey Seth, I’m home!” shouted out Becky from around the other corner of the house. I was sitting in my dining room doing my office work as usual when she entered out of nowhere. Oh god! Here she comes. Now I would have to listen to her unimportant yet the most irritating talks about her, Denny, their weird relationship, and much more bla-bla-bla. “Seth! Where are you lost huh?” “Oh nowhere”, I said coming back to the real world. “You tell? How was your day today? How was Danny?” “Fabulous. Just fabulous! Everything was ...

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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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