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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

“Treehouse Afternoon” by N C

Submitted to Contest #50

“Help!” screamed Mrs.Pie, “I think someone stole my green emerald!” Mrs. Pie is known around the neighborhood for her photographic memory, delicious pies, round and short body shape, her super nice personality, and the big green emerald necklace her husband gave to her on her last anniversary. The last anniversary. Her husband passed away due to heart attacks a few years ago. She never complained about anything, She liked to live a humble life, so her becoming frantic was big news for everyone. Jerry looked at Jackson. Jackson looked ...

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“Sparrows” by Henry Garrison

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #50

There are three baby birds underneath your treehouse. I hear them before I see them, their cries only becoming audible as the wind drops. Gentle cheeps coming from the grass somewhere below me. I use each squeak like a blip on a radar, homing in on them. They’re tucked round the back, hidden out of view from the house, underneath the nest that has fallen on top of them. I crouch down and gently lift the mishmash of twigs and leaves away, revealing the three creatures below. They can’t be more than a few days old, with only a fe...

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“At a parade” by Melanie Winkler

Submitted to Contest #50

She thought how strange it was that this time last year she was grieving her husband and now she had a boyfriend. It wasn’t what she expected, and she knew she was blessed. She saw one of the stud’s horse go by and clapped extra loud. She knew the parade was almost over and Chloe had fallen asleep. Jason reached for her hand and she loved how their hands seemed to fit together. It had been a big day and she almost felt like she wouldn’t mind a nap like the little girl. Jason was moving his finger slowly pulling off her rings. She looked over...

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“Never Could Have Imagined” by Jami Kirk

Submitted to Contest #50

"Welcome home!" Mom's bear hold of an embrace got me before I even gotten into the house. "How long has it been, sugarfoot? Feels like I haven't seen you in ages!" Mom's words spilled out of her, all tracing one breath. Even though her voice picked up octaves when excited, it was still music to my ears. An odd thing mothers had over their children, I suppose. Incasing her in my own embrace, my worries melted for a moment that even a smile began to tug at my cheeks. When was the last time I took the ti...

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“Don't Ask. Don't Tell.” by Edward White

Submitted to Contest #50

(2883 words) Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell. By Ed N. White The Robin’s Nest had been serving the morning coffee to this community for many years before the upstarts, Dunkin’ and Starbucks intruded with their lattes and fancy pastries. The early Saturday crowd had left. Jean and Rachel gained some privacy in the corner booth as they continued their whispered conversation. Rachel had stuck her napkin in the empty Styrofoam cup and was mashing it with the small wooden stirrer. Jean had torn her napkin in small pieces and was shaping t...

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“Time of need” by Charles Wasilausky

Submitted to Contest #50

Once, there lived a poor farmer. He was happy doing his work, and he got satisfaction knowing that he was making a difference in the lives of the village. He provided all the produce that he grew. The only trouble was, he didn't have any help and the work was getting to be too much for him. One Day, while he was working out in the field, he had a dizzy spell and collapsed on the ground. A moment later, one young man came by, hoping to help load up the truck and saw the farmer out cold. This young man called the ambulance which took the farme...

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“A Note in Time ” by Brittany Smith

Submitted to Contest #50

Clammy hands-check Stifling hot leading yanking on the collar of my freshly pressed dress shirt-check A marching bland playing in my head-check A circus performer on trapize in my stomach-check Yep, it must be official, I'm about to propose. I picture the look on Jason's face when I broke the news last month while we were watching the Indians crush the Braves: 4-0. Jason was devestated since Ruiz just missed celebrating a no-hitter. I was too nervous to really care. Between nachos and stale beer, I blurted out, "I'm going to propose t...

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“The Proposal” by Jack Askhim

Submitted to Contest #50

It was a nice day except for the constant sound of the bombardment. Two sergeants run with heads hung low hanging on to their helmets. They run past the major generals’ tent. “Sergeant”! The major general’s head appeared out of his tent. Both men turn to address the general. They salute. “Sir”, they say in unison. The general addresses the older of the two men. An overweight mid-thirties cliché. “Was I talking to You”? “Sir, I – No sir.” “Then why are you still here?” A shell explodes nearby. The general stands tall but the sergean...

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“A Dream Proposal Came True.” by Nusrath Irfanah Mohd Liaqat Ali Khan

Submitted to Contest #50

“I’m sorry miss but we have done the best we can but, it seems that you’ve lost your ability to walk”. Those were the last words I heard from Doctor Robert 7 months ago. It was still fresh in my memory. Now everything the doctor once said is proven to be wrong because I have made a lot of improvements from the first day of my diagnosis. I was involved in a car crash earlier this year and lost the ability to walk. I moved around on a freaking wheelchair for almost three months. Those were the dreadful months I have been through but with Arrya...

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“When Roses Wither” by Dainea Jules

Submitted to Contest #50

Golden light from the few candles around the room wavered on the wall and danced with the reflection of the silvery-blue moonlight. The heavy brown curtains grazed the ground softly as the wind trickled in to engulf the lone writer at his desk. His left eye twitched in irritation. He was a very irritable man. Haynes thought that writing was humdrum, but could not stop his fingers from dancing across the keys portraying a writer's feelings. His eyes fixated on the paper in front of his hardened face, and his eyebrows drew together as his ...

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“Unexpected Love” by Debra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #50

As Jasmine woke for another day she realized that it was day 10. Just laying there she realized that the days in the shelter had started to become routine as each day was becoming the same as the last. With everyone waking up at 6:00am and leaving the shelter by 7:00am. With the exception of the 4th and the 6th we did the same thing as we did the day before. But today when we got back to the shelter that evening it wasn't routine at all. When Steve and Jasmine got back to the shelter that evening, instead of showering and changing then headi...

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“Rocket Science” by Chi N Kah

Submitted to Contest #50

I look up again and try to collect my thoughts. The server is steadily losing her battle to hide her smirk. I don't blame her, choosing a meal in this place cannot be rocket science. There are basically two food groups, chicken and burgers and this place is not known for the latter. But instead of deciding if I should get my meal with chips or with pap my mind is swinging between wondering if I remembered to wipe the cornices or if I chose the right outfit. I know this is my Sunday best but I can't help going over my wardrobe again wondering...

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“The mature boy ” by Kiran Bharadwaj

Submitted to Contest #50

The mature boy Ilham was sitting under a mango tree. The light green leaves were shining in the bright sunlight. He was dressed in a school uniform. His eyes were staring at the road which joined borders with the forest. He was waiting desperately for someone. He looked at his watch, “5:29 pm” it said. “When will she come?” he thought. “She was looking tensed for the whole day. Madhav sir! Oh! That math’s test depressed her! She told me to meet her here. Ragini please come fast!”. With Ragini, Ilham also worried about his father, who would b...

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“Syrup” by Saad Masud

Submitted to Contest #50

The metallic, clanging noise coming from the briefcase was drawing more than a little attention the way Frank swung it around. It was the same one he received for twenty-five solid years of dedication to a company he hated. Walking up to the house, the smell of pancakes and maple syrup wafted under the door and reminded him that he hadn’t eaten breakfast again for the third day in a row. Judging by the arc of his swing, it looked like he was aiming the case towards the roof as he strode up to Eleanor’s bright pink house, but the hesitation o...

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“No protocols, no rules. ” by Jonathan Abioye

Submitted to Contest #50

"You are to me many things in one and the one person out of the many..." Bad start! Has potential though, maybe in the middle. "You remind me of my mother whenever you smile ..." Horrible... "There are a few things that have actually made me stutter with loss of words. Fewer still the people that have stopped me dead in my tracks..." Slightly better, progress. I nodded my head in approval of the words I had managed to scribble so far, as I still chewed upon the end of my pen groping around for the best words I could string ...

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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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