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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

“Under the Willow Tree” by Via Han

Submitted to Contest #50

The carriage was small, pulled along by a single graying horse. With every bump in the forest road, the whole vehicle shook violently, its coarse cloth curtains fluttering up briefly. The lanky carriage boy sitting up front attempted to maneuver around the ridges, but inexperience made him thoroughly unsuccessful. Veering from the main dirt road, the carriage traveled down a path that gradually narrowed into a forest trail. As the sudden lurches intensified, the horse’s steps slowed until they halted entirely. The boy shouted and lashed...

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“Inner Voices, Outside Love” by Bela Verduzco

Submitted to Contest #50

There were as many stars in the sky as there were people on the Earth.Why would she choose me, if there were so many other people out there?Oh God, she was gonna say no.I raked a hand through my hair as I watched the waves tumble on the shore, listening to them send their rhythmic melodies over the beach. The sea foam ran up the sand, teasing the late beach goers, all of us supposedly waiting for the sunset. The sun wafted over a soft heat that was strangely comforting and warm. There was a soft whimper next to me, and I sighed and looked do...

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“What I Mean Is” by Ed Friedman

Submitted to Contest #50

Gwen stands behind the couch, watching Arthur flip channels on the remote with alarming speed. She’s seen him do this many times before, but for some reason, tonight she stands transfixed as the images fly by on the television at the speed of light. Arthur senses her presence but doesn’t turn around. “I thought you were going to bed”. He tosses the words over his shoulder. “I was, but I wanted to see what captivated you so much that you’re not”. “I was watching something but then I lost interest”. “Yeah, given the flippin...

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“An Old House” by Precious Riviere

Submitted to Contest #50

“Want some tea, honey? I can brew some.” “Sure.” “I’ll get right to it. Gosh, these floors creak with every step, I can barely walk to the dresser without sounding like a marching band. If you had called that handyman like I asked you to, it wouldn’t be half as bad.” “Why don’t you call him yourself and quit complaining Dorothy?” “Do you want some biscuits with your tea?” “Mhm.” “I’m brewing it now- look at all the rust on this kettle. Frank, when are we going to get new appliances? Everything in this house is over 100 years old!...

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“The Sleep” by Claire Riley

Submitted to Contest #50

The house shook with an almighty bang, waking him from his slumber.‘Are you still asleep?!’ she cried out, rolling her eyes. She stormed off into the kitchen. He lay there, his naked back sticking to the leatherette sofa. He groaned involuntarily as he shifted his weight into a sitting position and the room slowly blurred into shape around him. Empty coffee cups and crisp packets littered the table whilst the TV was quietly playing some tea-time quiz show. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her. She stood arms folded in disgust observing the c...

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“Fast Food” by Justice Semolina

Submitted to Contest #50

The truck bounced as it merged onto I-5 towards San Diego International Airport off of Highway 78 in Oceanside California. “No thanks,” she said “What do you mean no thanks?” he blurted with a short laugh. “I just don’t want to.” “Whatever,” he said playfully as he popped her exposed left thigh with the tips of his fingers. She did not respond. He glanced over. “You’re actually serious? I don’t understand why not,” he said shifting in the driver’s seat of the pickup. “Because it’s dumb, and I don’t want to.” “Care to explain ...

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“Paying the Bills” by Helmi Taffesse

Submitted to Contest #50

“I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth” she always diverted to threats you see. “Do you want to be sued? Do you want to go to court for this?” Also, rhetorical questions. “I have my lawyer on speed dial, and 911 is only 3 numbers!” And more threats. The conversation started simple enough at first. “Good morning, How can I help you today?” the smiling bank employee asked. “Hi, I’d like to know my balance and access my account,” the response, cordial enough. But not genuine enough. I didn’t know if I trusted her. But the banker speak...

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“What cake to choose and other huge decisions” by A.M Writes

Submitted to Contest #50

We glared at each other over the cake samples spread out on the table, none of us backing down. The man working at the cake-shop looked back and forth between us, gulping nervously. What was supposed to be a nice cake-testing had become a battlefield. I should have known my sister would bring this up again. “I thought we agreed to drop this,” I said through clenched teeth. My sister flipped her hair over one shoulder, rolling her eyes. “You asked for my opinion.” “On which cake to choose!” “Fine then!” Leaning over the table she ...

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“The Great Pie Incident” by Claudia Knight

Submitted to Contest #50

Lacking a single crumb of self-control, Chloe picked up the bowl of fruit loops offered to her and threw it as hard as possible at Fred’s stupid face. She was neither strong nor had particularly good aim, so the bowl went over Fred’s head by a good margin and shattered against the back white wall of the rented two-bedroom apartment. Milk and fruit loops went everywhere and left a rainbow splatter on the kitchen wall. Chloe briefly registered that she had in fact smashed to pieces her favorite white bone china bowl from Crate & Barrel. Be...

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“TRACEE AND BOB AND THE NON-ARGUMENT” by Renee Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #50

Tracee knew. something was wrong with the way things were going between her and Bob, her new husband of less than two weeks. He definitely was NOT the same happy go lucky, funny sweet spirited guy she met that night at her sister’s wedding reception in August a year and a half ago. His looks still appealed to her, but his spirit seemed darker. He was often withdrawn, moody, and sometime brooding. She dealt with it, but what was challenging was that Bob seemed to have four or 5 sides to him and invariably she never knew wh...

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“The Agreement.” by Stacy Conley

Submitted to Contest #50

Saturday, June 6 1:16 p.m. “So I am not going to be able to take Caroline today. Either take her and drop her off or let Camille come get her, let them stay a couple of hours and then go get them. I don’t care which.” Diane had waited for this text from her husband for a couple of hours, knowing that he had to work today and wouldn’t be able to take their children to his parents’ house for a visit. She had her response ready. She quickly typed, “David. We agreed. No unsupervised.” “You can always stay w...

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“Vision in Vermilion” by Grace Cooper

Submitted to Contest #50

I had my earbuds in, so I didn’t hear her come up behind so much as feel her breathing down the back of my neck. She swipes my earbuds out of my ears. I disentangle the cord from my hair. “God, Valeria, what?” Swinging herself down, she flops onto the couch. “Watching that trash vampire show again?” She props her chin in her hand, taps bright red nails against her cheek. “If you’re going to binge watch something you could at least watch something good.” I sigh and close my laptop. “Just because you’re a weirdo who doesn’t appre...

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“Don't Do This” by Amanda Oglesby

Submitted to Contest #50

The young couple, Megan and Alan, had barely slept at all. They rushed through breakfast, which they never did during Sacred Saturday Snuggles and Silliness. They rarely left their house before noon on those days; heck, they usually didn’t even change out of their pajamas until somewhere around lunchtime. They had a great life and each of them loved their way of living. But today there would be an exciting change, they were out to buy their first new car. The hand-me-down that Megan had gotten from her parents was fine, but it was old and ...

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“Public Debut” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #50

It was a busy day. Men and women kept going in and out of the building, all in a rush to get to somewhere quickly. James sweated as he saw the crowds of people moving in and out. With every person that left the building, it felt to James like three more would walk in. No matter how long he waited, there would be an audience waiting for him. His mom paid no attention to the waves of people surging in, and was completely focused on applying her stage makeup. It was James’s public debut, but to his mother, it was just another one of her many ...

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“Her Legacy, Her Fame” by Ky'm Young

Submitted to Contest #50

She'd waited her whole life for this moment. It was all leading up to this. She'd prepared for months that felt like years. And as she slipped into her gown, one leg after another, a wave of panic showered over her. Outside her dressing room door, she heard a knock. "Renee? 10 minutes to showtime."The actress nodded, although she knew he couldn't see her. "Okay, thank you."Her fingers twitched as her brain raced. She should be doing something. But what? Singing? No, she had to rest her voice. No, no. She would go over her lines. She walked h...

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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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