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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#54: Second Chances

"Third time's the charm."

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

"Rome wasn't built in a day."

The English language is full of aphorisms that get at a universal truth: human beings aren't perfect, and oftentimes we need to keep trying (and trying again) in order to get something right.

This week's prompts all revolve around the theme of second chances. Whether your characters are circling back to something from their past, getting a start on something they put off for a long time, or simply in the process of learning after a swing and a miss, we're looking forward to the 'second acts' you come up with!

And speaking of layered characters, on August 12th, bestselling novelists Caroline Leavitt and Gina Sorell are hosting a free webinar on creating believable characters. RSVP here!

This week's prompts

Write a story about high school sweethearts coming across one another after many, many years apart.

Romance – 283 stories

Write a story about someone going back to school as a mature student.

High School – 88 stories

Write a story about someone looking to make amends for a mistake.

Adults – 223 stories

Write a story about someone struggling to learn a skill that in no way comes naturally to them.

Funny – 154 stories

Write a story about a TV show called "Second Chances."

Novel – 108 stories

Stories

“Mature But Not So student” by Jovan Ivančević

Submitted to Contest #54

I am back after thousands of years. Actually not really that much, but after a long period in time. That is important. I was here during the reign of the Presidents Roosevelt Theodore or Franklin. I am not sure. Let me think of it for a while. I was at my prime in those days, when President Teddy led America to greatness and I was in my classroom in those days, when President Franklin had to revive his country after the Great Depression. I was only juvenile, but I remember everything and when I forgot there are always some books to remind me...

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“Time's Up” by Audrey Park

Submitted to Contest #54

You stare at the front of your new school, making sure that the stare didn’t turn into a glare. It was weird to return to school as this new person; a kind person. You pull out your phone and check your reflection. The blonde wig didn’t fit you at all and the clean uniform felt off. The white button up shirt was buttoned up all the way and the plaid bow fit right in the center of the collar. The plaid skirt was far too loose and long for your preference and the white stockings ended at an awkward position. Not to mention the simple black sne...

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“Teachings” by Esprit Bijou

Submitted to Contest #54

I felt my eyelashes fluttering; lightly and swiftly meeting my skin for a period of time as I scanned the plethora of people that buzzed by either looking like they haven’t slept in three days or people that had layers upon layers looking regretful yet excited. I held my coat closer to my body, and I looked out the huge windows revealing a dark, misty, and foggy sky.Huffing my breath deeply, I turned my head to face my classmate. “When are we leaving to go to the plane?”“Should be leaving in a little bit,” she muttered mindlessly, but sudden...

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“New Start” by Amy Sutch

Submitted to Contest #54

As Maddie approached the cafe, she spotted a free table on the porch and quickly claimed it. The whirring ceiling fan broke up the hot, summer air, as she caught her breath. She was excited and felt a hopefulness she hadn’t in years. “Someone looks happy,” her friend, Fay joined her, giving her a hug. “Spill it,” she demanded. “The last time I saw you, you were in tears. How’s that ex of yours anyway?” &n...

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“Betrayal” by Leigh Kelly

Submitted to Contest #54

“Please!” He begged. “Give me another chance, I can do better!” “I don’t know if I can.” She sadly replied. “You let me down...again” “I know I did, and I’m sorry, but I can change.” Tears began running down his face. “You told me that the last time too.” She whispered. “This time I mean it. Please.” She looked into his eyes for the first time during the conversation. He could see the regret in her face. The pain at what he had done and what he had failed to do. She broke eye contact and stared, tears in her eyes, as i...

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“Last day” by Carol Hall

Submitted to Contest #54

A story about someone looking to make amends for a mistake.( sort of!) They sat silently in the old kitchen, gazing at each other. Despite the glorious autumn weather both of them were lost in a sea of grey unhappiness, a dull ache that would not go away. Even the sun outside the window seemed to have lost its warmth and cheerfulness for a moment. Brett shook himself. This would not do. “Come on, my lovely,” he became aggressively cheerful, “Let’s go for a walk. We’d better make the most of it while we can.” Tania did not ...

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“Second Chances” by Camilla Huffman

Submitted to Contest #54

Blonde hair fell into her face as she pleaded for just one more night, one more night with her son. She knew she was a mess, her mascara running and the eyeliner that she’d caked all the way around her eyes mixing with sweat and tears. It was time to bring Micha home though, to his father and stepmother’s house. How had she let things get this far? It seemed like only a few weeks when it had, in fact, been years of dragging everyone around her through this toxic waste dump she called her life. How had she let things ...

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“Biggest Regret” by Stacey Fultz

Submitted to Contest #54

*While this is a stand-alone story, it is a continuation, and it references events that took place in ‘Sundays with Shirley.’I laid in bed after a long day of cooking lessons with Grandma Shirley. We’d been cooking together, Grandma Shirley, myself, and Lulu—who, of course, did more tasting and spoon licking than cooking, in one way or another for almost a year. It had been two months since I’d come out while asking Grandma Shirley to teach me how to cook. After that first Sunday, when Grandma showed up with a box full of cookbooks, both han...

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“SECOND CHANCE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #54

I am a retired medical specialist, and my wife Jay is a child psychologist who runs her own clinic to correct children with problems like autism, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia and the like. We have a son John who is a polymath: He is a writer, talk show host, and has penned, acted in and produced plays. He has his own team and they are now on a tour of England displaying their talent there. It was Sunday morning, when Jay and I had finished our breakfast. I was lounging on a canvas backed easy-chair on the sit-out facing the gard...

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“The Kids Aren't Alright” by Millie Hardy-Sims

Submitted to Contest #54

The clock on the wall ticked rhythmically to the tune of the tap dripping in the sink, the only sound in the silence that permeated the kitchen. Cleo sat at one end of the table, Rick the other. The awkwardness in the air could have been cut with a knife as the clock continued to mark the muzzled seconds, numbing their brains as they sat in silence. Neither of them knew how long they had been sitting there before Rick eventually cleared his throat to speak. “Do you want coffee?” He made to get out of his chair to make it just for somet...

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“ "women bickering"” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #54

They were family of nine. Four boys and three girls. Their parents were farmers. Typical igbo family of colonial era. Their father died in late fifties and Abel their eldest brother typically become their father. Luckily for Abels male siblings, none of them felt the impact of their father’s death much for before his death, Abel has finished serving his master for seven years and has started his own business before their father’s death.None of the Abel’s brother served anyone as apprentice. whenever any becomes mature en...

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“Purple Hyacinths” by Brammy Rajakumar

Submitted to Contest #54

Purple Hyacinths She stood at my front door every Monday at 7AM with a bouquet of purple flowers. Hyacinths, she told me once, and she had said that they meant she was sorrowful over an event and she wanted forgiveness. Forgiveness, what a funny thought. Of course, I never opened the door for her. And normally, I never spoke to her either, except for the one time when I had asked what the flowers were and what they meant. She would wait at the door for exactly 17 minutes before leaving the bouquet, retreating down the...

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“My prison within.” by Melinda Crocitto

Submitted to Contest #54

I was born with one clear emotion, I knew from my first gasp of air I was taking this journey alone. I grew up lonely with the rapids of the North Umpqua river my only friend. Its just the way the cards were dealt and I carried on despite the knowledge that kin folk would escape me and life, cold hard life was something I would have to figure out on my own...There was an unspoken knowing in my gut that I was not important or valued. It seemed to attract the perfect storm of chaos and blind stupidity in every relationship I attempted to have....

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“Forgive Me, Robin” by R. Cai

Submitted to Contest #54

I turned up in front of her house with a bouquet of flowers. I handpicked them myself, from my neighbour’s garden. It’s a good thing she didn’t see me, otherwise, she would have shouted at me. That would be loud. I rang the doorbell. Once. Twice. She opened the door. We stared at each other for a while. Her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying. “What are you doing here Ollie?” I blinked. What was I doing here? Oh right. To ask for forgiveness. I gave the flowers to her. “I’m sorry.”...

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“Bottled” by Heather Ann Martinez

Submitted to Contest #54

Bottled By Heather Ann Martinez Where do you find peace? When do you lay all of your cards on the table? It can be so much easier to hold a poker face. Does anyone really have to know about our secrets, the skeletons we keep hidden behind the clothes in our closets? Do we really need to share what's been bottled? Of all the things I've done, this is the mistake you hold against me. It is a doozy. I won't deny that, but it wasn't like I was settin' out to hurt anyone. I didn't mean for things to go the way they did. You know that. I can'...

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$50

Prize money

856

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 14, 2020 EST

Won by Mollie Rodgers 🏆

Title: Where the Water Meets the Sand

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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