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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#7: Scrumdiddlyumptious

Did you know: September 13th is Roald Dahl's birthday — so a "gloriumptious" Roald Dahl Day to you!

Roald Dahl was a children's book author, best known for classics like Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Gian Peach, and, well, the list of his beloved children's books goes on and on.

Dahl not only created whimsical worlds within his stories, he also created new diction, inventing words such as "gloriumptious" (pure marvelousness), "biffsquiggled" (being confused or puzzled), "churgle" (gurgling with laughter), and "ringbeller" (a really good dream).

This week, our prompts are all elements pulled from Roald Dahl's phizz-whizzing (splendid) books.

This week's prompts

Write a story with a child narrator.

Kids – 37 stories

Write a story that mixes everyday situations with surreal surroundings.

High School – 26 stories

Write a story where a chocolate cake plays a significant role.

Funny – 34 stories

Write a story about a person longing for family.

Angst – 44 stories

Write a story infused with dark humor.

Funny – 15 stories

Stories

“The Last Cacao” by Chynna Pace

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #7

“Grandma? Can you tell me about…chocolate?” Katie’s face was cautious. There was something like fearful anticipation turning the brown of her eyes black, the way truffles used to look. Her question stirred decades-old memories, making my mouth water. I swallowed and asked, “How do you know about chocolate?” My granddaughter cast a furtive look at ...

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“Petit Café” by Holly Pierce

Submitted to Contest #7

Mason Sarratt took a bite of his muffin, and stared out the window of his grandmother’s café, wishing he could go back home and play basketball. The timer above the oven went off for what felt like the millionth time this morning. Mason turned to glare at the timer above the purple oven. Today, January 12, was his birthday, and he was stuck in the café.The café’s door opened, and he crouched down beneath the counter. If anyone from school saw him in this pink and purple apron, three sizes too small, he would never hear the end of it. Mason h...

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“From a Balloon” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #7

Greta watched the world go by. And yet there it remained. In her ninety years, she couldn’t understand how the human race continued to exist. Everyone lived through chance encounters, like molecules of air bouncing off each other. Yet somehow, things got built. Babies were born. Civilizations rose and fell and were replaced by newer, better, shinier civilizations. How did all this happen?Greta spent most of her life alone. Even when married, she had felt alone. Was that her fault? Or is that just how things are? The demands made upon her out...

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“Saturn by Elliott Laurence” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #7

An early evening orange-red haze fills the sky. The sun begins to set and I look past the crescent silhouette of the moon looking as usual, for Saturn. On days like this, there’s no need for my telescope. The evening sky is clear. On other evenings, no matter how hard I look, I fear Saturn is forever lost to me. I took for granted that I visit Saturn regularly. But no more. I haven’t been able to visit or barely talk to my father and my sister Sharmayne for almost a year. When Earth jams transmission signals making it difficult for u...

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“Elodie’s Voice” by Christian Schmidt

Submitted to Contest #7

“I’m sorry. Elodie doesn’t speak.” Elodie doesn’t speak. How many times had I listened to those words? I’m my eight years of life, I had not spoken. Not one word. Not ever. I simply watched. One can see so much if one payed attention. For instance, I knew that Father has been in love with Susan for a very long time. And Susan loves him as well. But neither of them wants to peruse a serious relationship because my father is a lawyer, and Susan is my nanny. And Susan is precisely the one who must al...

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“bittersweetness” by Lyna Slm

Submitted to Contest #7

A loud ringing from the cell phone on the nightstand woke Nate up in a rather unfashionable way. He groaned and turned it off, sighing at the silence that followed suit. He rubbed his eyes in an effort to wake up, but decided that leaving the bed fast without overthinking it would be much better; just like when removing a Band-Aid. He suddenly chuckled at the fact that he just compared leaving his bed to that process and shook his head lightly as he got up. After a well-deserved morning shower that jolted him awake, he opted for a walk to w...

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“The Blue Moon Café” by Sarah Marchese

Submitted to Contest #7

The clock spun counterclockwise. A steady tick, tick, tick, counting back from 10. 9. 8-.It made more sense to be counting down than to be counting forward. After all, time, Amber thought, always seemed to be running out. It was 6 am when Amber got the text. It took her a minute to convince herself to look at her phone screen, another to recognize the unsaved number staring back at her, and one more after that to respond. “I’m coming home.”Is what the message said. It was hard to answer because Amber wasn’t sure this place cou...

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“Star Warrior” by Matt Strempel

Submitted to Contest #7

Dear, Harry (Little Bro).I’m about to head out on what might be my last mission. So the Commanders say, anyway. Not because my job is nearly done, but this one, they reckon, is more dangerous than all the previous missions combined.Too many unknowns: Unusually long hypersleep, an uncharted sector, limited intel on the enemy.They’ve suggested I should write my story down before I go. Something for you to read when you’re old enough.I haven’t got long, so I’ll keep it brief. Here goes:My name is Jack (Big Bro). 12 years old. Star Warrior.Mum j...

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“It's the Little Things” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #7

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGSThree things occurred to Dina, in exactly this order, as she was vacuuming the lounge. It was lucky that she’d spotted the earring before she sucked it up in the Hoover (not because it was an expensive earring, but because it might have damaged the Hoover) - it was also lucky she had spotted it because although cheap, it was pretty, and she wouldn’t have liked to break up the pair. Oh – and the third thing? She was wearing the earrings in question, little artificial pearls, and there was one in each ...

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“A Three Whiskey Night” by Rudy Uribe

Submitted to Contest #7

Cody pulled into the driveway. The front porch light was off, but that didn’t mean Anne was asleep. She usually waited for him in the living room so she could tell him about her day. It was after eleven, and he wanted to go straight to bed and avoid her incessant chatter.He stood at the front door but chose instead to go around back and enter through the kitchen. If Ann was in the living room, he might be able to sneak in through the kitchen. He slowly opened the door, wishing he had oiled the hinges. Anne stood at the kitchen counter, prep...

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“A Little Wolfie Cub” by Amanda Hoover

Submitted to Contest #7

“Once upon a time, there was a little wolf cub.” The deep grizzled voice cut through the dimly lit room and down into the fluffy mound of tussled blankets and sheets that wiggled and squirmed with a little wild girl. “It was a cub with the wildest hair, the wildest grin, and the wildest heart.” A little voice squeaked from between the layers, muffled and soft, “Just like me, granny?” The old weathered face creased with well earned wrinkles as it grinned into the night. “Oh my sweet wild one, this particular wolf cub was fearless and the brav...

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“A Love so True” by Keturah Tea

Submitted to Contest #7

Never in my life have I seen anyone so miserable. A rat half-drowned in fish broth staring down a hungry cat would have a more pleasant demeanor than this man trudging down the road. A long journey can do that, I’ve seen many grave looks come through my father’s inn, but this wins first prize for graveyard gloom. “Aren’t musicians are supposed to be merry? But you look like you’ve split your fiddle.” I greet the man as I emerge from the woods; three rabbits hung over my shoulder. Game has been scarce this...

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“When is a word not a word?” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #7

“That is not a word!”“Oh yes, it is!”“I bet it’s not in the dictionary?”“Have a look then.”A thick book was dragged from the shelf, skinny pages leafed through.“See it’s not there.”“You are looking in the wrong place.”“Ow is not a word!”“It is in the Thai dictionary!” Tom the younger of the twins sniggered at his brother. Tim lashed out, missed.The twins glared at each other. Only their mother could tell them apart, and she hated telling them off. “Now, now boys give it a break. Words are nothing to argue over.”“But Mum, this ...

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“I Forgot to Live.” by Naveen Ahmad

Submitted to Contest #7

I Forgot to Live. The refreshing euphoric feeling washed in and out of my mind with calm tidal waves consisting of the beautiful blue and white highlights in a distinctive alignment. I took in the view of the rolling hills enhancing the distances and lush green manicured grasses aligning with the ponds. The birds flew together in perfect harmony, their black and fading gray colored wings blanketing the bright blue sky. Multi-color winged butterflies danced like fairies decorating the tall oaks with their beauty and gr...

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“Mirror, Mirror” by Alexander Ferrick

Submitted to Contest #7

Sasha woke up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. There was sunlight filtering into the room already, and she knew she had overslept."Damnit," she grumbled, hauling herself up from the bed and attempting to pull an undershirt over her head and a brush through her hair at the same time. She failed in both endeavors.Before Sasha was a mirror; she stopped and looked into it wearily, and forced herself to breathe. From the mirror her face looked back at her, but it was not hers. Not really."You should have set an alarm," her reflection chastised...

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$50

Prize money

156

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 20, 2019 EST

Won by Adriana K. Maxwell 🏆

Title: Don't Drink The Stars

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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