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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#79: The Family You Choose

They say blood is thicker than water — but is it always?

The truth is that not all families offer healthy relationships to each other, and sometimes the harsh act of cutting them out of your life may be the best course of action. Fortunately, we can still meet people who love us no matter what and become our new families. Not to mention adoptions, blended families, and all the wonderful ways people connect with and support each other, regardless of whether they share any DNA. It's fair to say that family is a lot more than blood!

This week, we’re going to turn family life upside down and examine all the ways that family succeeds — and fails — for our characters.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Sad – 260 stories

Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Dramatic – 193 stories

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

Sad – 160 stories

Write about two characters who’ve gone through something so intense they now feel like family.

Adults – 190 stories

Write about a “found family” who are finally able to get together again after a long time apart.

Fluff – 100 stories

Stories

“Magic coffee beans” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #79

“Henry! . . . Wake up . . . Henry! . . . Wake up. Its morning, we need to go check.” Fresh dawn light, seized its opportunity and peeked in through a small gap in the zip. The sleep filled air inside the tent was an electric blue, as warm sunshine forced itself through the navy canvas. Outside, birds were in the final throws of another rendition of their classic, Dawn chorus. One by one, taking to the wing in search of breakfast. Bumble bees and butterflies, elegantly shared a morning dip in richly coloured, heavenly scented flower beds. Jun...

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“Sisters Are As Sisters Do” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #79

There was nothing about the two girls that, from the outside at least, was the same. Roxanne was tall, athletic and loud, whilst Wren was short for her age, and though she was always smiling she rarely laughed. One drank the spotlight, whilst you forgot the other was in the room. The only thing that connected the two girls was that they arrived at the school at the same time, but as they were in different years no one noticed. During the school day their paths rarely crossed, and if they did no one spotted the smiles they saved for each ot...

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“Fratricide ” by Courtney C

Submitted to Contest #79

Adam’s target was fixed in the scope of his rifle; no tremors caused the crosshairs to shake, and nothing obscured his view of his prey. Adam adjusted until the lapel of the red plaid coat came into view, and hesitated. Steeling himself, he shook off his doubts, and fired. Although he was too far away to hear the scream, he knew it intimately. It was his brother.Adam thought he’d have felt some pang of emotion, killing a man. Killing Brian. But all he felt was hollow and numb, and in need of a smoke. He rested his rifle on the log beside him...

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“Beyond Help” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #79

“Gin? Ginny?” The sound of glass crunching together made Sarah pause, the front door only half-open. Then, the smell hit her. It was almost unbearable, but human curiosity kept her going. Perhaps it was the inevitable guilt that she’d have walked away if something bad had happened. Perhaps it was the fear that she’d find something at all... but whatever it was, she pushed the door open fully and stepped inside, wrapping her scarf around her face. The glass at her feet was a shattered gin bottle. It must have taken som...

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“The Perplexity of Kinsfolk” by James Holgate

Submitted to Contest #79

Conflict and conquest. A life of atrocity and intermission. Orson stepped forth after his father fell to the hands of his foes, and took the rightful place of kingship, being the soul heir to the throne of the hollowed kingdom. A once greyscale palace stood before his very visage in the form of a glamorous kingdom, illuminated with the light of a thousand suns since the early modern period of England. Whilst most palaces lay above the ground on the elevated terra firma, the hollowed kingdom lay in sanctitude below the surface near enough to ...

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“The Spirit of the Father” by Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #79

The sound of the circular saw filled the room. The 32-year-old man stopped to enjoy the smell of the fresh sawdust and lumber. The father exuded good health with an athletic form and not an ounce overweight. On the floor beside the father, Sandy—a red-headed six-years-old—searched for something to go with his wooden blocks. What he found was a board mounted on legs. He placed it beside his blocks. With a mallet, he pounded the circular block in the round hole and the square block in the square hole. Daddy, pleased at what he considered a ...

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“Blood, Water, and Property Rights” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #79

To My Dearest Great-Great-Great Granny Fanny, Over these past five days, I have greatly enjoyed living in your old house while I recuperated from my recent separation. Though the plumbing is shoddy and the walls are thin, it is a beautiful piece of architecture, and something about residing in a home that has been in my family for generations has inspired me to explore all the branches and twigs of my family tree. So thank you. From the depths of my gratitude, I grant you my appreciation for welcoming me in with all the signs of your.....

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“Time Heals” by Keren Cardoza

Submitted to Contest #79

I sat anxiously in my bedroom, every passing ring making me feel worse.It’s no use I sighed, then finally she answered: “Hello”? She greeted, sounding detached, distant. I swallowed: “Hi”. I smiled: “Amy”? She asked stunned. “How did you get this number”? “Sorry, it was on your Facebook page, I didn’t wanna invade your privacy, it’s just been so long you know”? I rambled, probably seeming pathetic but I didn’t care. She sighed: “I keep forgetting to change my privacy settings”. “Or remove my number altogether”. “I know it’s been ages, b...

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“First Skin” by Linda Jenny Lambert

Submitted to Contest #79

I’ve found the words. The most difficult part is done. I place the letter on the mantelpiece between my late husband’s pocket watch and the rings that sealed our wedding vows over two decades ago. Bjorn was a good man. I miss him. One more time, I allow myself to stand on the threshold and peek into Sari’s bedroom. I watch my daughter sleep like I’ve done for the past twenty-one years. The familiar sense of contentment that settles in my gut is laced with queasy longing. Homesickness is no stranger to my heart. Soon, that homesickne...

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“Death Bed Scene” by Kenneth Goldman

Submitted to Contest #79

Kenneth C. Goldman One-Time/Reprint Rights 1700 Oakwood Terrace, Apt. 3-G ©2018, Ken Goldman Narberth, PA 19072 Approx. 2147 words 215-208-6384 e-mail : KGOL99192...

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“The Re-Opening Before the Re-Opening” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #79

We will be delighted to see you at the Trafalgar Hotel for the Re-Opening before the Re-Opening. It had been done the old fashioned way, through the post, and with little cards bigger than a credit card but smaller than a postcard, that pointed to them being specially made. There were little blue and gold chevrons at the corner, and an artist’s impression of the Hotel. But there was also a little personal note, in Sally’s distinctive handwriting. Somehow you could never quite decide whether it looked untidy but was really neat, or the other ...

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“The Bond” by Ayesha Hassan

Submitted to Contest #79

The Bond“You can come and see your mother”, the doctor said.I went in and saw my mother sinking fast, at the deaths’ door .Her eyes were closed, she opened it twice, looked at me, vague and pale. She didn’t &nbsp...

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“Godesses” by Kerensa Rybak

Submitted to Contest #79

She wasn't always this way, and she has to remind herself of this fact each day as she pushes down her panic. It's become an unfamiliar existence; the mundane small lifeboats scattered in the tumult, made up of routine and normalcy, are now few and far between, and the sense of drowning is as tangible as the pills she takes to block out the day. He is always downstairs, and the rage and wallowing engulf the rooms of her beautiful house, she can feel it creeping up the stairs, and even when she is playing with her children, she is suppressin...

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“The Strapping Lass ” by Brianna Spencer

Submitted to Contest #79

Strapping Lass There once was a pirate who was everything a captain should be. He was brave and he was fierce; feared more than any other commander. He and his crew could defeat rivaling ships without even breaking a sweat, and the smile of the captain was always left seared in the hearts of the rare survivors. He dominated the seas and redefined what it meant to feel afraid. Those who had the misfortune of crossing paths with the dreaded pirate and his crew would jump into the sea to escape the fate that awaited them aboard the Strapping La...

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“Pure Cinema” by Aimee P

Submitted to Contest #79

I lost my city in the light of day,Thick smoke, helicopter blades,Heaven and earth never moved so fast,you'll never know the fear your mama has... The city was coming down before our very eyes. There were about five of us running together, all keeping each other propelled forward by the backs of our jackets. I had Franchesca and Robbie’s jacket collars gripped tightly in my hands, my sweating palms making me dig my nails into the fabric out of fear that they would slip through my fingers. Nicol and Andre had their own grip on me, one ha...

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$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 05, 2021 EST

Won by Reha A 🏆

Title: Puzzle Pieces

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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