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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

“Ever So Changing Sky” by Beatrice Wingenbach

Submitted to Contest #79

Time slips away faster than most people expect. Why only a couple minutes ago you were young and in your twenties exploring life to the limit. The breeze, light and airy, stroking the sides of your skin. Birds whistling tunes on key while flying high above, mirroring how you feel. The store clerks have smiles on their faces, ready to serve you on a whim. But, most importantly, the way the world was filled with the most radiant and perpetual color. The reds were strong and bright, while the blues were deep and understanding.But time will slow...

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“THE OTHER SIDE OF AVA” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #79

In the early hours of the morning, the telephone bell was shrill. Thinking it was my husband I rushed out the bathroom, towel drying my hair as I went. So confident was I of the likely caller, I answered: “Hi, Sweetheart.” but did not get the response I was used to. The silence was deafening then the voice I heard was slow and shaky. “Ann?!” I caught my breath “it’s your Mummy. Can we talk?” “No.” it sounded cruel but it was my answer. What is more, an answer that John and I agreed I would use should this scenario occur. ...

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“"The Interview"” by Eunice Daniel

Submitted to Contest #79

"This is Jane Marker, reporting from PEN news live. We have with us, the current Olympics long jumper superstar, Jack Owel, " she exclaimed. "Thank you so much for this opportunity, " I smiled at her. "Your fans have been insisting on knowing some details in your life, so could you tell us a little about yourself?" "Uhmm, as you all know, my name is Jack Owel. I am the only child of Dr. Owel, the well known psychologist. Well, I was a foster kid before my dad took me in. My biological dad died when I was three years old, leaving ...

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“I saw deer” by Adelina Stoyanova

Submitted to Contest #79

Ten minutes to five. The ultimate dead hour; the only people who would enter the bar now would be garden-variety deadbeats, old ladies of the pearl-and-silk persuasion meeting for a coffee or some of the locals, who were drinking here for free. I was hoping for neither. Right now I was pinned down by the heavy hands of the wall clock, paralysed by the distilled silence spilling out of the crystal glasses arranged in neat pyramids; but in merely two hours I would be free.I would go outside. I would look at the dying sky. I would light a cigar...

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“Monsoon Season” by Yitazba Largo-Anderson

Submitted to Contest #79

Laurie Lonewolf rubs her thumb over a text message she received from a stranger only hours before. It reads, “Hi Laurie. You probably don’t remember me, but this is your dad. Can we meet?” This is your dad. Laurie’s fingers grew numb at the words. What? Dad? Why now? Why not say father? Wouldn’t that be more appropriate considering ‘dads’ stick around? But something in Laurie’s chest broke free, and she couldn’t help but touch a color she hadn’t felt since childhood. It was hope. “Don’t expect anything,” Laurie’s best fr...

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“Mirror, mirror on the wall” by NK Hatendi

Submitted to Contest #79

Kundai and Chipo routinely drove in and out of their gated compound in their affluent suburb. Their residence association had built a wire cage on the main road to house their rubbish bags for the municipality refuse collection. The refuse company had become increasingly erratic; whether they forgot to collect, or their vehicles had broken down, or they had no fuel, no-one knew. On those non-collection days, feral dogs would rip open the black rubbish bags as they foraged, leaving the decomposing waste scattered in the street. In the su...

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“Maudlin” by Agnes Sharan

Submitted to Contest #79

content warning: abuse, suicide I looked at the light from the lamp shine clearly on the counter top, and sighed in relief. I should’ve known better than to start a bar, but despite knowing all the messy nights I’ve dealt with in them, I did it anyway. I’ve always waved it off, hoping not to let that past hold me back. Last night’s brawl though was something even my bouncers and I couldn’t have anticipated. I looked around at the dim lit space, sunlight trickling through the transparent door. When dawn creeps on th...

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“Bridged Gap” by David Taylor

Submitted to Contest #79

An elderly Navajo man stepped out of his black Lincoln. He reached for a worn wooden cane and slammed the door shut. He was invited by his son to come to his house for a chat. They hadn't seen each other since he left for the Marines. The old man inched his way toward a sun yellow Spanish colonial house at the end of the block, the one with a cherry red 1970 Dodge Challenger and the flagpole on the lawn, adorned with the Stars and Stripes at the top, the New Mexico state flag below that and the US Marine Corps flag below that one. Inch by in...

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“A Death In The Family” by Elle Weaver

Submitted to Contest #79

I was halfway through junior year when I made the decision to drop out of high school. I was just at the cusp of my 17th birthday, so I kept my mouth closed, waited to get my plan together. I knew that if I came home and told them I was dropping out, I’d need to have another plan, even if that included leaving their lives forever. In fact, it would be easier to just leave town and not look back than it would be to tell them that I had given up on schooling. I planned to get my GED, but I knew that wouldn’t be enough. I surr...

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“The Mango Thieves” by Aisha Khan

Submitted to Contest #79

“Mangoes are to us what Chocolate is to the Belgians!” Hashir announced to whoever would listen. And everyone present in the room did listen, save for the children who were engaged in playtime in the other half of the room. “I’m sure the Belgians aren’t the only ones who enjoy chocolate!” his cousin retorted in response. “It’s not a fair argument” his uncle spoke, “They can enjoy chocolate any time they want and we have to wait a whole year.” Everybody laughed in a synchronized agreement. The children continued to play and shout, their soun...

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“Don't you know she's gone?” by Carter Fine

Submitted to Contest #79

Don't you know she's gone? "Excuse me? I'm here to find a Trissa Keita?" The voice startled Isla Pérez out of her thoughts. She had been studying for her history test tomorrow- stupid America, why must you fight so much?!?- and wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. The person who had spoken to her was a middle-aged man with an uncomfortable look on his face. Isla wasn't sure why. They were in a library, after all. Who could dislike being there? "That depends. Who the heck are you and what do you want with Tris?" Isla questioned. The...

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“A Rom-Com with Father” by Sahar Erin Rahman

Submitted to Contest #79

Oh crap! As soon as I opened the door to my bedroom, the huge pile of mess on the bed stared right back at me. It was my turn to clean today and God knows why the room's always messy when it's my turn...or maybe not- maybe I realize it's in a jumble when I have to arrange it; otherwise even a tornado-struck room would seem easy to work on if it was Rachel's turn. I felt like rushing back to the restaurant- the same place I'd been trying to run away from since the past three years; but now even the job of getting scolded for being a minute la...

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“How to Ruin Someone's Event” by Dozzy Nika

Submitted to Contest #79

It was only the roof of Princess Alexandria Auditorium (PAA) that was seen from a distance at sunset. Students had fully occupied the seats in the canopies outside the auditorium, some argued over their standing-spaces, those that were sitting now complained that they wouldn’t get any view of what would be projected later; consequently, they stood when the programme commenced. Some jostled in the crowd, in front of the auditorium to get a view of the programme of events through the windows, stood firm at their spots for hours till the progra...

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“Devil in Disguise:” by Grayson Killian

Submitted to Contest #79

Footsteps scuffing the side walk. Sounds of people yelling, laughing, having the time of their life. Cars passing by, machines going off everywhere, people dancing from the music on the streets. The smell of delicious food. A breeze goes by causing a woman to have a chill. The woman walking down the street to a small cafe that she fell in love with the moment she went in. She pulls open the door to the cafe to be engulfed with the smell of baked bread and coffee. "Hello dear, you have a visitor at you...

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“The Last Meeting” by Ethan Lash

Submitted to Contest #79

Gabe wasn’t surprised to find his mother standing in his apartment. Even though it had been almost four years since they last spoke, he had gotten a feeling that she would be waiting for him as he started up the stairs. He got feelings about things sometimes like knowing a package would be waiting at home while he was still at work or that the train would run late on his way to the station. Once he had a feeling the elevator would stall and sure enough the thing had gotten stuck between the second and third floor trapping his neighbor Mrs. M...

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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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