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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#9: Little Women

On September 30th, 1868, the first volume of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was published. This December, 151 years later, the eighth(!) film adaptation of Little Women will be released in theatres. Suffice it to say, this book has stood the test of time and remains a favorite amongst readers.

In honor of Alcott's novel, this week's writing prompts are all themes and elements pulled from her seminal family drama. And don't worry if you haven't read the book or aren't too familiar with the March family — these themes are all universal!

This week's prompts

Write a story in which societal rituals and expectations play a key role.

Fiction – 18 stories

Write a story that focuses on the relationship between siblings.

Middle School – 57 stories

Write a story about someone whose lifestyle has changed and is learning to adjust to new circumstances.

High School – 34 stories

Write a story that uses flowers as a symbol.

Spring – 32 stories

Write a story about unrequited love.

Romance – 60 stories

Stories

“Who Controls the Past Controls the Future” by Tony Hall

Submitted to Contest #9

Friday, 6 Sep 2019 It was late when I parked my old BMW into the driveway. The house was as cold as it was dark. I took all the mail addressed to me, Dr. Maurice Darnell, and placed them on the coffee table. At the open bar, I fixed myself a tall glass of Bacardi and Coke on the rocks. From the entertainment center, I retrieved a homemade VHS tape and inserted it into the VCR. With drink in hand, I slumped onto the sofa, using the remote control to switch on the TV, and pushed PLAY for the VCR. ...

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“Conquering the Mountain.” by Leah Pryor

Submitted to Contest #9

The only sound Mitchell could hear was the crunching that the newly fallen snow and the hard ice made under his ski boots. The air was thin up here and it took him really focusing on getting a deep breath to fill his lungs. He had no idea that it would be so hard to breath! But the view from way up here was worth the effort. He had never in his whole life seen such.. such serene beauty. There was no hustle and bustle way up here. It was as if he had left earth and all the people behind. Mitchell Pokerjack was a young man who had m...

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“Fleurs Chanceuses” by Ragan Temple

Submitted to Contest #9

Feelings are a strange thing. I wonder who it was that gave the name love to these feelings. Love is an evil thing really --the Devil’s work. This was my motto for the first 18 years of my life. I lived by it. It was a mantra that, like the dust culminated at the bottom of a dustpan, would eventually be thrown out the back door. It was let go and it took to the wind. All of the walls I’d spent so many years building up with brick and mortar had crumbled down into a fine powder-- an ancient dust. Something like the dust on top of books in old...

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“Sugar and Flower substances” by Carolyn Bayne

Submitted to Contest #9

It was the middle of spring on the outskirts of Romania, 1839. Everything was prepared, for the all important proposal. Gemmy, wanted this for so long, that she could not help repeating her order for the meal for two. The table was set, napkins neatly folded on either side, a jug of water in the centre of the table.The room was dimly lit with an old fashioned oil lamp; it was felt it gave an authentic feel, and perched on the stove was brewing up a concoction of the finest coffee imported from the Middle East. It was...

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“DADDY” by James Offenha

Submitted to Contest #9

Daddy By James Offenhartz A red rose. Well, I got the red rose and the beast got me. However, although I am an inventor, when I was young, I used to hunt with my daddy and when I hunted, I always aimed between the eyes of the beasts. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring a gun with me today. But, I could always tell what the animal was going to do by looking into its eyes. If the eyes were angry, it would try to attack me. If it’s eyes were scared, it would try to run. The same thing is true in poker, nine times ...

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“You Bring Me Flowers” by Erin Pettit

Submitted to Contest #9

“Special delivery for you!”The secretary handed Meghan a bouquet of red roses. The cellophane crinkled, sending shock-waves across the office. Heads popped up over cubicles, searching for the lucky girl. Meghan found herself surrounded by a flock of envious women.“Thanks,” Meghan said, throwing the bouquet on her desk. The secretary gave her a disdainful look and walked away.“At least someone’s boyfriend remembered Valentine’s Day,” Brenda said. “Ugh, I hate being single,” Jane pouted from over the top of Meghan’s cubicle.“These days I’m luc...

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“The Florist's Flower. ” by Isabella Cerqueira

Submitted to Contest #9

A rose is beautiful until its once vibrant petals reddened with passion wither to a gruesome black grave jagged to its once graceful symmetry taking the attention to the nearby blue celosia just blossoming in the chilly months of Fall. No matter how hard I try to water the neglected flower, nothing could save its sinking bud. Not even the rising sun promising another morning of light. Turning the sign to hang the start of another day, it took just a second to adjust the soft tulips just right in its scenic entrance hoping its bea...

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“GROWING ROSES, GROWING ME” by Jane Kagendo

Submitted to Contest #9

The roses had been the first thing to go, I thought as I walked by a sidewalk florist. They used to be rich, red, loving roses. And they were regular too. He brought me roses every weekend; Friday to be precise. It had become a beautiful ritual. The roses had ushered in our weekends.When his attention and interest had begun to wane and wander, its the roses that had been the first to go. Then it was his things, one by one, until finally, one day he had cleared out all his things from my flat and politely dropped mine off in a box on my doors...

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“They Always Ask Me What My Tattoo Means” by Maria Zhuravleva

Submitted to Contest #9

They always ask me what my tattoo means. I never tell. That's the beauty of a secret, the mystery, the twist of the unknown. It makes us yearn even more to find out what deep knowledge it contains. Gossip? A secret affair? A secret within a secret so dark no one will ever know about it? Even I, myself don't know what it means. For my people, flowers are the most important living creatures in the universe. These flowers are unlike anything you have ever seen. Colors that are indescribable to the simple human brain. The beauty-unsee...

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“The Roses” by Cathryn Thompson

Submitted to Contest #9

Truthfully, my day couldn’t get any worse. My boss had fired me. My brother had destroyed my apartment. My landlord had called me to scream at me and I was probably out of an apartment. Thunder shattered the sky. Oh, well, it probably could get worse. Maybe I shouldn’t jinx myself. I bowed my head as the onslaught of sleet and rain unleashed it’s hell upon me. I tucked my hands deeper into my pockets and prayed that I made it to my stop without getting my bones wet.I was unsuccessful. I collided into a tinny figure and we both went...

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“Flowers at First Frost” by Scott Clarke

Submitted to Contest #9

“Flowers for sale. Flowers for sale.” When the sign hung overhead turned uneffective, she often turned to the teachings of her carnival barker of a father. ‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease’, he would say. Never much of a squeaker, her best efforts did little to bring in even a wandering glance from a passerby. Today’s yield of flowers was dismal now that the frost had begun making its way through the county. Summer would bring the Lords and Ladies -- dressed in their Sunday suits and dresses -- to the small town of the Flowerseller. They, ...

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“Reminisce in Sorrow” by Melida Tham

Submitted to Contest #9

I just woke up from my 3rd nap today, when I decide to look through the attic for any memories that I might still remember. As I walked up the stairs leading to the attic, I realized that I had forgotten to take my medication. Before continuing with my story, my name’s Athena Scott, named after the Greek Goddess because of a story that my parents told me. When I was 4, I cut open my Ken doll’s head and tried to fit Barbie in it because I was so obsessed with how Athena was born.I am 67 years old, and have been given around 2 weeks left becau...

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“Jacuranda Hill” by Carolyn Bayne

Submitted to Contest #9

It was a Saturday morning, the birds singing in the trees, as he walked tirelessly across the pasture, thinking of allsorts in his head. He just finished the last drag of his cigarette before returning back to the house to finish packing. It was the day they were moving, away from England and going abroad for the first time.His job took him to many places, sometimes, he hardly had the chance to spend time with his family. The lucky break came when the company he worked for, were relocating to the Caribbean. He ...

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“Homecoming” by Halie Ecker

Submitted to Contest #9

"We should get pictures!" I jumped up off of the ground and swiftly brushed off my dress."Again?" My best friend, Paisley, asked as I pulled her towards the photo booth."Please, just one more group picture?" I pleaded.We gathered our friends and we waited in line. As we waited, Paisley whispered, "Hey, I'll be right back, I'm going to check on Wilson."I rolled my eyes and winked. I hated Wilson, and she knew that. But he made her happy so I made an exception.I looked at my group of friends, buzzing with excitement. I smiled.For years, I drea...

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“Honestly, impossible!” by Lori C

Submitted to Contest #9

Bells, feathers, ribbons, a church. A beautiful dreamy girl walked in my direction. I could see her from the altar. Her red hair done like never before. A fair dress better than anyone she had ever worn. Due all the respect and my better judgment, she was stunning. Cold sweat covered my hands. In my stomach, thousands of butterflies sat free in every direction, like a teenager on the first date. I had a little conversation with Leila earlier. “Are your feet turning cold?”"Now, it’s not the moment. Someone nailed my feet on the altar.”“Don’t...

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$50

Prize money

201

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 04, 2019 EST

Won by Sofia Lago 🏆

Title: What Dead Songbirds Sing

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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