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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#93: Bringing the Party to You

For many people across the world, the beginning of May is a time for celebration. From May Day to Cinco de Mayo to Eid al-Fitr, these first few weeks of the month are a time for festivity and community. If you would usually be celebrating this week, I know it’s unlikely you’ve actually managed to gather people. So I thought I could use this week's prompts contest as a means to capture the spirit of good times that will hopefully be back with us before we can say “¡salud!”.

With this week’s prompts, I encourage you to take your readers on a festive jaunt. Whether your protagonist is the organizer, the reluctant party-goer, or the mischief maker, they’ll surely find a place among these prompts — think colorful parades, delicious food, dancing, and battle re-enactments, the bigger, the better! Of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be all festive fun — every party has its winners and losers, or so they say — which is why I’ve thrown in some prompts that could take a darker turn as well. Happy writing (and celebrating)!

🥇 Winner

“What’s Left” by Claire Lindsey

🏆 Winner of Contest #93

I wrap my fingers tightly around the clinging plastic of the trash bag, pull it open as wide as it’ll go, and watch him dump the remnants of our happiness into it.His large arms twist and flex unnecessarily as he shovels extra hors d'oeuvres and scraps of entree into the bag. His upper lip is a thin white line, stretched tight below frowning eyes. The faint and smoky gleam of the first stars illuminates our dining room. The windows are open to the still air, mingling the scent of grass and dew with the smell of recently extinguished can...

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Adieu” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #93

I find out, quite early, that scrubbing spilled wine off the carpet is a waste of time. I find this out not by myself but from the mouth of Olive. She's still talking, carefully putting away the disposable cups and plates in a bag."They don't know what it feels like," she says. She's been repeating the same line whenever her hands touch a cup or a leftover pizza. It's somehow become an anthem for cleaning and I have since come to appreciate the way her lips signal words to come out, to tear the silence away.I am kneeling on the carpet now, t...

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“Gender Reveal” by Joshua G. J. Insole

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #93

CW: Pregnancy and Gore###Rosemary wouldn’t survive to see the birth of her child, and that might be for the best.She didn’t even live long enough to register that something had gone wrong. The others — covered in bits of bone and flesh — would endure the real terror of that day’s events. She got as far as a furrowed brow and a puzzled smile, and then… gone. Existence one moment, utter annihilation the next. At least she didn’t have to endure the agony of physical pain or emotional torment. Rose didn’t have the time.The furled-up banner — rea...

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“The Party's Over” by Deborah Snyder

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #93

Content warning: gaslighting, domestic violence, sexual abuse of a child I am standing in my mother’s kitchen, sponging bits of turkey and mashed potatoes into the garbage disposal while Mom scrapes platters of leftovers into plastic bowls and Sis clears the table. Crowd noises and referees’ whistles emanate from the TV in the living room where the men rub their taut bellies and boast about the merits of their latest gadgets. Through the window, I watch the kids playing catch with the dogs and, for a moment, everything seems picture perfect....

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This week's prompts

Write a story about a character who gets lost at a carnival or festival.

Horror – 189 stories

Set your story at a party that has gone horribly wrong.

Horror – 196 stories

Write about a reluctant party-goer who ends up being the star of the show.

Middle School – 106 stories

Write your story about two characters tidying up after a party.

Fluff – 148 stories

Write a story about a character who’s nervous to attend a party - their first in a long time.

Adults – 156 stories

Stories

“What’s Left” by Claire Lindsey

🏆 Winner of Contest #93

I wrap my fingers tightly around the clinging plastic of the trash bag, pull it open as wide as it’ll go, and watch him dump the remnants of our happiness into it.His large arms twist and flex unnecessarily as he shovels extra hors d'oeuvres and scraps of entree into the bag. His upper lip is a thin white line, stretched tight below frowning eyes. The faint and smoky gleam of the first stars illuminates our dining room. The windows are open to the still air, mingling the scent of grass and dew with the smell of recently extinguished can...

279 comments 279

Read story

“Adieu” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #93

I find out, quite early, that scrubbing spilled wine off the carpet is a waste of time. I find this out not by myself but from the mouth of Olive. She's still talking, carefully putting away the disposable cups and plates in a bag."They don't know what it feels like," she says. She's been repeating the same line whenever her hands touch a cup or a leftover pizza. It's somehow become an anthem for cleaning and I have since come to appreciate the way her lips signal words to come out, to tear the silence away.I am kneeling on the carpet now, t...

Read story

“Take the Cannoli ” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #93

“Carmine, you don’t have to help,” Rosemarie says. “You’ve done enough.”“Where’s all the ladies from the Women’s Guild? Widows aren’t supposed to clean up after their own husbands’ funerals. Mannaggia!” Carmine shakes his head, shoving a final piece of coppia ferrarese into his mouth. “There’s been three funerals this week already. What’s one more?” she replies, tossing a handful of paper plates, greasy with olive oil from Linda Petrucci’s second-rate meat and ricotta cannelloni. Typical of Linda to use cheap ground beef when a ground p...

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“A Woman of Loose Morals” by Kanika G

Submitted to Contest #93

Trigger warning: Violence, languageThis story is inspired by true events.Neha covered her head with the dupatta of her salwar-kameez and wrapped it across her shoulder. She put on the oversized black sunglasses borrowed from her roommate Kavya, who — along with the rest of the second-year students of Kasturba Medical College — was attending the first lecture of the day. Dr. Swamy was one of the lenient professors and students often got away with marking proxy attendance for their friends. As Neha checked the pen drive in her pocket for the t...

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“Unrequited” by Writer Maniac

Submitted to Contest #93

Is it possible to get drunk, high or both by just smelling or looking at the substances that cause it? Was it necessary to consume said substances to feel that pleasure run through your veins?I swirl the last few drops of the brown liquid around and around, the red cup the customary utensil to be used for the occasion.“Relax Joyce, the beer is not going to kill you.”I jump, the beer rising up from the cup and falling back inside with a slight splash. I turn around to see Lillian, and I can feel my stomach clenching inside, my shoulders strai...

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“Clean up, Clean up, Everybody Everywhere!” by 𝔹𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒 𝕁𝕒𝕕𝕖

Submitted to Contest #93

The pretzels and popcorn were spilled onto the floor and stomped into the, what once was pristine, rug. Everleigh bent over and picked up red Solo cups and put them into her black trash bag. “Was it a bad idea? Y’know, having a party while Mom and Dad aren’t here?” Everleigh asked. Everleigh and I were twins, fourteen years old, both of us. We’d never gone to a party or thrown one. When Mom and Dad left for Hawaii this morning, we decided it would be a great idea to throw a party. Luckily they wouldn’t be home for a few days, so we defini...

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“Uninspired” by TJ Squared

Submitted to Contest #93

You sit at the wooden desk that you built yourself. Your blank google doc stares at you, ever so intimidating. You glance at the clock, which is your first mistake. It is already four o’clock. Where did that hour go?You sigh to yourself.You have the idea to google writing prompts. Apparently, that’s not what you are supposed to do during writer’s block. It feels like something inside of you was trying to escape, like a caged zoo animal wanting freedom. But no matter how much it roared and screamed and shaked the cage, it could not get out. Y...

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“Daughter (The Locket: Part Two)” by Sasini Athapaththu

Submitted to Contest #93

Emily looked around her; she didn't know where she was; the only companion she had was darkness. She cautiously took few steps forward and a distant crying made her stop. She listened; the crying was becoming louder as if it was coming closer (or she was going nearer) and eventually grew into a deafening scream. She cupped her hands on her ears and closed her eyes (not like closing eyes would lower the noise, but somehow it felt better).Realizing that the noise stopped, she slowly removed her hands from her ears ready to close them back agai...

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“First Step Back into the Trenches” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #93

“Tonight?”“Yes, it’s going to be a small get together, a potluck!” Vanessa explained as she danced around the kitchen, grabbing at random bags of ingredients. “I’m making an pie, you can start by peeling those apples.” She handed Zyra a peeler, not leaving any time for a ‘but.’“How many people is small?” Zyra asked after she washed up and started working on mauling a pile of granny smith apples. Zyra didn’t trust that their definition of small was the same, granted that she hadn’t had much social exposure since before her explosive brea...

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“Sunrise” by Nainika Gupta

Submitted to Contest #93

I can’t help it. It was something I was born with. Not something I could have controlled. But they say I only have two weeks to live. It was benign before. Now it’s malevolent. Spreading across my cells like a tidal wave of death. Doomed to spread disease to whatever it touches. Mama always tells me I have a flair for the dramatics. I think that’s why I write. To get all these ideas out of my head so that the world can enjoy them. Before I’m gone. That’s another thing mama says.&nbs...

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“A party that changes a life” by Caroline Fonteno

Submitted to Contest #93

Someone knocked on Chloe's apartment door. She got up from the sofa where she had been watching the news while her pizza dinner cooked. She answered the door. “Hello.” She said. A young woman was at the door. She had blond hair and green eyes. “Hello, my friends and I are having a party and we were wondering if you wanted to come.” “Um well…” Chloe started. “Here is the invitation. Please write yes or no in the box below and send it back to this address.” The woman pointed to the address at the bottom of the paper. “Thank you...

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“Queen Of Mischief” by 𝔹𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕒 𝕁𝕒𝕕𝕖

Submitted to Contest #93

Ever since I was little, if I could just get my hands on paint or even toilet paper, I could make the most mischief of all. So, as it was the last day of school, I planned to make the most I could. BRING! The bell that signaled dismissal was so loud but not as loud as all the kids running out of school for Summer break. I could barely zip up my backpack in time to get out of the classroom with all the other kids. I tried to get into a single file line the teachers were trying to direct, but it was no use. I piled out of school with all the...

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“Yesterday is Today” by Nainika Gupta

Submitted to Contest #93

Where is the moment we needed the most?You kick up the leaves, and the magic is lostThey tell me your blue sky's faded to grayThey tell me your passion's gone awayAnd I don't need no carrying on….“Mallory, please shut that off,” I groaned. “now is not the time for that song,” “I mean, it kind of is,” she replied, sweeping broken glass into the trash can. You stand in the line just to hit a new lowYou're faking a smile with the coffee to goYou tell me your life's been way off lineYou're falling to pieces every timeAnd I don't need n...

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“Gender Reveal” by Joshua G. J. Insole

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #93

CW: Pregnancy and Gore###Rosemary wouldn’t survive to see the birth of her child, and that might be for the best.She didn’t even live long enough to register that something had gone wrong. The others — covered in bits of bone and flesh — would endure the real terror of that day’s events. She got as far as a furrowed brow and a puzzled smile, and then… gone. Existence one moment, utter annihilation the next. At least she didn’t have to endure the agony of physical pain or emotional torment. Rose didn’t have the time.The furled-up banner — rea...

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“Blankets” by W.W. Skybelle (Inactive)

Submitted to Contest #93

TW: Mentions of death and self-harm.*~*A lot of people seemed to have deep and philosophical ways to understand others.Me? I thought that everyone always had a blanket on them.Like someone might have a blanket of nervousness and excitement around them before the first day of school.What blanket did I have on?Sometimes, in the winter, on the most chilly days, multiple blankets are piled on top of someone until they can barely count how many there are. They’ll fall asleep eventually, burying themselves underneath all of the layers.My blankets ...

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$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 14, 2021 EST

Won by Claire Lindsey 🏆

Title: What’s Left

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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