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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)!

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

“Something Different” by Nainika Gupta

Submitted to Contest #93

“Do you think it's...me?” I asked, twisting in front of the mirror to smooth down my dress. I caught Helen’s eye roll. “Honey, you're drop dead gorgeous,” she said, crossing her arms. She was wearing a light periwinkle dress that went to her knees and knee-high lace-up boots. I was wearing a slitted blue dress that fell to my ankles and silver sandals. “Yeah...but-” I started, but Helen handed me a silver mask, effectively silencing my weak protests. “You haven’t been to a club since Will died. I think he’d want you to have...

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“Redemption ” by Beth Jackson

Submitted to Contest #93

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Pete said, leaning on the bathroom door and picking at his nails. “Everyone would understand if you gave it a miss.” Claire perched in front of the mirror, scrutinising her make up. “My bloody lipstick’s bled. Doesn’t that only happen to old people?” “Just blot it with a tissue. You look fine.” Pete crossed the bathroom and put his hands on Claire’s shoulders. His hands felt warm and strong. She reached for a tissue, but Joe’s toiletries still sat on the vanity. “Can you get me one?” Pete’...

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“Lost and Found” by Charli Britton

Submitted to Contest #93

Something about this morning is different. I can't quite place it.I push myself up from the damp forest floor and brush off the twigs and dirt that had stuck to me overnight.I'm used to this whole sleeping outside thing, and I hate that.The crisp, early morning air kisses my cheeks and I breath in deeply. But the fresh scent of pine needles is rudely interrupted by the sour smell of body odor.I groan as I furiously comb out the long, straight orange tangles from my hair.Somehow, I was going to have to find a place to wash up soon.There was a...

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“Marmee” by Philia S

Submitted to Contest #93

“Like a bird, she wakes up,Early in the morn,When the Sun reaches with it rays,To caress her gentle face.She never grumbles,She never complains,Of how her back aches and pains,She finds her way in people’s hearts,Like, water making its way through cracks and crevices.In the rocksShe will help you when you’re sad,And celebrate when you’re happy,She will be there when you need her.You might have guessed who she is,Cause there is only one,Like her in the whole world.She is her and,Her is she,Just kidding, she’s Marmee!!” Jane bowed, and thanked...

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“Upstairs” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #93

Whoever heard of a garden party being held at night, thought Rosie, or at any rate whoever had heard of it being CALLED a garden party? And it was dark, too. It was late September now, and they had waited until nearly nine o’clock for it to start. Well, come to think of it, she knew who would think of such a thing, knew perfectly well. Edwina and Henry, for their engagement party. Rosie could still remember a teacher she’d once had, who had a way of letting pupils down gently when he was sure they’d done their best, but a piece of work or a ...

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“The Secret King” by Kathleen Doidge

Submitted to Contest #93

Bone dice dinged against my dinner plate. They teetered around the edge of the porcelain, falling silent while the room grew rowdy. Shallow chasms stared up at me. My head cocked to the side, a smile crossing my lips. Two ones, how fitting. The rainbow jester flounced up to the head table, his painted mouth curving up. “Our mute prince has rolled snake eyes.” he wiggled fingers in front of his face in a pathetic serpent tongue. “Perhaps hisss luck is looking up.”The lady at my side giggled behind a delicate glove. Our colorful fool grin...

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“When The Carnival Is Not” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #93

Cold raindrops propelled by the wind strike like nails to my face. Who in their right mind would visit the carnival with the wind howling its contempt at their existence. And it is in my right mind that I am not sure. But here I am, shivering, muddy, and wet, trying to figure out how I came to be here. The rain is prominent, but the sleet fights to make its presence known. A carnival. What kind of carnival is this? It flickers between every spike of rain⎯every blink of the eye; it lights up the night sky then disappears into darkness...

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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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“The Partygoers” by David G.

Submitted to Contest #93

The empty Pinot and Cabernet bottles clanked discordantly against the Formica countertop. He’d set them down harder than intended. She looked up from the pile of dirty dishes, startled. Professor Nick Garrett smiled at her sheepishly.“Must have been a good party,” he said to the younger woman standing at the sink next to the pile of chipped porcelain plates and soup bowls and wine glasses with lipstick stains around the edges. He took an unsteady step backwards and braced himself against the wall opposite the sink. “You don’t need to do that...

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“Wonderful Company” by Jasey Lovegood

Submitted to Contest #93

Wonderful CompanyIt’s 9 pm, and I’m ready to cry. My best friend, Christopher, has decided that the two of us should go to the fabulous party a few blocks away. Despite my protests, Chris says social interaction is healthy for me, even if it’s once in a while. Even my mother agrees, saying, ‘Go on, lass. Parties are fun if you behave correctly. No drinking and your curfew is quarter to twelve, alright?’ Which means I’m trapped into going.Christopher jumps up and down with excitement, shaking my shoulders as we approach Lara Tian’s house.“Thi...

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“Don't trust party food” by Kathleen `Woods

Submitted to Contest #93

She never trusted mayonnaise, especially in Party Food. She was right to distrust the emulsification as while her impromptu party friends nursed other injuries, the boy she liked was puking into a bucket.Sophia was just a girl, standing in an emergency room waiting to be seen. It had been the worst party she’d ever had the displeasure of attending.And she was ready to call a lawyer.Being a sensible person, Sophia wanted to get her story straight.She couldn’t tell where she’d started really, as she walked back from that moment.She couldn...

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“Colors” by Monica June

Submitted to Contest #93

I’ve always loved when the festival came to town. Ever since I was a girl, Mother and Father would let Nanny take me for just one day, and it’s always the best day of the year. There’s something mystical about it. The whole scene is bright and exciting during the day and at night, the flickering candles and lanterns become hazy- almost dreamlike- against the dark of the sky. The festival has always felt like a dreamy light blue- which is why I chose that color dress to wear tonight. Every year, I get to the fairgrounds as early...

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“House with no mirrors” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #93

“Mother?”She looks up at me from the strawberries. We’re in the garden, which is a large room with long rows of plants. The trees are in the back, against the wall. The walls are gray, and there is a bright, glowing sphere Mother created in the middle of the ceiling, which she said helps the plants grow.We're picking fruit right now. I’m supposed to be picking the grapes off the vines, but I’ve been too caught up thinking.Mother has long black hair and a smooth, light skin. She is beautiful, and assures me I am as well. But I wouldn’t know. ...

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“Circa 1992” by Kristine Bottone

Submitted to Contest #93

Circa 1992 Cassidy found herself sitting on a couch at a house party somewhere on Staten Island. The room was filled with cheap cannabis, even cheaper furniture and cigarette smoke. Sandwiched between two half-baked stoners, her mood began to spiral as the clock ticked. She didn’t want to be there. This wasn’t how she wanted to spend her night. But when you’re the best friend of a chick who’s fucking a drug dealer, compromises are inevitable. Michaela and Cassidy met Tommy at a club. They were looking for their regular drug dealer, but he ...

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“Little Annie” by Sachi Shah

Submitted to Contest #93

It was a peaceful day in the house. A small wispy figure drifted aimlessly through the rooms, basking in the soft moonlight that peeked through the gaps in the curtains.She sighed softly, reminiscing of days gone by.Once upon a time she had been little Annie – a fearless creature that jumped in muddy puddles without a care in the world.All was well, until the Carnival arrived.The dazzling lights; the cloying scents; the heat of the crowd; the screams from the rides.One moment Granny was there, the next she was gone.Annie stumbled through the...

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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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