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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#94: Stubborn as a Bull

Those who dabble in astrology may know that we’re nearing the end of Taurus season — and that one of the “typical” Taurus traits is stubbornness. I’m only a casual fan of horoscopes, but I will say I’ve met a few stubborn Tauruses in my time; that said, I’m pretty sure that’s because most human beings are stubborn, not because it’s intrinsic to those born in late April and May.

Still, Taurus season is a great excuse to delve into this fascinating character trait! Stubbornness, tenacity, perseverance, or stupidity: whatever you call it, this week’s prompts are all about the refusal to give up or give in, and all that might mean for your characters.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone sticking to a course of action even when it’s clearly wrong.

Middle School – 182 stories

Start your story with someone accepting a dare.

Middle School – 185 stories

Write a story about two people who need each other, but are too stubborn to admit it.

Teens – 164 stories

End your story with someone finally conceding to another’s point of view.

Middle School – 97 stories

Write a story in which a character justifies an argument with: “Because I said so.”

Middle School – 97 stories

Stories

“Im/mortal Enemy” by S. Closson

Submitted to Contest #94

“He’s not going to take that shot, no way. That would be his ninth double,” Marcus says, looking cross.“The man can do it, I’m telling you,” Jay replies, “Darren’s a lightweight compared to him.”“I’m willing to bet 'em fifty bones he won’t.” “Are you that desperate to lose your money? You do know who he is, right? If not, you better recognize. Tommy Chicago ain't no chump,” Jay says before leaning back against his chair, a sneer forming along his rat-like face. “I could give a rat’s ass who he is. And, for the record, he doesn’t lo...

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“The Money Plant” by Vrushali Date

Submitted to Contest #94

"It can't be true, it's not true," Meera heard herself saying. But, the noise around them grew louder. "He is guilty. Hang him to death," the violent mob screamed. Meera was shaking my shoulders enquiringly, asking dozens of questions. But, I could hear only the crowd and lost her voice to the chaos, or did I choose not to listen?Meera and I were an average couple who lived in the suburbs of Mumbai city. We were in our late forties, living together for fourteen years in a rented apartment in a high-rise tower in a plush society. She wor...

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“The Glory of Denial” by Ash W

Submitted to Contest #94

When something bad happens, there's a few ways you can deal with it. They're so common that they're listed as stages. To grief. They can come in any order, really. Who should say that you have to feel pain in the "right" order? There’s anger, an obvious one. How could you not blame the world for dealing you a crappy hand? Then there’s bargaining. I’ve never really understood this stage. I wasn’t sure even what it was supposed to be. I’ve always imagined that it was like comparing. Like if somebody else lost thei...

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“Gravel Road” by Chase .

Submitted to Contest #94

He looked down the dusty path ahead of him, a path he had been walking on for 10 years. Gravel Road was only 10 km long, and yet no one that had crossed ever returned. The reason for this mayhem, ‘The Brothers Right,’ The most stubborn twins on earth.From the day they had been born, the brothers had argued about the most pointless things: The name of an ant, how a goldfish had died, who had seen a building first. The twins would never come up with a solution to their problems, in fact they still would fight today if they weren't a 10 kilomet...

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“Moury Creek” by Ashley Hassan

Submitted to Contest #94

“Okay. I got something for you Clairy.” “Nessa- DON'T.” “Clairy, I dare you to take a dip in Moury Creek.” It was in that exact moment that every negative outcome had swarmed through Clairy like a wave. Her thoughts fought her like weapons, it was like battling lightning in her head or holding back hell fire. Clairy had been diagnosed with anxiety in the seventh grade, and her life had been chaotic ever since. “Don't listen to her, Clairy, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. You know Nessas just trying to get...

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“When love overcomes” by Syed Nasim Aejaz Ashk

Submitted to Contest #94

I am a lawyer by profession and my professional life demands me to face challenges, so I always try to meet the test. But once, something happened that I felt like I had won the case of my client but lost on the other hand. Yes, I still today felt that I lost. It was a case of divorce. A Quinquagenarian couple decided to go for divorce. I was from husband side. The judge was to consider the period of separation of elderly couple, this was difficult situation for both of us lawyers as the couple was insisting upon instant di...

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“Not again” by Scott Skinner

Submitted to Contest #94

We were in my BMW 5 series. Ashley was wearing a henley T-shirt that was missing its bottom half. It was sparkling white and wouldn’t have been long enough to cover my six-year-old’s belly. Even though I’d seen her stomach countless times before, it was all I could look at. It was tanned and smooth; freckle-less and hairless. It was the stomach of a young person in her prime that exercised and ate well. It was flat like you see on Instagram.My mom left me the BMW and $250,000 in her Last Will and Testament. She died from a brain aneurysm two...

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“The Untold Story of Jack and Jill” by Dhwani Jain

Submitted to Contest #94

"'Fine. Let's see who does it better. You, or me.''It is on.''You are so going down.''Oh yeah? Think you can beat me?''Oh I don't think so, I KNOW so.''Fine, we'll meet here, after 5 years and see who was day-dreaming and who was the real deal.''Sure.'That was five years ago. Today's the day they finally meet. Yes, this story is not about me, or you. It's about them. The Twins, or, as you all might remember, The Double Trouble. You all may recall, Jack and Jill, the only set of identical twins in the town, who adored each other and stood by ...

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“The Stubbornness ” by Opher 51 2022 REYES

Submitted to Contest #94

Some time ago there were two goats that, anxious to live in opportunity, left their particular rushes and went down the mountains, on various sides, to the edge of a waterway. By an unusual fortuitous event, the two goats ended up on various sides of the waterway, isolated by a tree trunk that was an extension over the width of the stream. The storage compartment was excessively tight and only each creature or individual could pass in turn. The two goats, taken a gander at one another, and as difficult and obstinate a...

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“Gone South” by Rennaya Writes

Submitted to Contest #94

It was another Wednesday night where Gabbie and her four friends gathered at Amari and Diane's shared apartment for their weekly hangouts, the five of them had been friends since freshman year and now they were juniors. The never-ending banter and consistent teasing made their time together enjoyable, they shared a strong bond, added to that was the occasional dares they gave to each other.“Guys!” Amari shouted over everyone, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “I just thought of the most amazing dare for our beloved Gabbie” she purred. Mi...

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“I don't need you” by Violetta Venezia

Submitted to Contest #94

*TW: Talk of Suicide* I walked towards the edge of the building. I wasn't going to do anything, I just wanted to visit the place where you tore my heart apart. I said I didn't want you. I said I don't need you. I lied. I had loved you. I just didn't know how to admit it. Amira "Good morning!" I said to my neighbor, Ms.Devonns. She looked back at me and smiled. I noticed that she had been gardening a lot lately. She had rows of beautiful flowers in her front yard, and delicious fruits that filled your mouth with a small taste of heaven...

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“The Hotel Dandridge” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #94

“What is all this fuss and bother about?” the owner of the demolition company complained. “It's just another big, old, ugly, worthless building. It's empty and not earning anything. A parking lot would at least bring in some money.”“We don't need to be a town of almost nothing but parking garages and parking lots, Mr. Young,” the mayor retorted. “Wasn't that the lesson that Seattle had to learn so painfully? Why must we repeat what they had to go through? We already know what their result was.”Mr. Young sighed. “And what, pray tell, was thei...

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“I Dare You” by Karoline Vandenberg

Submitted to Contest #94

It’s morning. I open my eyes and look around. Unsurprisingly, I don’t know where I am. These days, I never know where I am. I’m in a bed in a place that looks sterile and bland. It’s the most terrifying thing ever, to not remember. I try so hard to remember. I try every day, but every day it gets more and more difficult as I can feel the people I know I love but can’t remember and the person I used to be getting a little further out of my mind’s reach. Sometimes I have flashbacks so vivid I feel like I’m there. Sometimes it’s snippets and fe...

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“Because... Because” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #94

Because, because... two words that mean nothing when you hear them, but are heavy when you say them. They are used to slam doors shut and keep them that way, but the doors still shudder... "Mommy, I want to open the door. I want. Want to go play. I’m going to cry. No, whine. I need the door. To open. Let me be free. Open it. Now, if you can. Soon, if you can’t. I need you, but I need free, too. Love me." The child whines, and cries. "The door is locked, light of my life, my entire life, and you can’t go out to play. Play here, inside. Wh...

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“Wannabe” by Abigail Romick

Submitted to Contest #94

My feet dance from ledge to ledge as the sirens begin to wail.They don’t see me. They almost never do. When they are fortunate enough, they may catch sight of my maroon cloak, or the glint of my copper framed goggles as I disappear into the city below, prize in hand.Tonight will be no different.Package tucked under my left arm I raise my right wrist.1:Skip?2:Nearest root to Vontelo’s?1:Did someone become a psychic?2:Nah must be A.I. instinct.1:The same A.I. instinct that led us to Getlin’s last time the E.L.O.s caught a glimpse of us?2:That ...

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$50

Prize money

725

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 21, 2021 EST

Won by Caroline Greaser 🏆

Title: How to Cook Pasta

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.

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