Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Posted in Dialogue on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 58 stories

“Autumn leaves” by Vaishnavi Venu

Submitted to Contest #76

I trudge back home from work, my jeans that trail across the mud with each step I take, reminding me of a snail inching towards its destination, its burdening shell weighing on its back. No wonder snails are so... slow. And people, they make fun of it. The bicycle catches on a stray stone and I stumble to get it back on balance. “And this stupid old bike,” I mutter. Kicking at stones, scraping by alleyways, I finally reach home and leaning the bike on the seat I plop down and heave a great sigh, running my hands through my hair. I re...

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“Supermarket” by Lizzie Hur

Submitted to Contest #76

Rose shifted her basket from one hand to the other as the grocery line shuffled forward. Over the intermittent beeps and muffled chatter, a cheerful Christmas tune played faintly. She hummed along as she went over a list in her head one last time. Eggs, cinnamon, fried onion crisps….Absently, she flipped up the collar of her wool coat. Ever since she’d cut her hair short, her neck always felt so bare and cold. It was just one thing she’d have to get used to.As she approached the register, she arranged her items on the belt, all of them reque...

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“What An Odd Boy” by Beatriz Jenson

Submitted to Contest #76

The boy waits at the bus stop, checking his watch every two seconds, a part of him chipping away everytime a minute passes. He kicks at a little stone, smirking at how helpless it is, how it cannot run away, having no choice but to endure his painful kicks. He messes around with it a bit more, and finally, out of boredom, he crushes it with the heel of his shoe. More minutes pass. This time, the boy stomps on the already broken pieces of rock. Not because of boredom, but because of anger. He stomps and stomps until they are nothing but grain...

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“Broken Talks ” by Christian Hinrichsen

Submitted to Contest #76

Broken Talks FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) Glynco, GA The Class of 2008, begin their walk to their assigned classrooms. Mack McCauley, a Caucasian man with short lack and gray marine cropped hair wearing a dark polo shirt and khaki pants is joined by Robert “Badge” Mitchell a Caucasian man with short G-man cut brown hair and beard with justice blue eyes and glasses wears a white dress shirt and black plum necktie and khaki brown dress pants and walking with a cane and carrying an FBI PERT Kit escorts Mack to his assi...

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“Absolution” by George Davis

Submitted to Contest #76

Absolution—George Davis It seems to me, Charlie Bascomb could take a few lessons on listening to someone else for a change. He always has to get his opinion into every conversation. It is my considered opinion. Charlie is in love with Charlie. I’m forever forced to listen to Charlie spout off. He is a staunch Democrat. In his own words, he is a free-thinker. I’m not opposed to listening to him run off at the mouth about everything. However, I am opposed to the fact he doesn’t let me, or anyone else, have a co...

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“Ready? Set! Okay. ” by Breanna Barber

Submitted to Contest #76

“Just say it!” Leanna exclaims as she slams the refrigerator door shut. “Say what!?” Jake yells back as he runs down the stairs, still buttoning his short sleeved black cotton shirt. “Say it.” He finds her in the kitchen and folds his arms across his chest. He leans against the doorway to the kitchen, watching her hold on tightly to a carton of eggs. “What are you doing with those?” He asks as he stares more at the eggs than he does at her, which infuriates her even more. Leanna puts down the carton on the table, open...

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“You Would Need Ogre Milk” by Jarrel Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #76

Stephanie heard the distant sound of angry voices gradually growing. Worried, she walked into the kitchen to check on her husband. “So…” she began with a hint of precaution in her tone, “you seem to be really fond of that baby ogre, huh? I didn’t know you had time to buy it little baby clothes.” &nb...

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“The Game We Play” by K Lewis

Submitted to Contest #76

“So.” “So.” “This is the end then.” “Apparently so.” His fists clench and unclench as we look over the castle balcony at the armies preparing to fight. “Not sure I see the fuss, myself,” I say lightly. “Seems like a silly thing to get excited over.” Orvyn looks at me. His lips quirk at the familiar game; his hands freeze on unclench. “Yeah,” he says. “It’s not like red moons are rare or anything. What’s this one? Third in recorded history? It’s basically mundane now.” I smirk. “We could tell the diviners if we get a chance. Perhaps someone ...

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“Farewell” by Joy Andersen

Submitted to Contest #76

Sunlight filled the air around them, flowing smooth and soft like a song. All the greens and browns of the tree they were in were tinged with gold, as if, at least to their view, the whole world was bathed in warmth. The leaves around them bobbed happily at the mild whims of the wind, barely being nudged out of place before returning with a little swoop. It was that time in the early evening when the insects had come out, when the air was that perfect temperature, sliding smoothly between day and night. That time when inspiration come...

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“Complications” by Kaitlyn Demetro

Submitted to Contest #76

The words of the doctor lingered in the space between the booths, dusting the air around them and settling amongst the cooling coffee mug and bread plate in Phil’s Diner. Johnny Cash sang through the jukebox in the far corner. The lexis of Ring of Fire played out of tune with the doctor’s. “Your uterus is expanding and causing your cramps. There is no reason to worry. The baby is fine.” No reason to worry, no reason to worry. Annie repeated the lines in her head, letting them spin in rhythm with the straw she was twirling in her milksha...

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“Between the limes.” by Correen Robinson

Submitted to Contest #76

It was a dropped paper, malfunctioning printer, chicken soup coloured day. The light shining through the windows wasn't trying very hard at all to illuminate anything and the patrons of Lime n Wine bar didn't seem to be at all bothered by this. They enjoyed the cosiness of the lamps dotted around the place which hid their finer features. The small bar had a limited clientele at the best of times, this wasn't among them. Over in the far-right corner was Rob with a face mask around the wrist of his left arm, a pint of lager in his right hand...

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“Coffee and Karma” by Dan Willmot

Submitted to Contest #76

Whinstons coffee shop had seen a great many schemes hatched under its roof. Quaint and unsuspecting, the single-floor building had provided the perfect place to talk over delicate matters without suspicion. In the faint glow of the shop's retro lighting, everything from arson to assassination had been discussed, planned, and dealt with under the guise of a friendly chat over a cuppa. Sitting tensely in the high-backed chair hunched over an empty mug, the young man, more like a boy really, mulled this over. Where he sat this very second, a h...

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“Just a Massive Dog” by Claudio Murgia

Submitted to Contest #76

I know what she wants, but she will not get it that easily. ‘I have met this guy, but I don’t know. I can see he likes me, but I don’t know,’ she says as nonchalantly as possible. But I know she wants me to envy her, because boys only seem to fuck me and I have just split up with my boyfriend (A twat, not a great loss, but you know). She is so easy to read. ‘Good for you,’ I say, barely holding my sarcasm. Just to hide my thoughts better, I throw in a smile. I suddenly hope I have some food between my teeth. ‘Thank you,’ she says, bea...

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“The Heart's Prophecy” by Andrea An

Submitted to Contest #76

“Your Majesty,” In the periphery of her vision, Ilyana saw a man bow. She didn’t look at him. “Isn’t the moon beautiful?” She mused. The man stood straight in his spot. “Please, have a seat,” she said, indicating on the empty seat across from her. The man did not move, “You called for me, Your Majesty?” She turned in her seat to see the man dressed in a black crisp suit. She smiled at him, “Damien, please, let’s drop the formality. It’s a nice evening, after all.” She turned and leaned back to her chair, “Things have finally calmed dow...

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“A Clandestine Meeting” by Lucy Suarez

Submitted to Contest #76

In the warm glow of the afternoon sun, a lean, hooded figure stood silhouetted in the doorway of Café d'Emilio, the classy hideaway for the wealthier denizens of the city. The lunch hour had passed already, so the place was fairly empty, save for a handful of patrons, lost in their own vices. A half-hidden face briefly scanned the room before locking onto a middle-aged woman clad in deep blue and gold, seated in the farthest corner of the room. The figure strode confidently over to the table and took a seat. The woman seemed indifferent to t...

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Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 58 stories

“Autumn leaves” by Vaishnavi Venu

“Supermarket” by Lizzie Hur

“What An Odd Boy” by Beatriz Jenson

“Broken Talks ” by Christian Hinrichsen

“Absolution” by George Davis

“Ready? Set! Okay. ” by Breanna Barber

“You Would Need Ogre Milk” by Jarrel Jefferson

“The Game We Play” by K Lewis

“Farewell” by Joy Andersen

“Complications” by Kaitlyn Demetro

“Between the limes.” by Correen Robinson

“Coffee and Karma” by Dan Willmot

“Just a Massive Dog” by Claudio Murgia

“The Heart's Prophecy” by Andrea An

“A Clandestine Meeting” by Lucy Suarez

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue.

Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Write about a character who is incapable of telling even the smallest lie or half-truth.

Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Contest #76

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

787

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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