Write a story that includes the line “Be careful what you wish for.”

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 13, 2024

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✍️ 40 stories

“The Dark Yuletide” by Christy Morgan

Submitted to Contest #281

The north wind blew the snowfall into a slanted fury. It was intermittent and strong. The grand houses along Chestnut Avenue were cloaked in white, a warmth seeping from the windows adorned with fluttering candles. Amaryllis focused on the stream of Christmas lights finely hung in empty maples, burgeoning magnolias, and along the eaves of stately homes, a careful display of cheer. To be invited to the Abernathey holiday party was a rite of passage, an entry to high society, a culmination that you were received and respected. Amaryllis h...

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“Slippery when wet.” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #281

Do you remember the first time you saw the ad? You couldn’t look away, could you? You looked at your wife and she too was mesmerized. But she averted her eyes, knowing that it would be too extravagant. Too much to ask for.Then there was the full-page ad in the AARP Bulletin, do you remember that? You put it aside, took note of the local number. Of course, it would be too expensive, you thought. But maybe if you didn’t take that golf outing this year and skipped a few trips to the gambling boats. Surely then…You wife's birthday is coming up, ...

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“But ...” by Geertje H

Submitted to Contest #281

She pulls the collar of her coat a little closer to keep the cold air off her neck as she crosses the crowded parking lot to the store. The strains of “White Christmas” drift toward her. She grits her teeth, her thoughts as grey as the weeks' old snow mounts. She knows to be careful what to wish for or dream of.Go sit and play on the floor, little girl. Make room for people.But …The toddler learns quickly that when she protests people think she is cranky and probably needs a nap.'Oma’ndopa' are coming. It’s said with such enthusiasm she can’...

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“The Last Of The Snow Globes” by Helen A Howard

Submitted to Contest #281

Christmas is round the corner and I’ve never felt less Christmassy.Here I am surrounded by all manner of festive gifts and must-have seasonal cuties. The boxes of crackers may look appealing but seeing the person I want to pull them with is no longer around, maybe not so much.However, even I have to admit the very reasonably priced snow globes with their miniature snowmen in funny hats and colourful scarves, have a certain charm. One of the store’s best sellers, only one remains waiting to be shaken and given a good home.These new goods are ...

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“I Wish Us A Stress Free Christmas ” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #281

“Deck the Halls and act so oddly; blah blah blah; blah blah blah blah. Tis the season for gifts unGodly, yada yada ya… yada ya ya ya.”Why do my stepfather’s unpleasantly peculiar parents insist on spending any money at all on the absolute worst Christmas gifts every damn year? Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m not ungrateful, but truth be told, I’d rather they simply wish me a Merry Christmas and leave the child sized mittens at the store; I’m seventeen, not three. I suppose I shouldn’t complain, my three brothers have it so much worse. Michael, w...

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“Gifts are Given, Not taken” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #281

Lazaro wended his way through the crowded ale house, one hand greeting everyone with a warm handshake, the other slipping fingers into pockets that were not his own. He beamed, and smiled, and thanked everyone for coming out on this cold, blustery evening to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his birth, a most auspicious occasion.By the time he had circumnavigated the room and arrived back at the bar, everyone was in rowdy, high spirits. He leapt up on the counter, his diminutive height put him at just a head above the crowd, and, flingin...

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“Thumpety Thump-Thump” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #281

Leon, Timmy, and Spike ran down the road, throwing snowballs at each other, laughing and yelling.Davy Dennis sighed. It was easy to have a snowball fight when you had friends. It was only workable to do it solo if you loaded up an automatic ball launcher with ice and stood before it. It was also tricky to join in with a group of kids he didn’t know. Throwing a snowball at a buddy was funny. Throwing one at a stranger was assault. Besides, Davy had never been very good at approaching others, hence his predicament. Dad had told him to go outsi...

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“CURSED QUILLS AND COFFEE STAINS” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #281

"Why are we in the coffee shop, Darvico? I don't even like coffee shops.""Me neither, Reed. But never mind that. I'm writing the book, Reed.""Really? What's it about?""It starts with 'Be careful what you wish for.'""Oh, groundbreaking. Truly. No one's ever used that phrase before.""Sarcasm noted, but hear me out.""Do I have a choice?""No. It's about this guy who...""Wait, let me guess. He makes a wish, but it goes awry, leading to hilarity."Fine, Reed. If you hate it so much, why are you even here?""Because you dragged me here, Darvico. And ...

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“Wintergreen” by Carol Stewart

Submitted to Contest #281

*** Continuation of my previous two stories (but can be read as a standalone piece). References to domestic abuse and serious illness***Helen, I’m sorry I accused you.Forget it, darling, life’s too short… Do have a vol au vent, I made them especially…Mmm… lovely…And a little Prosecco…?You spoil me, you know…Nonsense, Evelyn, it’s your birthday…And nothing says December birthday – fifty-ninth December birthday - more than a picnic in the park…Now, now, don’t forget the Christmas Market… Ah! What a ride… Bet you didn’t expect you’d be up there...

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“Taking Stock at Christmas” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #281

Being Fashionable I’ve learned that discussing things I find on the internet with my wife Liz is like tossing a match into a pool of gasoline. Liz works in corporate PR. In loyalty to her paycheck, she embraces the corporate establishment’s narrative. When I read the news, I like to take time to figure it out instead of taking it at face value. You might call me an “Internet Dad”. I hope to one day find the right moment to talk some common sense into her. Maybe that moment is today.My computer screen shows 10:59am. I promised Liz I’d be...

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“David and Leena” by Ava Wolfe

Submitted to Contest #281

“I wish this could just be a normal Christmas,” 26-year old David said. He was upstairs in the home he lived in alone. Usually, he wouldn’t choose to be in this particular upstairs room, since he spent most of his time downstairs where the kitchen and his bedroom were. But he found himself up there, peering out onto the rest of his neighborhood through the frosty window, after another monotonous day of work. He had been distracted all day, wondering how to amend things with his girlfriend. All of a sudden, the old creepy fireplace started to...

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“The Magician’s Assistant” by Mindy Reed

Submitted to Contest #281

JC left the Gold Coast Casino where he worked as a magician’s assistant. The headliner appreciated his ability to disappear and reappear so seamlessly and often asked him the technique. JC could not really explain his ability to resurrect, but at least the illusion kept money in his pocket. The Gold Coast was not on the Las Vegas strip, a surprise to many tourists who had tickets to the magic show only to discover the 1.5 mile hike in the desert heat was not doable for them. Taxi drivers hated these fares because the riders were so miffed, t...

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“Be Careful What You Wish For” by Sarah Adewolu

Submitted to Contest #281

The next day was a clear, blue Wednesday morning, and when I woke up, I still felt the same as I did yesterday morning… Only this time, I realized I had magical superpowers; yesterday, I had no idea. Assuming that my powers were gone after I flushed that piece of paper down the toilet, my life was going to return to normal after all this. This was just a temporary thing, even if I’d already written in the diary with a pen. No more wishes for the time being. For now, whatever I wished for, I’d type it onto my Google Docs. So far, nothing unu...

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““Sayemontess- The Death of a Loved One.” #ReedsyHoliday” by Tucker Sloan

Submitted to Contest #281

“Sayemontess- The Death of a Loved One.” Trigger Warning: this short story contains Strong Violent Content and Gore, Sexual Content, Nudity, Harrowing Situations, and Suspence.As Sonja blared Maria Callas’s, “Tosca, Act II: Vissi d’ arte,” she took to the stage at Sayemontess. It was located in the beautiful rose-filled courtyard that had wonderfully creative statues of sweet cherubims. This was where all of the events would take place- from public humiliations, plays, executions, and so forth. Fun stuff. “Richard,” said Sonja, and...

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“An Overcoat, a Flask, and a Crossbow” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #281

The sidestreets of Vulane were a tangled web of alleys and forgotten passages, a perfect maze for those who thrived in the shadows. Here, amidst the flickering glow of lanterns and the distant hum of the city’s opulent districts, sat a modest office between a baker and below an apothecary. The worn wooden slab above the door simply read: “Uresh Greystone: Investigator.” Being an investigator in the City of Lies was like being a captain on a ship that had already sunk three times. Uresh was busy relighting candles in his shop when he st...

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Write a story that includes the line “Be careful what you wish for.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“The Dark Yuletide” by Christy Morgan

“Slippery when wet.” by Trudy Jas

“But ...” by Geertje H

“The Last Of The Snow Globes” by Helen A Howard

“I Wish Us A Stress Free Christmas ” by Myranda Marie

“Gifts are Given, Not taken” by Michelle Oliver

“Thumpety Thump-Thump” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“CURSED QUILLS AND COFFEE STAINS” by Darvico Ulmeli

“Wintergreen” by Carol Stewart

“Taking Stock at Christmas” by Scott Christenson

“David and Leena” by Ava Wolfe

“The Magician’s Assistant” by Mindy Reed

“Be Careful What You Wish For” by Sarah Adewolu

““Sayemontess- The Death of a Loved One.” #ReedsyHoliday” by Tucker Sloan

“An Overcoat, a Flask, and a Crossbow” by Cajek Veilwinter

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a mysterious guest who arrives at a party — but no one knows who they are.

Start or end your story with someone receiving a strange — and possibly sinister — gift.

Write a story from the POV of a non-human character.

Set your story during the coldest day of the year.

Contest #281

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

309

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: