Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 27, 2024

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 65 stories

“Can You See Me Now?” by Maisie Sutton

🏆 Winner of Contest #283

Being invisible is my superpower. I don’t mean that I’m a superhero who is out slaughtering villains, cape flapping in the wind as I zoom over the New York skyline. The truth is, instead, that I am a “woman of a certain age” who has suddenly morphed into invisibility.But don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a poor me story written by a middle-aged woman longing for her past. That would accomplish nothing. And I am a person who gets things done. I’m used to being the one that everyone turns to for answers, and the one who pretended I wasn’t aw...

80 comments 80

Read story

“I'm Dreaming of a White House Christmas” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #283

Imagine the White House during Christmas 1789: George Washington and his wife sitting around a Christmas tree in the Oval Office, a newspaper artist sketching the festive scene, and Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" over the phonograph. If you can picture this, I would say, "Wow, you have a wonderful imagination." Unfortunately, that's where this scene will have to stay—in our imaginations. That's correct. I made the whole scene up, except for Christmas, 1789, George, and Martha. The rest are complete fabrications. The first fabrication ...

37 comments 37

Read story

“The End of the Beginning” by Harland Chambers

Submitted to Contest #283

The Cheevers liked nice things. Their house was laid out with meticulous precision. Each item of furniture, timepiece, artwork, and antique collectible was presented with careful intention. Pretense was admired. They were an enviable couple.Charlotte sought things she could own like her benevolent children and her beloved husband. Her grasp was far-reaching, and her angst anchored. Theo was dutiful in appeasing her hunger. She never went without or lacked comfort. He toiled long hours to ensure her happiness. Gratefulness and appreciati...

16 comments 16

Read story

“Spin-Cycle ” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #283

Ridin’ around in my automobile. Tryin’ not to fall asleep at the wheel. Round and round and round I go. Where I’ll land nobody knows.Caught in a spin cycle. Spinning my wheels. Never any end in sight. Think I’m getting ahead then some guy on a steel horse passes me by. Heck, the rate I’m going even the guy pushing the wheelbarrow is catching up to me. Endless, I’m tellin’ ya. Hopeless. I put in my paces, smile at the faceless faces hiding under haute hats all so I can chase that elusive money bag, pick up my salary and get on the move again....

28 comments 28

Read story

“Dropping the Ball” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #283

I told them that I’d had enough. I am all done being trapped inside a ball as it plummets to the ground all to celebrate some mindless construction of time. I understand the value of ritual. I get the nature of tradition. My family has been involved in New Year’s Eve since the very first celebration. The Windells are, in some ways, the First Family of New Year’s Eve. We were given the burden of sacrificing a little bit of ourselves every year, because when the calendar as we know it was created, we were the ones who thought to make a big dea...

7 comments 7

Read story

“The cemeteries keeper.” by Ashlee Osborn

Submitted to Contest #283

There once was a man and he used to be known as the cemetery's keeper. He would wash the stones and make the graves intact with new paint jobs and flowers. He would be seen sitting down talking to the stones. While he ate his lunch it was a different stone each day. Everybody thought he was creepy. He wore black every day like he was about to attend a funeral. A full suit and tie. Even in the summer. He would watch everyone from a far that went passed. Especially those who came in. He would hide near the trees and light up a cigarette....

18 comments 18

Read story

“Dog and Pony” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #283

Young Ryder entered the living room early Christmas morning to see a large box lying beside the tree. It was too large to fit among the other presents. There were holes around the top. Ryder stared in awe as he thought he saw the box move. He whispered, “A pony? Santa brought me a pony?”He ran to the box and peered into one of the air holes. A Beagle puppy stared back. Its wagging tail thumped. It whimpered, begging for release.“Mom! Dad! Santa brought me a pony!”Ryder’s parents, Paige and Levi, entered. Still in pajamas, they were bleary fr...

17 comments 17

Read story

“A Cup of Kindness” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #283

Lucy Winston hadn’t planned to spend this night alone. The others assured her that it was the quietest night, with most families out at midnight Mass before they returned home for small gatherings. It was better than being on-duty Thanksgiving Day, when old family feuds spilled over and led to calls to the station. That was last month, and Lucy was now a full-fledged deputy in her hometown. She loved the holidays on the farm with her grandparents and aunt, but only tolerated the cold. When the old heater kicked to life with a groan, a s...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Forsaken” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #283

Sherrie sat in the employee cafeteria on a hard plastic chair, unwrapping a soggy tuna sandwich — one that she had no appetite for whatsoever. She gave a deep sigh, before admitting defeat and returning the sandwich to its cellophane wrapper. She couldn’t eat it. Her stomach was in knots. Her physical state mirrored her emotions. She was despondent and stuck in a funk. She hadn’t heard from her boyfriend all week. That was highly unusual. Not only did they work in the same building, but they also ate lunch together everyday in this very...

9 comments 9

Read story

“The Experiment” by Atan Solp

Submitted to Contest #283

“How was your day today, Mr. Jenkins?” Evelyn asked and looked expectantly at Hugh. “Today, I was remembering how I met my beloved Clara,” he answered and continued his story. *** It was a hot summer day. I was wandering around the city. I was alone. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances, but sometimes you want to be alone and think about why we exist... The sun began to bake, so it was about noon. I walked with my head down. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t know why. I turned around the corner of a house with a high fence surroundi...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The Tiger's Gaze ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #283

Captain James Sphinx angrily jerked his leather flying helmet from his head, his sandy brown hair plastered to his skull as he grit his teeth. He and the rest of his Misfit Squadron had just landed at the Shanghai aerodrome they’d called home for the past few weeks. Climbing out of the cockpit of his P6 Hawk, the young pilot stormed away barely acknowledging the ground crew as he met up with the rest of his men. He was hating this entire infiltration game he was playing with “The Tiger,” or “Mai,” whatever her actual name was. The smug...

11 comments 11

Read story

“Waiting for snow” by Orthodoxia Papachartofyli

Submitted to Contest #283

14:00 pm The sky was brilliantly blue. Almost blindingly so. Mary scowled at the offensive hue. "You'd better snow soon,” she grumbled at the sky. It was only polite to issue a warning. "What was that, dear?" her mother-in-law asked her, head poking in between the potted plants adorning the kitchen island. "Nothing! All good!" she replied, rearranging her lips and jaw and teeth into an approximation of a smile. Her mother-in-law was sweet and kind and there to assist, but she was also very jumpy and every word or sound or even a sigh that c...

3 comments 3

Read story

“I Wasn't Expecting That: A Story of God's Faithfulness in the Unexpected” by Tina Truelove

Submitted to Contest #283

I Wasn't Expecting That Hope Bend was a small town in South Carolina that mirrored many small towns depicted in movies. It was a town where everyone knew everyone else. Men still played board games outside the general store, which was still named The General Store. Children still rode their bikes around in their neighborhoods, visiting with friends until the street lights came on, and unsupervised for the most part. One of Hope Bend's most well-known landmarks was the old country church. The church was founded in 1885. The church steeple sto...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Looking at the past” by Paul Hellyer

Submitted to Contest #283

Jones relished quiet Saturdays. Reclining in his armchair with a book, he let the hum of the air conditioner blend into his thoughts—until his phone broke the silence.“Hello, who is it?”‘It’s Karen! You don’t recognize my voice?’“Oh, hi Karen. How’s your weekend going?”“Jones, listen. I’m at the front of your building near the mailboxes. Come down there’s something I want to show you.’ Her voice was bubbling with an excitement Jones couldn’t quite place.“Your downstairs? And you didn’t tell me you were coming?&n...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Sailing without a Map” by Adlyne Agenga

Submitted to Contest #283

I wasn't expecting that. I never saw this coming. No, I never imagined I’d find myself here—adrift in a vast sea with no shore in sight. It’s almost laughable, how we draw up our plans, as if by design—a timetable to guide us, to keep us on course. Yet, at the close of each cycle, we look back and realize how empty those plans have become, how meaningless they feel. It feels like only yesterday when my sister sent me that message, asking me to show up for an interview dressed in "smart attire." But foolish me, I took the word "smart" at fac...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Dramatic – 84 stories

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

Short Story – 53 stories

Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Short Story – 54 stories

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Short Story – 37 stories

Contest #283

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Seasonal Twists

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 03, 2025 EST

Won by Maisie Sutton 🏆

Title: Can You See Me Now?

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 65 stories

“Can You See Me Now?” by Maisie Sutton

“I'm Dreaming of a White House Christmas” by Daniel Rogers

“The End of the Beginning” by Harland Chambers

“Spin-Cycle ” by Mary Bendickson

“Dropping the Ball” by Story Time

“The cemeteries keeper.” by Ashlee Osborn

“Dog and Pony” by John K Adams

“A Cup of Kindness” by Jennifer Luckett

“The Forsaken” by Kim Olson

“The Experiment” by Atan Solp

“The Tiger's Gaze ” by M B

“Waiting for snow” by Orthodoxia Papachartofyli

“I Wasn't Expecting That: A Story of God's Faithfulness in the Unexpected” by Tina Truelove

“Looking at the past” by Paul Hellyer

“Sailing without a Map” by Adlyne Agenga

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Contest #283

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: