Write about a family attempting to hide their secrets from someone new.

Posted in Dramatic on Jul 23, 2021

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?

✍️ 121 stories

“A Chance Encounter” by Dhruv Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #64

Dale Morton let out a long stream of curses as his old Ford F-150 seemed to choke on its fuel, sputtering to a halt on the old dirt road. He wasn’t one to swear, so he gave an apologetic glance to the cross hanging from his rearview mirror as he hefted himself out of his truck to go take a look under the hood. Upon opening it, Dale was met with a rush of dark smoke and a blast of heat which nearly singed his eyebrows. Though he knew it was a lost cause before he even propped up his hood and got his tools, he tinkered around with the mechanic...

5 comments 5

Read story

“Secrets & Games” by Julie Ward

Submitted to Contest #64

The Glass House sat on the highest crest of the highest hill in Bel-Air, its sleek band of windows reflecting the colors of the setting sun. Terrah Banfield stood on the vast veranda, a tiny figure in a white Dolce and Gabbana blazer, framed by glorious pinks and oranges. The freeway snaked between the green slopes, a glimmering river of red and white. Thousands of souls down there, going about their business in a city built on stories.Terrah snapped twice. “Come along, Bozeman,” She purred, her accent indistinguishable, refined.&n...

24 comments 24

Read story

“Omelets, pancakes and family secrets” by Rebecca Lee

Submitted to Contest #64

“Secrets are things that are meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others,” Jane said as she almost floated through the early morning set at the barre. We were at dance class – something that my cousin, Jane, talked all of us Gilbert girls into about five years ago. She said it would be a “bonding moment.” My sister, Claire, Jane, her sister, Dana, our cousins, Lucy and Terra, my aunt Melinda, my mother, Ginny, my sister-in-law, Lora, her daughter, Megan, and myself all joined a beginner’s ballet class together. I loved to dance. The beg...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Love, Secrets, and Rock 'n Roll” by Madison Smith

Submitted to Contest #64

The Olsons were known far and wide for one thing and one thing only: rock music. This family produced some of the biggest legends in rock history and every member wore that fact like a badge of honor. Yet, for as much time as they spent in the blinding flashes of the paparazzi and the constant interviews, for as known as their names were in every house, rock-loving or otherwise, for as documented as their lives were, there was one secret that none of them were ever willing to talk about. A secret that was buried so deep that you would need a...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Exactly What You Run From, You End Up Chasing.” by 𝔞𝔰𝔥🤍 𝖔.

Submitted to Contest #64

My mouth had run dry, my heart running at rapid speed, my hands were shaking, and it felt like my hair was being pulled out of my scalp, nevertheless, I had to give an answer, whether I had one or not. No, I'm not presenting a thesis in front of the school. No, I'm not talking to my crush. Yes, Jess asked if she could come over for a group project. As in, come over to my house. **** "When your father and I decided to buy you a phone THIS isn't what we expected you to use it for! When will you learn to keep your...

6 comments 6

Read story

“The Wanderer” by An Echo

Submitted to Contest #64

I moved again.Contrary to what my mum might think, I'm not running, again. At least, I think I'm not. I'm searching. What I'm searching for? I have no idea. I believe I'll know, when I see it. There are advantages of moving a lot, you get to meet new people, new cultures. There's also a down side- saying goodbye. You'd think I would know by now and not form close relationships; but I do anyways. When I get comfortable, I leave, never getting to say goodbye. The E-mailed read, Moved to Alabama.... Love you mum. Only so she does...

5 comments 5

Read story

“SECRETS REVEALED” by Agbesanwa Ayomide

Submitted to Contest #64

Dear mother and father, I know it looks and feels stupid to write letters to you since I do not know you and I'm even supposed to hate you for leaving me in an orphanage but I just want a connection with you two and since I don't know if I will ever know you, I guess in a way I am connecting with you through my letters. In my previous letters, I have always asked about you two but in this one I want to write about myself. I hope you will begrudge me this opportunity. Okay here goes nothing. I've never been in a place so war...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Dump No Allegations” by Madhuleka Iyer

Submitted to Contest #64

Varuni saw a herd of cows, walking along the moonlit path, towards their shed. The brown patches on the milk white skin of the cows, made them look like small pastures of land on earth. Varuni had always found pleasure in giving shape to the patches. She always saw rabbits, trains or an inverted Australia in the patches on the skin of the cows. It was her job to milk two of the five cows they owned, at the break of dawn. She would talk to them about miscellaneous things. She would tell them how her teacher had scolded her, how she had a huge...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Proud of My Work.” by Delani Fowler

Submitted to Contest #64

I know it's dangerous but I really like him. I just have to keep him out of the basement.Sure, you may say I just met him, but it doesn’t really matter, does it? His name is Ryan Wilson and he just moved here from Wisconsin about a month ago. He's one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and inviting him over is the least I could do for him. He surprisingly doesn’t have many friends but I think the girls gawking at him in the hallways at school probably make up for that. My heart is already pounded by the time he rings the doorb...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Family Takes Care of Family” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #64

When one thinks about family secrets, the usual interpretation is that it’s a family that is comprised of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, children and elderly, and so forth. In other words, the family members are blood relatives, or married into the blood line. The secrets they want to preserve can be of all sorts and there is no need to list them. The only thing to keep in mind is that the secrets are usually cause for shame or danger. I am of the opinion that this is a rather limited definition of family, this one that is based ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Last Christmas ” by Kayla Joseph

Submitted to Contest #64

“Hey Grandma, it’s been so long, how are you?” My grandmother walks towards me and gives me a big warm hug, she smells of coffee beans and Lysol. “You don’t ever call me to check up on me, you don’t love me no more?” I love my grandma to death but she drives me crazy. “Sammy, what the hell is this?” I turn around to see my grandmother standing in my door frame. “What’s the matter?” I ask her. “This room is disgusting, are you a pig? Clothes all over the floor, dirty dishes everywhere, what’s wrong with you?” my grandma yells at me. I ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“GRAAAAAGH OUR ZOMBIE'S MYSTERY ” by ESTHER Mwape

Submitted to Contest #64

Ten years ago we lost our baby girl Emma she was a very sweet young girl, so loving and caring but it was so unfortunately that we lost her to the cold hands of death and since we loved her so much after her death we decided to keep her in her room and three months later she was reanimated and become a zombie at first we didn't know what to do with her cause we were scared we thought she was gone eat us but later on we found out that she was still the sweet little girl she was before she died. First forward 15 years later today we have been ...

5 comments 5

Read story

“Chadwick Manor” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #64

It has been over forty years, but to me it seemed like yesterday. The ruins of the estate have been left as is since no one wishes to enter the grounds that seem cursed and forbidding since that day in late September 1974 when the first flash of flames appeared that would consume the manor in a blaze that many swore came from Hell itself. I, for one, do not bend so easily to superstition and folklore, but the evidence is quite compelling that what happened on the grounds on that fateful night was not of this world. Wealth...

1 comment 1

Read story

“LGBT and Scared!” by Christina Lisboa

Submitted to Contest #64

My last first day of Middle School, dreading each moment, each minute, and each second of 8th grade. Hi, I'm Jenny and you must be wondering why I'm not overly excited like the rest of my class. Well, can I let you in on a secret? I'm actually a twin. And no that is not why I'm worried! My twin, Bradley, and I have kept secrets between each other practically since we were in the womb. I can't begin to express how close we are. We are inseparable. Literally. We exchange clothes and gossip with one another about our recent crushes at school, b...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Russian Roulette” by Inkstained Introvert

Submitted to Contest #64

“Oh my god, Jaz!” I turn from where I’ve been craning my neck, goggling at one of the stone statues at the entrance to the driveway, and see Vera running towards me at an alarming pace. “Ver!” I drop the suitcases in either of my hands and wiggle out of my backpack just as Vera crashes into me. After a split-second hug, she pulls away from me, laughing scratchily. “Jaz! I’ve missed you so much!” I draw her to myself again and embrace her fiercely. “You too, Vera. You too.” I cry, just a little bit, onto her shoulder. “I’ve missed my be...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a Gothic manor house.

Horror – 133 stories

Write a ghost story where there’s more going on than it first appears.

Mystery – 225 stories

Write about someone who’s been sent to boarding school.

Novel – 120 stories

Write a romance that involves one partner saving the other from a fire.

Romance – 154 stories

Contest #64

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Out on the Moor

$50

Prize money

753

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 23, 2020 EST

Won by Mollie Rodgers 🏆

Title: The Girl in the Goethe House

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 about a family attempting to hide their secrets from someone new.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 121 stories

“A Chance Encounter” by Dhruv Srivastava

“Secrets & Games” by Julie Ward

“Omelets, pancakes and family secrets” by Rebecca Lee

“Love, Secrets, and Rock 'n Roll” by Madison Smith

“Exactly What You Run From, You End Up Chasing.” by 𝔞𝔰𝔥🤍 𝖔.

“The Wanderer” by An Echo

“SECRETS REVEALED” by Agbesanwa Ayomide

“Dump No Allegations” by Madhuleka Iyer

“Proud of My Work.” by Delani Fowler

“Family Takes Care of Family” by Kathleen March

“Last Christmas ” by Kayla Joseph

“GRAAAAAGH OUR ZOMBIE'S MYSTERY ” by ESTHER Mwape

“Chadwick Manor” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“LGBT and Scared!” by Christina Lisboa

“Russian Roulette” by Inkstained Introvert

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a Gothic manor house.

Write a ghost story where there’s more going on than it first appears.

Write about someone who’s been sent to boarding school.

Write a romance that involves one partner saving the other from a fire.

Contest #64

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

753

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: