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

Posted in Dramatic on Jul 23, 2021

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✍️ 121 stories

“Secrets” by Bushy Joe

Submitted to Contest #64

Heart pounding and head throbbing, Ava searched hopelessly for words without avail. Owen stared at her expectantly, thirsty for answers.2 days earlier..."Everyone, please come to the table for dinner."It was 6:00, the Neilson's usual dinner time. But today wasn't normal, not even in the least."Ok," Dad said, "We are adopting a child."Ava was baffled that her parents would even think about that, not with them having magic powers. "WHY?!" Ava screamed.A little alarmed with Ava's response, Dad calmed himself and explained. "It seems that you ha...

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“Artistic Freedom” by Candela B

Submitted to Contest #64

One month ago, there was percussion. An introduction.She honestly couldn’t tell if the doorbell had even made a sound, so she rapped the knocker four times for good measure.One month ago was when Lailah first stood on the Ardeleans’ doorstep, face to face with the mansion itself.She bobbed up and down on the balls of her feet while the February air gnawed on her bones. She fidgeted with the straps of her cello case. She waited patiently to be admitted.Finally, the doors opened, and she was greeted by a short middle aged woman with a serenely...

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“Family of Secrecy” by Marian Reiley

Submitted to Contest #64

"Honestly, Detective Bask, this is why our ancestors changed their name;" Nikolas said. "We didn't want the rumors from Hungary to follow us here!" Detective Bask pulled out his notebook and prepared to write. "Really Mr. Nadasti;" he said. "What rumors would those be?" Outrage made the family patriarch clench his hands against the arm rests of his chair. "Sir I assure you we are fine American citizens!" Nikolas shouted. "My great-great-great grandfather, Frederick Nadasti fought in your civil war! Our family has been making glorious co...

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“The Family Business” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #64

“The Family Business” The moment he’d first laid eyes on the house John knew it would be perfect for them. Having grown up in England he’d always loved the Italianate style homes along the coast and this one was a perfect example; two and a half stories with painted siding, shutters flanking tall, narrow windows, and his favorite feature, a low-pitched roof with a railed widow’s walk. As a boy he’d been told the widow’s walk was a place for a woman to sit and watch the sea, waiting for her husband’s ship to come into view and return safely...

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“By the Light of the Moon...” by Jim Snyder

Submitted to Contest #64

“Look, Jacob, I’m telling you, this is all your fault! If you hadn’t brought that girl home, we wouldn’t be hiding in these basement caskets!” Tina whisper-yelled at him, her voice carrying her annoyance across the room with nearly the same force as the howling winds they’d run through to get into the crypt. “Mom and Dad told you that dating was against the rules!” “How’s it my fault she saw me without my shirt on in gym class and decided she wanted the hot goth kid all to herself?” Jacob called back, a tone of derision hanging heavily on ...

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“The Petersons” by Cat Attack

Submitted to Contest #64

"No no no" said Sally, the mother of the house. "We can't have new neighbors move in". Sally Peterson, and her three children, Desi, Arnez, and Sara, moved to the city from the country hoping to get away from... recent incidents... She had once been the landlord of the house next door but that deal feel through. Ms. Peterson had been devastated and distraught about the thought of new neighbors. Now it was happening and her worst nightmares would come to life. The Petersons had been living in Alabama for 9 years in a big, fancy home. Mr. Pet...

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“Mine” by Anell Douglas

Submitted to Contest #64

The woman stared at the large estate as the taxi drove her up to the entrance. The front yard was huge and there was a large statue of what looked like Lady Justice. The woman slowly shook her head at the extravagance but immediately shrugged it off. These types of people were the reason she even had such a decent paying job without having to do regular hours. She reached into her bag as the taxi came to a stop and pulled out a few dollars as a tip. “I won’t be long if you could wait for a mo...

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“At the Hands of Three Children” by Amira Hartman

Submitted to Contest #64

The Abner family lived across from a lake in a tall, thin, green skirted house. Just another dwelling place in the long line of ancient Victorian antiques. Their door was sky-reaching and gilded in gold, windows flaunted themselves all over the house in their own juvenile attempt to look the best. Parading in the rather pompous and absurd color yellow the house held its head up high as its spirals and rather intricate woodwork made it and its fellow neighbors stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the modern metropolis. &nb...

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“Jessica Ryan: Seymour Real Estate” by Megan Faith

Submitted to Contest #64

Jessica Ryan rested her head on the dash, taking several deep breaths as she practiced. “Calm, calm, calm. I am calm.” She chanted. The Hammersmiths were something of a mystery to the town. Jeffery Hammersmith was hired as the funeral director of the town by the Mayor. He was bright-eyed and handsome, which was odd for such a macabre profession. From rumors, he was also married and with two kids. Two little girls, actually. And they had a live-in maid, one of them had to be loaded. Jessica adjusted her hair, patted both cheeks, then slipped ...

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“Under the Rug” by Chris Jones

Submitted to Contest #64

“Shit, stow it.” There was no flurry of movement, just an instant jerk like lightning and the floor was closed and covered in the reg in a single movement. The front door opened. “Damn guys traffic is nuts out there. Is it always like this?” Derel opened the door with his back and turned into the room, his hands full of tupperware, grinning. Mike stood half way up, hovering, and then sank back down into the couch. A static grin was fixed on his face. Ann wordless walked towards Derel, mind blank, playing for time. At the ...

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“The Baby Blue House ” by Sabrina Rios

Submitted to Contest #64

A dilapidated powder blue house—the paint peeling, the wooden steps weathered and slightly sunken. Not a bad home, just a forgotten one. A faded white picket fence lined the overgrown lawn, keeping it from overflowing into the street. No one lived in the house. It just sat there, unaccompanied, fading away. Standing alone on the sidewalk was a tall daughter with windswept caramel hair and a long yellow raincoat that went down to her knees. Her face was small with delicate features, and freckles sprinkled her face like soft rain. As she obs...

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“Hunger” by Marissa Reay

Submitted to Contest #64

John moved in on a Wednesday morning, into the little farmhouse that had once been owned by his late great-uncle. “Clean it up, farm it, sell it,” his cousin had said, before handing over the keys. “I’ve never cared much for the place, anyway.” John thought it was charming. As he moved in, he got himself acquainted with the building. There was a henhouse out back, a couple of pigs, and an old milking cow on her last legs. Not a bad place for a new start. The neighbors came on Wednesday night, bearing a pie. “It’s lamb,” Mrs. Ma...

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“Savior Neighbor” by A.J. Brown

Submitted to Contest #64

He just hoped that she didn’t hit him. Being overpowered by his 30-year-old wife was emasculating but at least it didn’t hurt too badly. He looked up at her with that smug look on her face, looking proud that she was able to hold him down. Her long, light brown hair was hanging a bit over her shoulders. She wore a tank top that showed off her thick arms and her right upper arm that had a tattoo sleeve. Her arm wound back. Here it came. He never was going to get used to this. Colleen was five inches taller...

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“Guarded” by Grace Ingram

Submitted to Contest #64

Amaya knew the famous quote that had been regurgitated on all forms of social media, "The fall is about to teach us about how beautiful it is to let things go." If only she had taken that a little more to heart; then maybe she wouldn't be in the situation she was in now. The young woman thought it was going to be wonderful to move to some small town in Oregon. The barely-on-the-map community was bound to be a great place to get away and start on her novel. The quaint abode that she was renting felt more homely than her actual childhood home ...

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“The Green House” by E Sampson

Submitted to Contest #64

“Mom, I need you to come pick me up.” I shivered as the dull, coldness of my phone screen left my cheek. The wind blanketed me as I watched each car leave the school. I tried not to look lonely and pretended to be fascinated by a pebble. Who knows when she would see the voicemail. Probably not until her shift at the hospital ends, which could be in five minutes or 12 hours. She wouldn’t be expecting this call, as I usually bike the 1.5 miles home. But it’s not like I planned to have my bike stolen. Who would want a rusty, red bike? “You...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 121 stories

“Secrets” by Bushy Joe

“Artistic Freedom” by Candela B

“Family of Secrecy” by Marian Reiley

“The Family Business” by Tim Benson

“By the Light of the Moon...” by Jim Snyder

“The Petersons” by Cat Attack

“Mine” by Anell Douglas

“At the Hands of Three Children” by Amira Hartman

“Jessica Ryan: Seymour Real Estate” by Megan Faith

“Under the Rug” by Chris Jones

“The Baby Blue House ” by Sabrina Rios

“Hunger” by Marissa Reay

“Savior Neighbor” by A.J. Brown

“Guarded” by Grace Ingram

“The Green House” by E Sampson

🌟 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: