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

“Walter and the Dinner Party” by Elizabeth D

Submitted to Contest #64

“They’re going to be here in ten minutes.” “What do we do?” “There’s not enough time to deal with it.” “Should we tell them the dinner is cancelled?” “We can’t rescind the invitation now.” “Th...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Human Town” by Hungara Gamelia

Submitted to Contest #64

Fitzavery tugged at his backpack, glancing nervously around his new school. Other teenagers were milling around, talking, and in one poor souls’ case, in the middle of picking up scattered papers and books, that had just spilled from their school bag. Fitzavery ignored them, studying his surroundings and the school building instead. It seemed secure enough, none of his supernatural alarm bells were ringing, and as far as he could see, completely normal.The town he’d chosen this time was small, almost indistinguishable from all the other...

1 comment 1

Read story

“My new job” by Hannah Barton

Submitted to Contest #64

Today is the day. I begin my new job with the McConell family as their new caretaker. It's been so long since I had a job like this, I was both excited and nervous. Technically, they had posted the ad looking for a governess - whatever that is - and I got the job. I watched the scenery fly by me as I drove to their house. The road curved through a large, dark forest and trees dappled the road with shade. I was enjoying the drive, hoping that my new employment would be just as enjoyable. After cruising along for about 20 minutes, I arrived at...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Fall of The Useless Class” by Kevin Angulo

Submitted to Contest #64

I rehearsed on the drive. “I’m deciding between law school, getting my MBA, or taking a year off to join the Peace Corps.” Or maybe, “I have my sights set on medical school, and I can’t wait to start.” Perhaps, “The politics of third world nations has really captured my attention, so I’m going after a job with the UN.” I didn’t know what I wanted to do after college. I could easily admit that to myself. Admitting it to my girlfriend’s parents wasn’t so easy. Not least of all because her parents were among the most decorated individuals in t...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Prodigal Son” by Vivian Ackerman

Submitted to Contest #64

The door flung open, and she came stalking in like a great cat, eyes darker and angrier than Arthur had ever seen before. Quincy followed soon after, his careful tread silent against the hardwood floor. He closed the door behind him, with a solemn gentleness at odds with the way Eliza had slammed it open. Arthur was suddenly grateful that his brother had come in last, if only because he didn’t think the heavy old door could handle Eliza slamming it shut. “What is wrong with you--” The women in question stormed up to him, grip...

2 comments 2

Read story

“They Seem Like Lovely People” by Andy Baldwin

Submitted to Contest #64

“I just need to get them to sign, then we can finally be done with this,” Kevin said to himself. He had just parked his car in front of the house. Not just any house. This was the house. Kevin worked for a real estate development company that was in the process of designing and building a new business and housing district in the area. The design was ready and approved and the community was looking forward to having a new area to explore in their city. They had everything they needed. Except… this new district would be going up in an area th...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Unsolved Mystery of the Robinsons” by Russel Lad

Submitted to Contest #64

Two weeks have passed since I have arrived at this place, the Robinsons seem to be not telling me everything despite the fact that they are open and friendly but have an air of hostility if I ask too much. Any normal human being would accept that fact but not me. My name is Molly Anderson, I came from Brimwood High before ending up here to take up A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at the University of Loushigan. Everything was normal at first, the crunching leave underneath my feet the creaking board of the porch, all changed when I entered ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Behind Glassy Eyes” by Charlotte Fell-James

Submitted to Contest #64

“Here you go dear,” “Thank you, Mrs Evans” “No problem darling, if need any help, don’t be afraid to ask.” With a nod, the young woman closed the door. Hearing the elderly land-lady scurrying back down the stairs, Mia sighed in relief. Placing her worn duffle bag on the polished floor, she stepped carefully into the apartment. It was exactly as she remembered, when they had come to look at it, covered in dust and bathed in a gentle glow from the open skylight. Carefully she tucked the keys into her pocket and watched gently as th...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Nancy” by Mackenzie Hebner

Submitted to Contest #64

Nancy By: Mackenzie Hebner Silence. It wasn’t your typical household atmosphere. There wasn’t music in one corner and riveting drama in another. There wasn’t even an exchanging of kind words or a consuming stream of rebukes. Instead, there was only silence. And it hung, torturesome, in the ventilating air ultimately connecting each room, each member. Even anonymous guests could sense its unbearable presence as the inhabitants scurried to construct a smiling facade of welcoming intention, desperate not to let their secrets slip, for...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Mole Stew” by Vivian Rouse

Submitted to Contest #64

Mother Nature sent her applause in the form of raindrops as leaves floated to earth on a quiet October morning. Olivia, a former athlete/engineer turned sprawling bookish housewife, and Fergus, a large-nostriled ginger hound, watched attentively from the back porch as The Dean of Deciduosity blessed the brightly colored graduates. “Farewell, Class of 2020. Oscar will make mulch out of you and then you can become flowers, or tomatoes, or …weeds.” Olivia sighed. Mornings filled with hope and possibilities! F...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Tedium ” by S. C.

Submitted to Contest #64

The Johnsons were an ordinary family situated on the outskirts of Los Angeles, their modest house on a cul-de-sac where other ordinary families went about their lives. Collectively, the neighborhood was a congealed heap of mediocrity; there were no vibrant colors or substantial contrasts, just a bunch of fading houses blending in with the dying grass, asphalt, and concrete. When they first moved in, Mrs. Johnson painted the front door of the house bright blue, with curtains to match. Twenty years later and the blue, once vibrant, faded into ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Fairweathers” by Katelyn Burdo

Submitted to Contest #64

Let me tell you the tale of the Fairweathers, a most ordinary family from the outside, but there is always more that meets the eye with the "ordinary" folks. The Fairweathers were the perfect family with grandma Sandra, mother Vivian, father Francisco, and their children Madeline and Carson. Sandra had pure white locks that fell just past her shoulders. Her eyes blazed with an emerald shine, darker but just as stunning as her daughter Vivian's. Vivian's hair was flaming red and fell in loose curls down her back. Vivian's eyes were a jade col...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Secret Worth Saving” by Nevaeh Iraheta

Submitted to Contest #64

Authors note: This story caries in point of view. It's truly amazing how people change. He changed. There comes that time in your life where you think “This is them, This is the one.” That’s not the case in all situations. It’s easy to see a future with someone, but it's not always easy to make that future, a reality. It's hard to escape the reality. It's hard to hide; when the bruises on your body yearn for exposure. When your ego wants to rhapsodize about how tired and fed-up it is. But what if you had the ch...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Wilson's ” by Kiana McKnight

Submitted to Contest #64

I was out of breath and could hear how fast my heart was pounding, but I had to keep running. It was the only way. I told myself not to look back. I felt like I couldn’t see anything, everything was blurry. Nothing made sense. I really wish I would’ve stayed at home, but she was so nice and warm, I couldn’t tell her no. I pulled out my phone and began to call the police while I was running. He was right behind me, keeping up, but I could tell he was weak. I finally approached my house. 6 hours earlier Kara was the new girl in the neighb...

0 comments 0

Read story

“No winning with kids” by Umme Ammara

Submitted to Contest #64

"Oooh! Aunt Margoo", cried Liya more out of panic rather than excitement but Aunt Margo took it for the latter and beamed as she hugged her. Liya's reaction was out of panic because this surely was not the right time for a nosy guest like Aunt Margo, what with the family dealing with the nasty divorce proceedings of Jimmy. In their family just like all other families, even an insignificant news gets tossed about and made to bounce umpteen number of times until it loses all its sheen. There was no question that an exciting matter just as...

5 comments 5

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

“Walter and the Dinner Party” by Elizabeth D

“Human Town” by Hungara Gamelia

“My new job” by Hannah Barton

“The Fall of The Useless Class” by Kevin Angulo

“Prodigal Son” by Vivian Ackerman

“They Seem Like Lovely People” by Andy Baldwin

“The Unsolved Mystery of the Robinsons” by Russel Lad

“Behind Glassy Eyes” by Charlotte Fell-James

“Nancy” by Mackenzie Hebner

“Mole Stew” by Vivian Rouse

“Tedium ” by S. C.

“The Fairweathers” by Katelyn Burdo

“A Secret Worth Saving” by Nevaeh Iraheta

“The Wilson's ” by Kiana McKnight

“No winning with kids” by Umme Ammara

🌟 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: