Set your story in a roadside diner.

Posted in Dystopian on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 59 stories

“Abram's Diner” by Ginger Crook

Submitted to Contest #110

Alex jolted awake when a loud truck engine screeched down the highway. His eyes opened and his fists clenched. He stared at the dirty ceiling of his backseat before sitting up slowly, his back cracking. Since he’d been asleep, the hint of sun disappearing into the west horizon had vanished completely. The only way anyone could see the road was the watery streetlights. The front seat in front of Alex was illuminated with orange light. He looked over and out of the windshield. He could see the bottom half of a neon sign. It said “Abram’s D...

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“The Night Shift” by Adam Jones

Submitted to Contest #110

Quick Warning: There is some coarse language, not a lot of it but if that's something you dislike, here's your warning. This story clocks in at 2464 words, I hope you enjoy.The Night Shift.Emily bent down and blew a stray piece of her long chestnut brown hair out of her mouth. Rolling up her plaid shirt sleeves she pulled out a small black bucket sealed tightly with a plastic lid, she peeled the lid off slowly to take a peek, but before she could catch a sight of the bucket's contents, the sour stench of spoiled mince violated her nostrils. ...

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“Road Trip” by McKeon Gardella

Submitted to Contest #110

It was Sunday afternoon in the town of Shadbush. I was standing behind the serving counter at Flo’s Roadside Diner watching the brunch crowd disperse. I took a sip of two-hour old coffee to give me a spark to deal with the upcoming lunch crowd. The lunch traffic on Sunday afternoons was normally slow at Flo’s but I had a feeling it was going to pick up. Mrs. Jenna Wisedale and her three kids, two boys and one girl, entered the diner. The determined Mother corralled her young children into a booth. The young energetic family were regular cus...

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“Last Resort Diner” by Basha McCrumb

Submitted to Contest #110

My car coughed, sputtered, and died as I pulled into the parking spot furthest from the door of the Last Resort Diner. I slammed the steering wheel with my hand while letting lose with some very creative words in several languages. I may not have a top-notch formal education, but growing up as a military brat had broadened my language abilities. Getting out of the car, I lifted my leg and kicked the piece of crap door shut with the bottom of my foot. No need to lock it. It was worth more to me as an insurance claim than anything else. It w...

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“Waiting for Anti-Godot” by Danny Lopez

Submitted to Contest #110

“Good Mornin’! Welcome to Chuppies! Can I get y’all anythin’ to start?” Mary’s Corpus Christi accent was a combination of sweet, Southern gravy with a mouthful of good ol’ fashioned Texas barbeque. It was an inviting and friendly sound that said: You are now safe in the house of flapjacks. “4 coffees, black. And I’ll have the pancakes.” Death’s taste was very distinct. She was unyielding with her French toast’s proportion of golden-crispy outside to creamy-gooey inside. Death contemplated between the pancakes and French toast for a total o...

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“Leader of the Pack” by Avril Armstrong

Submitted to Contest #110

Leader of the Pack 2153 words Bill, Gary and Chuck were the Tigers. They rode their cherished motorbikes, wore their fringed leathers and swept past lines of traffic, with arrogance – and not a little aggression. What do all those jerks in tin cages crawling along the Interstate know about living? On their big two-wheelers, customised with top-of-the-range, after-market extras, studded rawhide saddlebags and a stash of bolt-on chrome garbage, they wove through the g...

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“Sunny Side Diner” by Nikki Madigan

Submitted to Contest #110

TW: substance abuse, goreOrville Ballard sat in his usual booth at the Sunny Side Diner, nestled in a far corner. The cracked vinyl seat covers poked through his khaki pants and into the backs of his legs. He shifted, but there was no safe space on the seat cushion. The vinyl creaked with his movement. Sitting before him on the table was an off-white mug filled with coffee. Steam rose from the mug in soft curls that disappeared almost instantly. With weathered fingers, Orville picked up a creamer and pulled back the foil lid. He poured ...

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“Frosty Stop Encounter” by Randolph Pierce

Submitted to Contest #110

Frosty Stop Encounter Semis, box trucks, RVs, rusted old pickups, tour buses, passenger cars like the one I was driving, several dozens of all of them, stretching beyond sight in both directions, are all but motionless ahead of and behind us with the cloudless-sky sun converting this spacious Mercury Marquis into a human-occupied oven. Upon coming to a complete rest at one juncture, we got out and looked ahead and back but quickly returned to our immobile shady shelter. &nb...

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“Dandelion” by Jacqueline Paige

Submitted to Contest #110

He restlessly mashed his french fries into the pool of ketchup on the corner of his plate, eating one, after another, after another, until the waitress came over and interrupted. "Refill?" She stood over him with a pot of coffee, smiling. He stared down at his plate, and nodded. No eye contact. Don't make eye contact. "Thank-," before he could get the words out, he looked up and she was already on to the next group of diners. He glanced out of the window next to him, past the neon green CASH ONLY sign. It overlooked the parking...

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“Closing Time” by Kayla Peart

Submitted to Contest #110

Grey swore the place was empty upon his arrival. The manager finished closing protocols just before a family emergency struck but prevented him from locking up the diner. Grey did one last walkthrough to ensure everything was in its place and when he returned to the dining area, ready to leave and lock the doors, an old man was seated in a booth along the windowed wall. Since it was after hours and dark outside, the area was quiet enough to hear the bells above the door ring, but he had heard nothing. “We’re closed, sorry,” Grey said. ...

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“Grey's Place - A Diner Story ” by Ashton Newland

Submitted to Contest #110

Bright lipstick-red leather seats split open in places not yet patched, pristine but vintage decor of neon lights and signed photos of the old but famous, and the smell of coffee so thick you’re drinking it as you walk in the door. Grey’s Place, the local diner, is anything but grey. The gravel parking lot has a few cars peppered in it since the dinner rush has not yet started. The owner, looking younger than his age, is out on the wrap-around porch watering the hanging flower beds of sunset oranges, wispy blues, pinks, and muted purples. He...

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“Two pieces of burnt” by P.J. Lowry

Submitted to Contest #110

When we walked into the diner, it looked no different than any other diner you'd expect one to look like. The cute little tables, the long bar where single customers drank their coffee while waiting for breakfast. It all looked right out of a movie, but the roadside diner was very real and looked spectacular. My gal and I took one of the tables and smiled like your typical happy couple as the waitress strolled over and handed us a few menus. "Would you like anything to drink while you check out ...

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“Help!” by Angela Hausch

Submitted to Contest #110

“Help!” The diner, made popular only because of its proximity to the interstate, had a retro theme. An old juke box stood in one corner, and old vinyl records were stapled to the walls. The orange seats were faded by the sun streaming in every afternoon, and the floors were so worn or dirty that you could barely identify the pattern that they once boasted. There were only six booths and some worn swivel bar stools at the counter. He pushed me into the furthest booth from the door and sat next to me blocking me in. I ...

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“First Day” by Kaleen Kar

Submitted to Contest #110

First Day Hazel stood outside Danny’s Diner, running her hands down the pretty pale pink uniform and white apron to smooth out the creases. Of course, there were no creases. It was her nerves she was trying to smooth out. She had lived in this small town all her life and she loved it. She always felt safe. Everyone looked out for her, not just her three brothers. But that was also the problem. Everything she did was under scrutiny from everyone, and today was her first day at work. She took a deep breath when a voice came from behind. ‘Eve...

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Set your story in a roadside diner.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 59 stories

“Abram's Diner” by Ginger Crook

“The Night Shift” by Adam Jones

“Road Trip” by McKeon Gardella

“Last Resort Diner” by Basha McCrumb

“Waiting for Anti-Godot” by Danny Lopez

“Leader of the Pack” by Avril Armstrong

“Sunny Side Diner” by Nikki Madigan

“Frosty Stop Encounter” by Randolph Pierce

“Dandelion” by Jacqueline Paige

“Closing Time” by Kayla Peart

“Grey's Place - A Diner Story ” by Ashton Newland

“Two pieces of burnt” by P.J. Lowry

“Help!” by Angela Hausch

“First Day” by Kaleen Kar

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a couple who fall out on the road.

Start your story with a vehicle pulling over for a hitchhiker.

Write about a character on the road — and on the run.

Start your story with the line “We have plenty of time,” and/or end it with the line “We were never going to make it.”

Contest #110

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

209

Contest entries

144

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: