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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story where a regular household item becomes sentient.

Posted in Fantasy on Feb 23, 2024

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 128 stories

“The Light of My Life” by Cara Fidler

Submitted to Contest #239

 The Light of My Life                                             by Cara Fidler Note: Some sexual content that may not be suitable for minors. Enveloped in the sweet warmth and comfort of my embroidered silk comforter in the inky darkness of my bedroom, I switched on the tiny lamp on the table beside m...

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“A morning inside” by Atlas Juglall

Submitted to Contest #239

Samora woke up to a flicker of light and a soft, low, periodic electric buzz. Like a flashing neon sign above an old hotel, the bedside lamp beamed its warm yellow rays on his face. He instinctively brushed over his eyes and turned to face the other way. He could feel a cool sweat on his hand from his forehead, complementing another pool on his chest. Sam wondered if this was the remnant of an unremembered nightmare. He strained his mind to see past that gaping hole through the wall of a … nope… no further memory of that dream. Granted, howe...

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“Phil the Toaster” by Michael Robinson

Submitted to Contest #239

     Of all the things he owned, why was it the toaster that came to life?  It happened on one of the worst days in all 42 years of the life of Thomas Aquinas Jones.  He had just been laid off by the IT firm he had devoted the last fifteen years of his life to in the name of downsizing, and his girlfriend had walked out on him that morning.  All he needed was a dead dog and he’d be the subject of a Country and Western hit.      Near the end of that terrible day, he arrived at h...

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“A chat with Joe Booker” by Bill Miller

Submitted to Contest #239

"Put my lid back on, you're letting all the heat out!""What? Who said that?""I said, put my lid back on, you're letting all the heat out! After all these years you've never noticed how long it takes me to heat your food back up after you take my lid off? Put my lid back on!""Are you...are you talking to me?" "You're the only one still living in this house, so yeah, I'm talking to you. Who'd you think I was talking to, the toaster? That dumbass bread warmer never has anything original to say anyways, always the s...

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““Out of The Box Thinking”: Musings of Inmate 66” by Heather Kramer

Submitted to Contest #239

We lost another member of the community this morning.  And I don't know how much longer I might have.  You see, we’d been here a good long time before the disappearances started. Things were quiet, and everyone was watching out for each other. We had a good thing going, all things considered.  Then, one day, two of our group members were gone. In a split second, they just vanished. According to the rumor mill, there was no warning. It was as if the ceiling just opened, and something extracted them. Others in the group st...

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“To See Or Not To See” by Jim Gray

Submitted to Contest #239

To See or not to see.      “What the hell is wrong with this thing today?” Being a struggling writer is hard enough, I’m sure you know well. Some days, words fall out your head like golden leaves in autumn, and on others, life seems to give you cerebral constipation. Actually, I’m not sure that likening the literary art to pumping out faeces really shows my abilities in the best light, but there you go, it’s said now. Once the coveted nature’s beauty, or carpet of poop is spread on the pristine page, you then have ...

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“C.W.” by Katie Weed

Submitted to Contest #239

When I opened my medicine cabinet, it shouted, "Howdy!"  I quickly peered out to my bedroom TV, but it was off, and I didn't hear any other noises.   I yawned and decided my eyes must have closed and put me back into dreamland for a second.  I reached for my brand-new tube of toothpaste. The red tube vibrated every-so-slightly in my hand and asked, "What ‘cha doing today, young feller?"   I dropped it.  "Dang! That hurt!" it cried.  "Stupid dream," I muttered and began blinking my eyes and pinching my arm hard.&...

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“The Table” by Nick Wojcik

Submitted to Contest #239

Bryce drove along the north shore lost in thought, which was easy to do for most people given the surrounding beauty of the drive. Anyone expecting white sands and turquoise blue waters to match their google image searches would be disappointed. But this was the real north shore to Bryce; the steel blue waters of Lake Superior, the jagged cliffs carved out to make room for the voyageur road, and the endless expanse of pine trees giving much needed air to a brain deep in thought. Bryce pulled over at a scenic viewpoint just north of Two Ha...

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“The engineer’s home” by Sana S

Submitted to Contest #239

First, an explosion of light. Next, bitter moisture and paper pulp all over me.  “Welcome.” A medium-built bespectacled man looked at himself as he spoke to me.  “Mirror, mirror on the wall, you’re now at my beck and call.” For three days I did not see him again.  On the first day, I made friends.  On the second day I learned that a ball of fire called the sun is particularly flashy at certain hours. My informants—a table lamp, a chaise, and balcony railing— taught me&n...

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“Toby's Mug ” by Scott B

Submitted to Contest #239

The Toby mug sat dead center on the middle shelf, right at perfect eye level. There was nothing on either side of it. Rachael wanted it that way. She didn't want any distractions when she looked at her special possession. It was the only tangible link with meaning that she had left of her Uncle Erik who had passed away just three months previously. The old Toby mug was his favourite possession, and he often told Rachael about how much it meant to him. Uncle Erik was Rachael's best buddy, she was an only child and didn't have any other relati...

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“The Jewerly Box” by Rebecca Northrup

Submitted to Contest #239

“It’s my turn!” Gold Hoops said with petulance and more than a little indignation. “I’ve matched every outfit this week and still, she’s picked something absolutely ghastly to wear instead.” Gold Hoops was lucky indeed that “absolutely ghastly” Southwestern Silver earrings purchased on a road trip through New Mexico by Mia’s mom, were not within earshot. She was, in fact, on The Ears, and Southwestern Silver was as rough and tough as they come, a real mountain girl who could swing and poke you with the silver feather that dangled from two ...

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“The Strappy Red Sandals I Bought for You” by Linda Wendling

Submitted to Contest #239

 So I got those cute strappy red sandals I wrote you about, got red toenails to match them, too, bought both at this pricey salon just down the hill from where I tracked your villa the second night I got to Capri. I am not a stalker.I just need an answer. I do have to say, though, I think you would fall in love with me if only you’d come here and meet me.I cannot follow you one more time around this island.I cannot chase you any longer, and— --I THINK YOU KNOW WHY! Look, I am not one to judge Italian men. I do not bu...

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“Annalise” by Arlin Dixon

Submitted to Contest #239

Annalise stares at her thighs, spread out against the mattress on the edge of the bed. She’d been sick most of the night, and it was now everything she could do to remain upright. Hunched over, but upright. She wipes the drool from the side of her mouth and raises her head. Headrush. She closes her eyes again, taking as deep a breath as her congested lungs will allow. She needs a pill. Something to remove the knife jabbing into her skull. But that is all the way downstairs, and she is all the way upstairs. Not for the first time, Annalise wi...

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“I Am” by Mark Lund

Submitted to Contest #239

I don’t remember when it first happened. I suddenly just became aware of whatever I was. I suppose it’s much like that little girl I see with her mother. Every morning, every afternoon, every evening. Did they know when they came into existence? No matter, it is what it is. But unlike them who communicate with each other, they don’t talk to me, but they use me anytime they want. Worse, they look right at me or should I say through me. It was annoying when I first became aware of myself, but now I’m just used to it. I do remember those ear...

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“Grommet” by Anna Kenney

Submitted to Contest #239

The house renovations were finally complete. Maya spent the last part of her Sunday hanging curtains and pictures throughout the house. When she was done, she settled on the couch to admire all the work. Just then, the doorbell rang. Maya answered the door to find her best friend, Andrea, standing on the other side with flowers and dinner. “Oh, my goodness! You didn’t have to do this for me!” Maya exclaimed. Andrea walked in, hugged Maya, and handed her the beautiful bouquet of mixed flowers. “You are my best friend. Who else would I do it...

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