Start your story with someone saying “Thanks a lot” (sarcastically or sincerely).

Posted in Fiction on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 42 stories

“No Thank Hugh” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Thanks a lot for coming in tonight—you are a wonderful crowd. Now get out of here!” Hugh’s trademark comedic snark teeters between sincerity and sarcasm. The audience does not know how to take his tone, so they laugh even harder, cheering and whistling at the close of his set. But Hugh is already off stage, walking through the venue's hectic kitchen and out into the dark alley before the waitresses drop checks on the comedy club’s sticky tables. The alley is empty and cold. Hugh puts his head ...

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“The Right Gift” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Author's note: hatred and violence due to racial differences.“Thanks a lot”, John White said sarcastically. He closed the front door, went to his cold bedroom, opened the drawer of his wooden nightstand, took his old revolver, sat down on his comfortable bed, breathed in deeply, looked at his upset face in the mirror, and killed himself without thinking much about it… or after a fast-convincing thought. John White ...

4 comments 4

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“The Guitar Player” by Hannah-Grace Botkin

“Thanks a lot,” I say. I sigh and bend down to pick the crumpled one-dollar bill that landed in front of my feet on the sidewalk. I’m not homeless by the way, I just like to sit on the street corner to play my guitar. The streets are littered with leaves that scrape along the asphalt in the crisp autumn breeze. Sometimes when I play, I watch them float and dance as though they’re moved by the music. ...

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“Mono e Mono” by Matt P

(1)Thanks a lot but I can take it from here. We’re going right to the source. Cut out the middleman, because we’re back baby!I’m telling you this because I don’t want the board to be upset. Wouldn’t want an infraction on file now, would we? Before we get started there are some procedures and logistics to go through. HA, just kidding. I’m sure you have so many questions. Who am I?I am your automated guide to luxury. I am the genesis of se...

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“Tainted Water” by Mariah Heller

“Thanks a lot! You’re the best, big brother!” hollered Jackson, waving wildly as his older brother drove away. At twenty-four, he was finally moved into his first apartment. Well, calling himself moved in was an exaggeration. His stuff was piled in haphazardly-labeled boxes scattered throughout his small little two-bedroom space. When Jason’s taillights disappeared into the darkness, Jackson headed upstairs to decide what he wanted to do. The eternal question of any independent young man: start un...

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“The woman in the red hat” by Fatima Jawaid

“Thanks a lot,” I heard the woman say as she piled napkins into her free hand. She sounded like she meant it.Curious to investigate such a blatant display of sincere gratitude, I peered at the woman over the top of my glasses like she was a specimen on display, and I was tasked with dissecting her very being. She wore a red hat and stood so straight that I could see it almost teetering off the top of her head. She was very quick to laugh, countering whatever the man behind the cart said with ease. His eyes twinkled in re...

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“Bartender's Whims” by Sarenity Charm

TW: Swearing.‘’Thanks a lot.”“Thanks a lot? Really?! That’s all you have to say to me?”“What?”“Oh! I’m sorry, I forgot that everything you do gets cancelled out whenever you deem it so!”“Oh, come on! Is it really that big of a deal?!”The flippant words struck Oliver like a physical blow. His shoulders fell along with his face and his heart. He stared into the face of his older brother and felt the divide between them cement even fur...

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“Hot Summer Day” by Thomas Giorgione

“Thanks a lot, Gole,” Wirien said, over his shoulder. I watched Wirien choke the tourist. “I mean—we should probably kill him—just in case.” I shook my head no, and he removed his hands from the man’s throat. The tourist, his convention badge read Marvin Cooke, collapsed, dropped his cell phone, and wheezed long grateful breaths. Wirien grabbed the conventioneer’s phone, the phone with a recording of Wiriens first and o...

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“In Other Words, I Don't Think This Is Pretend Anymore” by Kara Heisler

Warning: Language “Thanks a lot,” Tay said, rolling his eyes. He attempted to elbow the annoying person to his left, but failed miserably. “Oh come on, I’m not wrong! Clearly I’m the only one willing to do this for you, you should be thankful and accept the offer!” Jensen exclaimed. Tay sighed and wiggled around on the armchair to get a bit more...

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“Seriously? ” by Wendy Simmons

Thanks a lot, America. Every single day I wake up and ask myself will this be the day. Will this be the day something goes wrong on my day to day walk of life being a black man. Will this be the day that I’m at the grocery store, while I’m in the produce section trying to determine which avocado is worthy of my toast in the morning and someone says something to me that will set off a chain of events that may end my life?...

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“it is what you make it” by Keri Dyck

“Thank you. Thanks a lot.” Dione swallowed and blinked, but a few tears dripped down her cheek anyway. She drew in a sharp breath to quell a sob and grasped the hand of the man in front of her. “I promise to repay you, I will.”“Take your time, Dione. I’m glad I could help. It’s the least I could do for—for Arne.” He patted her hand and dropped it, then turned away. He glanced through the observation window once before walking down the hall and out the door. Dione faced the window, set her shoulders...

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“Kitchen Heat” by Alex Klitzke

“Thanks a lot mom.” Christina can already feel the rush of blood to her head that signals a migraine. Coming to her mother’s place had been a last resort. She feels like a teenager again. “I don’t need the everyday condescension and I need it even less while I’m in the middle of a divorce.” Her mother, Lisa, shrugs bony shoulders and continues cutting the carrot resting on her cutting board. A pot of soup sit...

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“Owning His Portion” by Lydi B

“Thanks a lot,” Nadia said in her squeaky cartoon character voice. “This lovely spread wouldn’t be so grand without all your contributions.” Or my dad’s mansion surrounding it all, you shrew. Nadia’s silicone smile froze halfway across her cheeks as she gestured toward our brimming table. My dad nodded and kissed her cheek, forcing me to suppress my gag reflex. All twelve of us—several of whom should not...

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“Harangue, meringue and pass the marmalade...” by Lisa Wentworth

Start your story with someone saying “Thanks a l...

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“Wow! Thanks for the Epiphany” by Dee Ann Leger

GRATITUDE ILLUMINATED Thanks, A Lot...Ugh...and Wow...my thankfulness for this life lesson is deep and everlasting. This Thanksgiving time of year is dedicated to reminding us to be grateful. Grateful for family, friends, and even life lessons. Each of us as humans are complex creatures. Some of us are just passing through life without any thoughts outside of existing or su...

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Start your story with someone saying “Thanks a lot” (sarcastically or sincerely).

Submissions are closed

✍️ 42 stories

“No Thank Hugh” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“The Right Gift” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

“The Guitar Player” by Hannah-Grace Botkin

“Mono e Mono” by Matt P

“Tainted Water” by Mariah Heller

“The woman in the red hat” by Fatima Jawaid

“Bartender's Whims” by Sarenity Charm

“Hot Summer Day” by Thomas Giorgione

“In Other Words, I Don't Think This Is Pretend Anymore” by Kara Heisler

“Seriously? ” by Wendy Simmons

“it is what you make it” by Keri Dyck

“Kitchen Heat” by Alex Klitzke

“Owning His Portion” by Lydi B

“Harangue, meringue and pass the marmalade...” by Lisa Wentworth

“Wow! Thanks for the Epiphany” by Dee Ann Leger

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone giving or receiving a gift.

Write a story in which someone gets credit for something they didn’t do.

Write about a character who struggles to express their thanks.

Write about someone in a thankless job.

Contest #121

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

157

Contest entries

114

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: