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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story in which societal rituals and expectations play a key role.

Posted in Fiction on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 18 stories

“Peace and love” by Fran Tracey

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #9

The choice of songs comes as a surprise. Only, in truth, it shouldn’t. The song at the top of the list is one that evokes special memories. Memories that cause my ears to wince, although I can’t resist a smile at what I read either. ‘Meatloaf, cool,’ I say, keeping my voice light, bright, as though I’m in no way fazed. Mum was always tunelessly telling the world she’d be gone when the morning came at the top of her voice while washing up in a river, driving, wherever. We’d join in when encouraged to do so, but only reluctantly. And quietly, ...

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“Primetime Maria” by Agas Ramirez

Submitted to Contest #9

Fade in, focus on me.My name is Maria. What a nice name, people always tell me, Maria is a perfect name for someone so sweet. My parents say it’s because Maria is the name of the virgin, and they always remind me of this when they run out of things to say. I come from a poor family; my father is a slave in fields that are not ours, my mother is a servant in rich houses, and my older brother does nothing but stay out in the fields and talk nonsense to his carabao.I’m very beautiful, of course, I wouldn’t be the star of this tel...

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“Suffrage or Satin.” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #9

'Mama,' Lady Isabel called out from her boudoir, 'may I have the key to Papa's study?'' Of course, dearest Isabel,' Countess Beatrice replied, ' but why do you need the key to the study? Are you not presently engaged in choosing your gown for the Harvest Ball with Earl Edward as your escort?''Mama,' Isabel responded, 'my primary responsibility is presently to the Suffrage Movement. We have serious matters to address in London on Saturday. Suffrage has just been granted, a mere six months ago. Many legal matters remain to ...

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“Auntie Maggie's Birthday” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #9

AUNTIE MAGGIE’S BIRTHDAYI suppose every family has its own particular celebrations and punctuation in the calendar. Alongside Christmas or Chanukah, or whatever, alongside Valentine’s day or Halloween, or St Patrick’s Day or Mother’s Day – well, you get my message. I don’t need to go through a list of everything inspired by sincere faith or genuine affections, or the whims of the Greetings Cards industry. But I don’t mean the happy or sad ones that are random and sporadic like weddings or funerals – I’m talking about the annua...

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“PENDENT” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #9

Devaki, the maid servant, while sweeping, picked up a piece of paper lying on the floor and gave it to Vasudevan. He realised it was a prescription from a doctor from a fertility centre. “My goodness! Who requires assistance-, my son or my daughter in law! He wondered. Since it was a highly personal topic for open discussion, he decided to meet the doctor and find out. He had his own fears of some unknown bitter curses raining on his family. Some years ago, he had a neighbour who came to reside in the next portion. They had a peculiar proble...

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“Make do” by Carolyn Bayne

Submitted to Contest #9

Deep in the mountains of Tijuana, lay a small village, where the people lived so humbly. They didn't really need much for they were satisfied with what they had.  The village had remained how it was for many decades, the young had moved away to the city leaving the older folk to tend to their wares. It was the same for Miguel and Rosina, who were childhood sweet hearts, they got married very young and were still together, they had a secret to their longevity of togetherness but never revealed...

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“Pranti and the dark room” by Nisha Thapa

Submitted to Contest #9

PRANTI AND THE DARK ROOM Pranti found it strange when she noticed the dead red color on her underwear. She thought she is going to die. She rushed to her mom who was doing her mundane yarn work. Pranti called her mom and whispered on her ears .Both of them went inside the bathroom and stayed quiet for a while .Pranti pulled her inner wear and showed her mom that red thing. “Mom, What is it? Am I going to die? I don’t want to die. I have to win that quiz competition.” Her mom, Lata looked disgusted and cursed herself for giving birth to ...

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“Well i'm not allowed to,but ill come...” by Savitha Elumalai

Submitted to Contest #9

It was back then when the radio was peoples iPhone and carts were considered as BMWs. It took place in a small village in the big city called Madraspatinam now Chennai in India. It was the time when the Indians were fighting against the East Indian Company for their motherland. It revolves around a mother, who married a British man and had a daughter. Now sixteen years later the daughter is grown up and is already fighting for her rights unaware that some rights exit only to be denied…and her dad is far off fighting in the Second World War l...

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“The Bride with Bangles” by Arshi Arora

Submitted to Contest #9

It was the night of her wedding. She lay awake ogling at the rotating ceiling fan. Ashoke was fast asleep. Since the time their parents arranged this marriage, which was only two months ago, she’d always tried to picture how this night would unfold. She had many versions of it. But her favorite was one where they held hands and talked all night.She was happy ... nervous but happy. Happy to have found a man, who she believed, with time, would become her friend. She often imagined their life together- travelling to scenic lands ... she loved b...

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“What Lies Beyond the Walls” by Aurora Hidalgo

Submitted to Contest #9

For as long as anyone cared to remember, the sea was for the most part untouchable. As kids, they were told tales of alluring killers, enormous creatures and never ending depths. Children's books would ingrain the bravest of souls of a fear towards the ever rolling, never changing waves. Beaches were surrounded by tall walls kept under watch and if you were to sneak close enough to them you’d hear the loud crashing of water, the sounds of a world unknown. Any attempts to gaze upon the salty waters, were prohibited, the walls were watched by ...

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“Judge, Jury, Escape” by Ian Kirkpatrick

Submitted to Contest #9

Dedicated to the love of my life, Sam.Judge, Jury, Escape           I’m running through the fields. Eyes watching me, glaring at me with disgust and disdain. They pierce me like knives as I run through the brush. Beating me slowly. I lose energy and my run becomes a jog, my jog becomes a walk, and my walk becomes a crawl. They close in, with the bats of judgment in their hands. I recognize their faces. The ones who are supposed to love me, to care for me, to always be there for me… One p...

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“laissezz le bon temps rouler” by Sharon Raymond

Submitted to Contest #9

“Laissez le bon temps rouler”                   “Let the good times roll” is the motto for Mardi Gras. I’ve dressed up as part of the fun for many years. However, a some costume choices made for me when I was a child show how the times have changed. Some were taken with a cheap Brownie camera using black and white film. In the 1950s, we would take the film to be developed and get the whole roll back as little three by four booklets held together wi...

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“Show, Don't Tell” by Kenneth Johnson

Submitted to Contest #9

Jonathon slowed the Lexus to a crawl as he drove down the narrow parking lane. He had learned the hard way to be prepared for the unexpected. He pulled into the slot marked “Reserved for Dr. Jonathon Spellman, Ph.D., Chairman, Ethics Department.” Glancing into the rearview mirror, he locked eyes with his reflection, watching the blue eyes in the mirror narrow. “I know, I know. Ethics is about truthfulness but where do you draw the line? “He walked across the campus to the lecture hall. Several students waved and greeted him with “Good Mornin...

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“The Ritual” by Jenny Toupin

Submitted to Contest #9

Hand-held lanterns lit the dampened concrete, reflections of the twirling flames left in the puddles. About ten men and woman with thick leather boots trudged through the rain and mud carrying the body on rowan beams that rested on their shoulders. Thirty more people followed close behind, carrying torches and bowing their heads. Their faces were covered by gas masks that resembled a witch doctor costume. Ceremonial black capes covered the rest of their bodies, leaving no skin shown. Even their hands that held up that wooden structure were c...

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“A Family Affair” by Babette Gallard

Submitted to Contest #9

God must have created our family on one of his headache days, or after having to deal with a particularly venal sin. Either way, the brain genes he put together for my parents, me and my siblings, are a mess.  And just in case you’re thinking, C’mon, it can’t be as bad as all that, I’ll give you the inventory.First in line, Christopher, named after my grandfather. Not because I’m special, but because I was the first to arrive. Though actually Mom and I do have a special relationship, because I have her to thank for m...

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