Write a story that begins, ends, or changes with a song played by a busker.

Posted in Fiction on Sep 29, 2023

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✍️ 27 stories

“The Newly Dead” by Jonathan Page

It’s 1:13 a.m. on a Monday night when Bob sends me a pro bono assignment, and I am too dead inside to spare an ounce of compassion. I am being appointed counsel to Arles Ortega and Christina Lima Ortega and their daughter Anabel who are seeking asylum from Ecuador. Another thankless task—Ecuadorians are almost always denied asylum—all they can ever prove is vague government persecution, but it’s impossible to put meat on the bones and show personal stakes.I’m still in my office on the 32nd floor of Lex...

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“Immobilized Echoes” by Waaa Intresting

Momentarily hooked in, by the shimmering rings,Our hearts somehow crooked.Separate worlds sometimes collide, where yours merges with mine.Maybe in the mornings grace, the lies can briefly take place.But at night, passions will burn, desires will rush.You and I, our silence will be hushed.I heard before, we are rather like puzzles, to be exact. Puzzles pieces. These puzzle pieces, in their endless diversity, possess the ability to metamorphose, to adapt to the ever-changing landscape. Ye...

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“Maestra” by Laura Ethington

Eve followed the cobblestone to the heart of the quiet, picturesque little town. Setting down her bag and worn violin case, she looked around at the sleepy square, knowing it would soon be full of colorful chatter, heavily spiced meats, and lively music. She intended to add herself to the tuneful mix but had a stop to make first. She had heard through her travels that this town had recently burned a witch. Morbid curiosi...

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“The Sound of Violence” by Jed Cope

Hello darkness, round the bend The words are clothed in the familiar. They are imposters, I know they are wrong. But that is not all that is wrong. The music comes through in ragged asynchronous waves. My eyesight pulses dark clouds of incomprehension with every beat of my troubled heart. The tune is warped and yet I know it all too well. I heard this music when I was a child. Happier times. It w...

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“A Hole in my Soul” by Rudy Greene

I’ve got a hole in my soul It’s getting bigger and bigger Don’t push me babe, I’ll pull the trigger Did I hear those lyrics correctly? The acoustics in the airport are terrible. The crowd around the Springsteen wannabe makes it difficult to get any closer. I’ve just arrived at Sea Tac in Seattle from Vancouver. The young Busker has set up at the end of a long corridor in ...

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“For Millie and Drew” by Zack Herman

I’m walking down the street, lost in my thoughts. The work week is over and I want to do is go home and drown my sorrows. Now that I’m single again, that’s about the best I can hope for.I don’t notice the busker until the toe of my shoe bumps into his guitar case.The case is open and there is some money in it. Mostly coins. I see quarters, dimes, and a few pennies. Not much in the way of currency. I see a few fives, a ten and several ones.Behind the case stands one of the least p...

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“The Ones You See” by Mary Manning

Greg was living an enchanted life. He had a condo, a hot girlfriend, and a career that killed. He was at the top of his game and nothing was going to stop him. He walked down the cement that laid a foundation of his personal will, he was strong and able, that was bullet proof. The downtown area was a gem that had been restored and rectified to assure longevity and courage for every person that walked in it. ...

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“Song of the Seaside ” by M. M.

A mother/daughter travel tale from the soul. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed sharing. "So glad we are checked in here finally. Not a bad room eh mom?" I breathed emotion in my words. Mom was not young anymore, even this trip would take a lot out of her energy level. We placed our luggage down as we inspected out our new 'home' for the next week."Not bad at all. We should be very comfortable here." Martha murmured tiredness in her voice. I had already started changed into something warm. Br...

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“Nothing special?” by Angie Ferguson

There was nothing special about this day. Saturday, July 5th. Melissa was walking around downtown, looking at the tourists. They were everywhere, and she smiled a bit when she saw a mother trying to hold on to a five year old rushing away. She had nothing to do today, but was hoping that she could soon find enough cash to get off the couch at her friend Beth’s house. Beth had been good to put her up after her...

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“The Final Melody” by Nikita Kovalov

Has a melody ever compelled you to stop dead in your tracks, your very being gripped by an overwhelming sense of dread?This very phenomena happened to one Jeremiah Peabody, a retired military officer, during a leisurely stroll through Covent Garden on a bright September afternoon in 1922. The uncharacteristically crisp and invigorating air was filled with the unsettling sound of a frankly unremarkable busker and his trumpet, whose erratic notes, inconsistent tone, and amateur technique did more to vex rather than amuse t...

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“Can't Help Falling in Love” by Julianna Nauman

Sussex, 2023 Arthur strolled down the narrow cobblestone street with his hands stuffed into his brown slacks. His fingers fidgeted with a small chainless silver heart locket he persistently carried around. The stones were slick from rain that fell not too long ago. Light droplets sprinkled and Arthur admired how they looked like a bunch of shooting stars in the glow of the street lights. Few clun...

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“Striking A Chord” by Joe Forgue

Downtown. City sounds abound. A cacophony. I find a spot catty-corner from the McD's-. Boy, wouldn't a hot coffee be great," I say as i pull out my Hohner. Under my armpit, it warms up enough for me to go through a few scales. My sleep was restless, but dreamy melodies gave me some peace. I sit and play City of New Orleans with its "Good Morning, America" refrain. A few coins drop my way. Perhaps this day wi...

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“Should I Ever Forget ” by John K Adams

Ray thought ‘fanciful’ would impress Willow for their first date. Set up by a friend, they’d only spoken by phone. Once in the restaurant, he reconsidered. Willow was visibly uncomfortable in the whimsical surroundings. Playing it safe would have been better strategy. The waiter dressed as the Mad Hatter took it too far. Unless the trajectory made a radical shift, it would be their last date. Though they raced thr...

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“For My Love, Victor” by Alex Nicholls

Content Warning: Traffic Accident, DeathThere’s an old man playing on his violin, completely oblivious — or uncaring — to the chaos around him. His violin’s worn down and clearly loved. There are words engraved on the wood — For My Love, Victor.The tune’s familiar but Nathan Greene can’t think of its name. It’s slow, melancholic, dreamy, and it’s not the usual type of music that Nathan listens to; nevertheless, he stops to take it in. If he actually had any bills in his wallet, he’d approach and drop a few ...

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“Awful Busker” by John Jenkins

It was 1:31 pm when Jamison arrived there, at the Piazza Romanazza in the Pietro district of Italy. He was looking for someone, checking their faces. In each face, he saw only a trace of his quarry. Some fit in certain ways, it seemed. He almost settled on a few. But she’s with another man, that can’t be her, he’d say to himself. Suddenly, he looked across the Piazza Romanazza. Did he see her? The object of his f...

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Write a story that begins, ends, or changes with a song played by a busker.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“The Newly Dead” by Jonathan Page

“Immobilized Echoes” by Waaa Intresting

“Maestra” by Laura Ethington

“The Sound of Violence” by Jed Cope

“A Hole in my Soul” by Rudy Greene

“For Millie and Drew” by Zack Herman

“The Ones You See” by Mary Manning

“Song of the Seaside ” by M. M.

“Nothing special?” by Angie Ferguson

“The Final Melody” by Nikita Kovalov

“Can't Help Falling in Love” by Julianna Nauman

“Striking A Chord” by Joe Forgue

“Should I Ever Forget ” by John K Adams

“For My Love, Victor” by Alex Nicholls

“Awful Busker” by John Jenkins

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin a scene with a non-visual sense. Describe a specific sound, smell, taste, etc to capture your setting, then expand the story out from there.

Start the story with the absence of a sensory detail (eg. silence when there should be noise).

‘Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once.’ Use the senses to transport a character back to the past.

‘The worst meal I’ve ever tasted.’ Imagine a zero-star TripAdvisor restaurant review: capture the customer’s evening out that compelled them to complain.

Contest #218

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

348

Contest entries

99

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: