Write about a character who has to rely on the hospitality of strangers.

Posted in Fluff on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 97 stories

“Civil Disobedience ” by Isla Wren

Submitted to Contest #96

This story is inspired by the true story of Julia ‘Butterfly’ Hill.CW: a bit of language************************************He said you were a willful child. Homeschooled in a thirty five foot camper van, a daughter bookended by sons. You explored the campsites, ran barefoot through silvery streams, hefted firewood, and scaled the most lithe of limbs. When you were six, a butterfly, iridescent as the eye of a peacock feather, perched on your finger during a family hike, and lingered the entire afternoon. You were Julia ...

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“They never really knew me” by Kathy Landes

Submitted to Contest #96

I had to do it! I had to get away. I was a single mom living in a city were everyone swore they knew everything there was to know about me. I made arrangement with a lawyer and a friend to watch my child for a term on no longer than one year. Then I headed to my old church’s yearly revival. If I stayed, I knew I would become homicidal. I also knew the church would have one of their outreach programs so I went and looked at the sign-up board to see who was going were and noticed to young people from France were heading...

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“Humility” by Anna Tishchenko

Submitted to Contest #96

It was kind of like a knack. This thing her son could do to people. They simply liked him, wanted to do things for him, take care of him. He was decent looking, but not what you would call traditionally handsome, his hair was dark and his eyes light and that combination was always striking, just like his father he was hard to miss in a crowd. Ever since he was a c...

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“Ginger” by Maria Avisal

Submitted to Contest #96

The initial jolt forward and loud clacking noise that followed integrated into my dream before the wind whipping through the door grew strong enough to wake me up. Opening my eyes, I had to suppress a rising panic at the sight of dark trees zooming past the boxcar as the train gained speed. How could I have been stupid enough to fall asleep here? There wasn’t a valid excuse, and I knew that, but I understood that I had been too tired and scared to think straight when I pulled myself into the car to rest and stay dry in a safe ...

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“The Debt” by Matt Brooks

Submitted to Contest #96

The man fled across the homes of the quiet neighborhood. He jumped over fences, zig-zagging throughout, when he slipped on a patch of wet sod, smashing into a large terracotta pot. "Brandy, Corey, get upstairs now! Elan, get my pistol from the nightstand! Damn these gangbangers!" Mark turned on the porchlight and peeked out the glass door into the backyard. At first glance, he saw nothing, then hearing a splash, he looked towards the pool. "Here is your pistol, and please be careful out there." Mark opened the door slowly and shout...

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“Lost in Fate by Rhea Saincher” by Rhea Saincher

Submitted to Contest #96

Dear diary, September 23rd, Monday, 5:20 PM, 2016 I have just entered the JFK airport of the U.S.A. I am currently wearing a lovely blue coloured skirt and I am wearing a white coloured t-shirt that look very similar to the walls and the floor in the airport. Before I entered the JFK airport i saw its peculiar shape intrigued me and I loved how it was so unique. It smells like orange blossom, full of the best shops in history I can just sniff the fresh leather and the exciting things I will do only in the airport. I can see the bright lights...

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“Tent City” by Winston Smith

Submitted to Contest #96

Imani watched the screen of her mobile phone black out as the battery died, leaving only the dull reflection of her face in the screen to keep her company. It wouldn’t matter if she could find somewhere to charge it; she had no one to call. She stuffed the phone in her purse, hoping it would still be worth something later on. If anything, she could sell it back to the store. She slouched into the rigid park bench, threw her head back, and allowed the heavy winter rain to ruin her makeup. Less than three weeks ago, Imani was (rapidly) climb...

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“THE MAN WITH THE MOLE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #96

(This story is set in planet GAIA2 which is earth’s twin about 800 years younger and is evolving.)Commander Paz stood on a man-of- war while on a naval exercise planned for bad weather conditions in night time. The bad weather suddenly turned severe causing his ship to founder in deep sea. He and 14 others were swept away in the waters. Paz was lucky to seize an oar and remained floating till he was cast on the shore. In the morning, when he opened his eyes, he saw he was lying on the shore with 2 females guarding him. He said in a low voice...

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“Night of the Big Wind” by Kate Zerrenner

Submitted to Contest #96

On the Saturday, snow harangued the village, falling in heavy threads like thick woolen stitches. By morning, the snow had stopped, but the slaty clouds hung low, casting a pallor on all those venturing out for mass for the Epiphany. By afternoon, it grew warm, and the rains came, followed by fierce gales the like of which no one had ever seen. People would talk about it for generations, some folk setting their age by it. It would be known forevermore as Oíche na Gaoithe Móire, the Night of the Big Wind.My family left Ireland that weekend, b...

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“Over” by Clarissa Reyna

Submitted to Contest #96

The moment Mara walked out of the blistering cold rain and into the warm interior of the Robin’s Nest Inn, was the moment she knew it was over. She hadn’t yet got the corresponding text from her brother, Ryan, to tell her so, but the tranquil atmosphere of the vacant hotel gave her the impression that she would be safe. Mara took her first relieved breath in what seemed like months. She would only need to stay here a while longer until she got the text that would change her world for the better. Then she and Ryan woul...

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“BUT FORTHE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS” by Stephanie Lawrence

Submitted to Contest #96

"Oh my God! I can't believe I'm not hurt! That deer ran out right in front of my car. It could have killed me!" Amanda said, her voice shaking. She looked around in a daze. "I never thought I'd thank a fence for being my door stop. I could have driven right into that huge tree, but running into the fence was lucky. I'm not hurt much, I don't think." She stopped and did a quick assessment of herself. As she did so, she felt a little trickle on her forehead. Still shaking, she ran her fingers gently up around her hairline and her hand came awa...

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“Gemma's Wild Mind Theories” by Gloria P.

Submitted to Contest #96

After wandering around aimlessly through the countryside with a good-for-nothing sparrow to serve as my guide... I had no choice but to rely on a tiny smelly town just beyond the river. "This is your fault, Dunkin," I growled at the sparrow who chirped a hurt noise at me before flying up to sit on my head. Thoughts and thoughts bloomed in my mind: What kind of village is this? Would I die here? Would they be angry at me for intruding? Would the smelly village smell rub off on my clothes? It was crazy to me that the last was more scary than a...

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“Southern Hospitality” by Lindsay Armour

Submitted to Contest #96

Content warning: gore “I know it’s not ideal but I can’t come get you. You could possibly walk into town and catch a ride from someone?” I shake my head and sigh into the phone. I was supposed to be driving up to my cousin’s house to spend the night for my job interview because he lives close to where my new job would be, however, my car decided this was the perfect time to break down. “That’s how people get murdered, Cory,” I deadpan. “I’m sorry, but I’m stuck at work all night tonight. Boss sprung third shift on me today.” I can’t he...

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“Below the Fight ” by Gracie Farrar

Submitted to Contest #96

France, 1944Bullets tear at us through the blackened husk of civilization. It is night, and the pinpricks of bright gunfire scatter amongst the wreckage of buildings. The cacophony mixes with the surprised shouts of men on either side of me.First Lieutenant Heath presses a hand on his helmet and ducks. “Take cover!”I drop to a crouch and scramble towards a tall piece of concrete. A bullet rams into my shoulder and I fall. I don’t have time to recover. I pull myself the rest of the way as bullets impale the ground around me.I lean back agains...

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“Rose Tinted” by Alice Hansen

Submitted to Contest #96

I don’t know how long I’ve been here. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here for. Maybe this is it, my tiny universe, and I’m the only planet. A lonely, dying planet, on the brink of extinction from this desolate existence. I orbit, spinning and spinning for all eternity, lost and confused, knowing nothing, knowing no one. Unable to recall anything but the confines of my own mind. I’ve been here, I think, since I was a child. Maybe since I was born. Bright new eyes searching in the darkness, finding nothing but the walls that confine me....

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Write about a character who has to rely on the hospitality of strangers.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 97 stories

“Civil Disobedience ” by Isla Wren

“They never really knew me” by Kathy Landes

“Humility” by Anna Tishchenko

“Ginger” by Maria Avisal

“The Debt” by Matt Brooks

“Lost in Fate by Rhea Saincher” by Rhea Saincher

“Tent City” by Winston Smith

“THE MAN WITH THE MOLE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“Night of the Big Wind” by Kate Zerrenner

“Over” by Clarissa Reyna

“BUT FORTHE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS” by Stephanie Lawrence

“Gemma's Wild Mind Theories” by Gloria P.

“Southern Hospitality” by Lindsay Armour

“Below the Fight ” by Gracie Farrar

“Rose Tinted” by Alice Hansen

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about strangers becoming friends, or friends becoming strangers.

Start your story with the arrival of a strange visitor in a small town.

Write about someone welcoming a stranger into their home.

Start your story in an empty guest room.

Contest #96

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

858

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: