Write a story about a character who's too polite to tell someone they don't like a gift given to them.

Posted in Funny on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 49 stories

“No More Mister Nice Guy” by Steve Kaye

Submitted to Contest #33

“Hello,” she said, picking up the kitchen phone. “No. Not yet. Yes, they’re both here. Okay, let me just give it to him and I’ll meet you at Neiman’s in about twenty minutes.”Upon hanging up, my mother walked into the dining room, picked up a large white Macy’s box, and dropped it on my lap.I was sitting on the couch in the family room, with my fiancé on my right and my father, sitting in his La-Z-Boy recliner on the left.My father removed his glasses and squinted as the gift slid off my lap to the floor. “What’s that?”My mother rolled her e...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Christmas Troubles” by Jacob Labagh

Submitted to Contest #33

Ah, yes, Christmas morning, the day when so many kids around the world wake up so early, wake up their parents and run downstairs, wait patiently until their parents drag themselves out of bed, and then rip open there presents, and dig through their stockings, I say so many kids because I always seem to be listening to stories of that happening, I never really get to experience that, I mean, sure I have Christmas, but I don't really get excited about it.Okay, that was a lot to just through on you all at once, maybe I should back up a little ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Always Tell the...” by Emily Ku

Submitted to Contest #33

Me. Zariza. Surely I’m polite. Once people actually know me, they say, “You’re very sympathetic.” I had no idea what that meant. After all, I was only in second grade when this happened. I knew no one, and I was very, well, despised by most of my fellow second graders. How was I despised, you say? Well, it started with my identical twin. I have a disease that I was born with. I couldn’t talk until I was about 6 years old. Ever since then, my mouth couldn’t move. I loved to read though. Mom says that I’m a special kid. I knew all the answers ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Post-Mortem” by Brammy Rajakumar

Submitted to Contest #33

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” If I hear that phrase one more time, I think I’ll melt into a puddle of tears. I accept the proffered hugs, the promises to help, and the acknowledgements of loss with a forced smile, clenching my teeth through the burn of tears, my voice now far too choked to string together full sentences. The line of friends and family and acquaintances who have come to support me streams around the corner, and I vow to speak with them all. My father would have done it; now, I will in his place. He was only able to reach...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Napoleon and the Boy Who Stayed” by Clara Wilde

Submitted to Contest #33

“It's...unique?” Darcy struggled to find the words to describe her gift.“It’s alive and kicking alright,” her older brother Peter leaned over to have a look.“I don’t get it…” proclaimed Gregory, the younger one. He crinkled up his nose in confusion.“Children, leave Darcy alone,” commanded their father. He placed a hand on Darcy’s shoulder and continued, “if your sister is going to prove to me that she can handle a car,” he stressed the word, “then she’ll have to show me she can handle this minor responsibility first.”Darcy’s face lit up, “a ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Thanks, Aunt Dalia ” by P S

Submitted to Contest #33

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The streets are covered in snow and the same three songs have been playing on repeat for days. Chrismas trees on every corner, covered in bright lights and ornaments. Most people sit in their homes, cozy, with a cup of hot chocolate and a smile on their face as they chat about things that don't really matter. But some unlucky few are a bit sloppy with their planning, so now they're rushing into the last couple store open, to buy a few last-minute gifts. Amanda was one of many who was now in her...

1 comment 1

Read story

“I really don't like green.” by Dhanya ~

Submitted to Contest #33

I stood awkwardly near my locker. Where was he? I chewed on my lip, bouncing lightly from foot to foot as I anticipated him. To be fair, I’m not really eager to see him. He’s been off school for so long that I may as well just forget him. I mean, what’s the point? Why was he taking so long? I checked my watch. 20 past 3. The bus was coming in 10 minutes and I should be going. I brushed a hand through my hair, wincing at the amount of tangles. I also needed to comb my hair.I sighed and rubbed my forehead with the back of my hand. How lon...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Cut up about it” by Deepa Ravi

Submitted to Contest #33

Father is at his worst on haircut days. Something about going to a salon triggers the beast in him. He believes that hairdressers are a necessary evil. This despite the fact that he needs to have his haircut every fortnight.Yes. You heard me right. He has to get a haircut every two weeks.And we dread those weekends. We pray that he would get bald soon so that we can skip that ordeal. But no such luck. Nature has ordained him with a lush growth of deep black hair that refuses to turn grey. He turns 65 tomorrow and will have to officially reti...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Gift” by Sophia Nelson

Submitted to Contest #33

Christmas morning. Emily and I sit face to face on my living room floor, exchanging gifts. We both have our pajamas on, mine vibrant red with snowflakes and reindeers, her's emerald green with coffee patterns. I hold the wrapped package in my hands and look up. Emily has a giddy smile on her face as she urges me to open the box. I look back down and tear at the brightly colored wrapping paper. The thin, rose paper falls to the floor, and in my hands is a cardboard box. I peel off the transparent tape, open the flaps, and peer i...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Cat Got Your Tongue” by Brooke Gardner

Submitted to Contest #33

Margaret Lucinda Brennan was so excited that day, it was difficult to sit still. She always felt like a bee constantly buzzing from wonderful flower, to gorgeous flower. She felt so adult (startlingly) and so childlike at the same time. She was at the beginning, and though she felt forever away from her destination, she felt like she was standing next to it already. It was all very mind-numbing, jubilant, and progressive. She was an adult. She had finally moved out of her hometown of Tazewell, Virginia and was ready for a new adventure. Thou...

2 comments 2

Read story

“INVADERS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #33

Indrajit and his family were visiting his friend at Bangalore for a short stay with them. The two families were meeting after a long gap of time. Of course, they were in contact with each other on mobile, video chats and so on. But face to face and in person, was happening now. His friend, Sethuraman, his wife, Sumitra and their only son, Ranjan were very fond of Indrajit’s family. Bindulata, wife of Indrajit’s wife was a teacher in a local school at Nagpur and was often writing articles on Indian culture and arts of ancient era. She was als...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Hideous” by Daisy Collins

Submitted to Contest #33

“Go on, open it!” Rose crows, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other. I grin at her excitement; her trip to Mauritius has done her the world of good. Her skin is simply glowing, her smile radiant. I tear my eyes away from her flushed cheeks and focus on the squishy package she’s just handed me. Wrapped in simple brown paper, the contents are a mystery. I slip a finger under the flap and start ripping. Each tear exposes a new colour, a new pattern, a new texture… I’m baffled until the garment is fully exposed.“It was handmade by the loc...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Death's New Friend” by Sue Donym

Submitted to Contest #33

I should’ve known better than to befriend Death. When I saw the cloaked figure, I should’ve just let it take me. That would’ve been the sensible thing to do. But no, being the reckless person I am, I decided not to cower in fear.I chose to be “brave”. And that’s how this whole mess started.I was in a hospital bed, where the bright lights had seemingly declared war on my innocent eyes, an irritating beep vibrating through the otherwise silent room. Splotchy memories floated to the surface of my shattered consciousness, piercing through the fa...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Gift of Life” by Ally Rivers

Submitted to Contest #33

The phone was ringing in the other room, frantic calls from worried people, probably only starting to wonder now where I was- but I wasn’t listening. My eyes fixing intensely the box. I tried figuring out who could’ve sent it, but the more I tried making out of it, the less sense it made. If my parents were here, they complain I’m paranoid, well- they might be right, but I still found the box ominously at my door, the sun setting behind; with no one in sight. Worse- with no name tags. My eyes inspected corner and parcel of the box, but there...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Gift From Grandma” by Katie Monti

Submitted to Contest #33

Grandma has always talked about family heirlooms like they were handcrafted by god himself. I never really understood why. All of the old family jewelry is unseemly ugly. The old pots and pans are crumbling away. The old dresses are falling apart at the seams. None of her old things are anything to look at. They aren't anything special but still they amaze her. She has been talking about how excited she is to give me one of those old necklaces for years. Every time i go to see her she says “ now just you wait Addison. You j...

1 comment 1

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character who can't make up their mind about something.

Character – 64 stories

Write a story about a character making a big change.

Teens – 65 stories

Write a story set in a salon or barbershop.

Fiction – 70 stories

Write a story about miscommunication.

Fiction – 48 stories

Contest #33

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Bad Hair Day

$50

Prize money

296

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 20, 2020 EST

Won by Phoebe Barr 🏆

Title: Pennies and Years

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story about a character who's too polite to tell someone they don't like a gift given to them.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 49 stories

“No More Mister Nice Guy” by Steve Kaye

“Christmas Troubles” by Jacob Labagh

“Always Tell the...” by Emily Ku

“Post-Mortem” by Brammy Rajakumar

“Napoleon and the Boy Who Stayed” by Clara Wilde

“Thanks, Aunt Dalia ” by P S

“I really don't like green.” by Dhanya ~

“Cut up about it” by Deepa Ravi

“The Gift” by Sophia Nelson

“Cat Got Your Tongue” by Brooke Gardner

“INVADERS” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

“Hideous” by Daisy Collins

“Death's New Friend” by Sue Donym

“The Gift of Life” by Ally Rivers

“A Gift From Grandma” by Katie Monti

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character who can't make up their mind about something.

Write a story about a character making a big change.

Write a story set in a salon or barbershop.

Write a story about miscommunication.

Contest #33

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

296

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: