Write a story inspired by the concept of arigata-meiwaku — a favor that turns out to be a nuisance for its recipient.

Posted in Funny on Apr 7, 2023

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✍️ 53 stories

“Too Loud” by Rene Volpi

Submitted to Contest #193

Uri said he wanted my help with his project. Since I'm okay with computers and tech gadgets, I thought, why not?We worked out of his Manhattan studio apartment, which he shared with his sweet, demure girlfriend Miko. It wasn't long before even Miko's quiet countenance was rattled and she started up with an insistent whine--first about the sound and then about THE SOUND. See, he was trying to get a patent for this system which combined electronics, holographic science, virtual optical experience and sound volume through analogue and...

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“Not So Tough” by Michael Lewis

Submitted to Contest #193

It was on my 26th birthday that the little green card arrived. I had a pretty good idea what the card meant, although at that time my ability to read and understand Hebrew was only about six inches ahead of negligible. I went next door to my neighbor. "Shmulik, I think this is my army induction notice, am I right?" He told me I had to attend the army center for new recruits joining the Nachal unit in two weeks. I took the bus down to the induction center, a few kilometers north of Tel Aviv. There we went through...

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“Mistakes Happen ” by Natalie Parker

Submitted to Contest #193

Bill was not my favorite neighbor. As far as I could tell, he liked to trim his bushes in his front yard like a ballerina performing Swan Lake. A whole show for the neighbors you could say. I did not trust his smile while waving towards the audience passing him by. Something in the grin and teeth while stretching across his face did not appear to match his eyes. Watching him pull his hose out of the entanglement, I stood by my window with my coffee in hand. Funny we've never had many conversations, just strewn across dialogue throughout th...

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“The Fungus of Avery Island” by Eric Lizotte

Submitted to Contest #193

In the year 2043, the world had become a desolate wasteland after a nuclear and biochemical war that no one could remember the beginning of, only their current struggle. Amidst the ruins, a small group of survivors had managed to forge a fragile community on Avery Island, Louisiana. This island, once renowned for its tabasco peppers (and sauce), lush gardens and exotic birds, was now a shadow of its former glory. Among the survivors was Franz Holdenberg, a resourceful and resilient man known for his unmatched verbal and historical skills and...

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“Claude Drewitt's Police Award” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #193

Claude Drewitt was finally living his lifelong dream as a police officer. His father, Johnathon Drewitt, was the town’s beloved, longtime Chief of Police. The locals highly regarded Chief Drewitt for his fairness and astute knowledge of the law. Claude always wanted to be just like his father and follow him dutifully in his footsteps. Claude failed the police officer's test, but the instructors fudged the score so Claude could pass. Claude also was unable to meet the standards and procedures of the police a...

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“In the back of the truck” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #193

In the back of the Truck Jackie was between boyfriends. Way between boyfriends. The last two guys had turned about to be dating other women; actually, not just dating, in long-term significant relationships with other women. Jackie had been a fling, twice. So, was taking a break from men, a very long break. This didn’t sit well with Karen who had a fabulous love life and was planning on getting married. She wanted Jackie to be happy too. Jackie assured her friend that she was quite happy and quite busy, after all she was working on her mast...

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“One Little Kiss” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #193

“I did it for you, darling!” Fran is pouting and trying for a look that she cannot land. She does a lot of this as far as Samuel is concerned, and right now, it is not at all endearing and neither is it alluring. Well, it might be partially alluring. Alluring to a certain extent. A disconcerting extent now that Samuel thinks about it. Those full red lips speak to him, and as for her eyes. The too large to be real eyes, that are pools he could drown in. No! This is what she does! This is what she did… “I don’t know why you did it at...

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“We Don't Belong Here” by Maliha Naveed

Submitted to Contest #193

This story contains offensive language. “So, what do you say?” Lena asked me a thousandth time. “I say, nay!” A cloud of disappointment shadowed her face. I admit I was rude, but I couldn’t help it. Only ten days were left before the big event, and no decent caterers were in sight. Lena, my best friend’s little sister, offered her services when she learned about my dilemma. Thanks to my best friend. I didn’t want a newbie for the most important project of my life. “I promise I will prove the best service provider. Just trust ...

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“Mother's Day” by Nicole Winchester

Submitted to Contest #193

“Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy!” I gasped and jolted awake, bumping my skull on the headrest. In the doorway stood my daughter, Zoe, my five-year-old angel who had ever so graciously given me four hours of blissful, uninterrupted sleep. The beaming, gap-toothed smile on her face was worth every second of being kept awake with an unending stream of Youtube videos. Well, nearly. I tried, okay? Don’t judge. I’d usually get her to bed at eight, and then, somehow, she’d be up at midnight sneaking around, no matter how much I pleaded with her to g...

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“Reluctant Resurrection” by Amy Bush

Submitted to Contest #193

Nathan stalked through a moonlit graveyard, with a squirrel perched on his shoulder. The squirrel, who Nathan had decided to name Gary, was the reason Nathan felt confident enough to stride through the graveyard with his shovel and his candles. Gary was unusually quiet and still for a squirrel, but he had a heart beat. A heart beat which had been noticeably absent when Nathan found him. There were still puncture wounds in various places from his run in with the neighbor’s dog. His fur stood up straight, his nervous whiskers ben...

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“The Bakery Box” by Evan Thorne

Submitted to Contest #193

He wasn't a baker, but he loved the idea. Cakes and pastries and breads and cookies—some of the best things come out of an oven! But baking takes patience and discipline and thumbs, and Bear was just a bear.Still, he was determined to make something beautiful, something to finally repay the Baker for all the delicious treats she'd put in the big metal box out back for him every night since the bakery had opened. He would try and fail and try again—as many times as he had to—until he figured it out.He knew the first step was setting up his mi...

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“Only Eleven Minutes Away” by Harriet Andrews

Submitted to Contest #193

Only Eleven Minutes Away The twelve hour flight from Dublin to Seattle was, as expected, long, crowded and uncomfortable but there were no dramas. The bizarre fact of travelling so many thousands of feet up in the air while eating or watching a film or, stranger still, watching the progress of the plane you are sitting in crossing the world on a small map in front of you always gave her goosebumps so she tried not to think about it. Instead, Angie looked forward to landing in an hour's time and stretching her stiff bo...

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“The Trouble with Threes” by D Feliciano

Submitted to Contest #193

“See you later, alligator.” “In a while crocodile,” Jake giggled back to his mother. He lay in bed with his favorite stuffed banana. It was the middle of summer but Jake was tucked in with a reindeer blanket that he’s been obsessed with for the past six months. He was also obsessed with dinosaurs and would not go to bed without his dinosaur jacket. It made him look like a baby T-rex curled up in a nest. “Bye hon, see you tomorrow,” said Leon as he waved at his wife on the screen and hung up. “And sweet dreams to you, little man, I’ll see you...

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“Everybody Knows” by G. Poirier

Submitted to Contest #193

Randle, a dyspeptic sort if there ever was one, was already at odds with Bob after Bob arrived fourteen minutes late for their tee off time. He came trundling up the path from the clubhouse, his ancient golf bag on its rusty cart behind him, head swaying in that way of his, white hair radiating out from under his hat. He had a sloppy way about him, with wrinkled brown shorts and a Hawaiin-print golf shirt under a fleece vest that looked like it had crawled up from the bottom of the laundry pile.“Sorry, Rand, sorry”, he said when he arrived a...

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“Accidental Enema” by Douglas W. Carr

Submitted to Contest #193

It was another Thursday night at O’Sullivan’s Pub where Tom and Jerry had been meeting for about a year after becoming friends. Both lived in the same neighborhood, which was just a couple of miles away. The pub hosted two pool clubs – one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. Tom and Jerry had just finished a successful round of eight-ball and were bringing the night to an end with one last pint while discussing how the night had played out. The previous week had ended with Jerry accidentally cracking the shaft of his pool cue and Tom had...

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Write a story inspired by the concept of arigata-meiwaku — a favor that turns out to be a nuisance for its recipient.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“Too Loud” by Rene Volpi

“Not So Tough” by Michael Lewis

“Mistakes Happen ” by Natalie Parker

“The Fungus of Avery Island” by Eric Lizotte

“Claude Drewitt's Police Award” by Bernie Rhodes

“In the back of the truck” by Frances Gaudiano

“One Little Kiss” by Jed Cope

“We Don't Belong Here” by Maliha Naveed

“Mother's Day” by Nicole Winchester

“Reluctant Resurrection” by Amy Bush

“The Bakery Box” by Evan Thorne

“Only Eleven Minutes Away” by Harriet Andrews

“The Trouble with Threes” by D Feliciano

“Everybody Knows” by G. Poirier

“Accidental Enema” by Douglas W. Carr

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about somebody whose intentions are pure, but somehow always manages to do the wrong thing.

Write a story where someone insists on giving your main character a ride to the airport, only for their car to break down.

Write a fable inspired by a relatable life experience (explaining the moral before or after the story, if you’d like).

Write a story containing the words “it’s the thought that counts.”

Contest #193

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

186

Contest entries

115

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: