You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late.

Posted in Funny on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 116 stories

“A Ghost Monologue” by Robin Owens

Submitted to Contest #47

It’s shocking when the person in your thoughts suddenly appears before you. I know this because I’m doing it to you right now, and you look mortified. How did I know I was in your thoughts? I knew because I know everything now that I’m dead. And I know that you killed me. You wanted to for a long time. I saw it in your eyes. You never said anything. I never said anything. It was an unspoken tension between us. We made eye contact and we both just knew. Wait, don’t run, they’ll notice. Just listen. I had what you wanted. I get that. I...

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“Cleanup on aisle murder” by Brianna Lynn

Submitted to Contest #47

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late. You didn't want to help in the murder, that isn't what you signed up for. You had signed up for cleanup. Dumping the body somewhere, cleaning the blood, making it look like nothing happened and the victim had just went missing. But, that didn't happen. You were told to be there, be present for the actual murder. You hate the thought of even taking someone's life, but you need the money. So when you were told to help assist in the murder and not just the cleanup, you w...

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“Last Words” by CARLOS MANUEL EUSOYA

Submitted to Contest #47

The very ground trembled as if a discord shockwave penetrated its alloy core. Lava spewed from the crust cracks, once rigid, now as brittle as a soft eggshell. Molten peridotite leak from the astenosphere, almost burning your sock to embers. For the last time, you're fashionably late.This isn't a tale of how the planet ended. It's of how your prudence did.You should have known better than jog your way back. You could have galloped like a hungry Australian kangaroo. Or rode an operational vehicle. Like the cyan sports car you bought last week...

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“Late” by Dallas Spires

Submitted to Contest #47

When you enter the church, everyone is already seated. You pause to steady yourself, checking to make sure your suit fits fine. You don’t want to look rushed and disheveled as you make your grand entrance. They will all see you coming in late, so you have to look your best. You adjust your tie, roll your shoulders, stretch your neck, and straighten your back. Confident, you make your way down the center aisle, walking between the pews. No one looks. You’ve been late for everything your whole life, and maybe they’ve finally grown so accusto...

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“The Knight of the Night” by Ellie K

Submitted to Contest #47

As you stand outside the front door, waiting for someone to open it, you're reminded of what a preposterous idea it is to have a themed party in the dead of summer. Furthermore, a victorian costume party where dressing up is an enforced requirement. Your velvet, floor-length, long sleeve dress would be great protection from any brisk winds, but in the dry night heat, it's sweltering and positively miserable. This party better not be as miserable as I feel right now, you think to yourself. You don't have high hopes for the outcome, though. No...

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“A Close Call in Capri” by Kelly Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #47

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you’ve arrived fashionably late. Hair straightened, lips glossed, clutch filled with crisp euros fresh from the bancomat, you show your passport to the hulking bouncer. Your two best friends, Lauren and Danielle—New Jersey loud mouths with long legs and huge hearts—flank you as you make your way to the outdoor bar where your fellow American EuroAdventure group is currently taking tequila shots. As you’re already sufficiently buzzed having polished off a bottle of wine each while getting ready in the ...

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“THE HOMECOMING” by Pearl Johnson-Obi

Submitted to Contest #47

You put off getting ready until it’s almost noon, it would be a six-hour drive and you needed to get going before noon if you wanted to get there on time… But of course, the subject of the sentence was still IF after all these years. After loading the trunk with all the things one could possibly need for a family reunion – gloves, gifts, solar powered batteries for both phone and laptop, laptop, fire extinguisher, ACTUAL food; not sure the pizza delivery guy can make a delivery all way out here and no normal person should ever rely on your m...

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“Fashionably Late” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #47

You wanted to make a grand entrance to keep him waiting, but all you did was shoot yourself in the foot by allowing her the opportunity to make the first move. She was already fawning all over him when you got there. That’s what you get for spending all that time dithering in front of the mirror. The red dress or the blue? These earrings or those? Hair up, hair down? As if any of it disguises the fact that she's young enough to be your daughter. You did find a plastic surgeon’s card lying on the dressing table the other day. Was that a hint ...

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“The Birth of a Toxic Man” by Jonny Moore

Submitted to Contest #47

You’ve taken good care of your body, you’ve undergone a rigorous skincare regime, you’ve been using designer toiletries for over a month, you’ve put on your finest outfit, you’ve styled your hair to the best of your abilities, you’ve bought a pack of gum- extra minty- and you’ve arrived fashionably late. You’ve done everything in your power to prepare yourself, but there are still so many things that are beyond your control, there are still so many things that could go wrong. You could spill a drink down your front, or onto someone else, o...

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“Oranges” by Ingrid Johnson

Submitted to Contest #47

Orange. Orange. Orange. Your eyes glaze over as the fruit tumbles along in front of you. Your hands are expertly spinning and squeezing each one as they drift past, which you think is odd considering you’ve never done this before. Not far to the right, you can sense a familiar presence: your mother. From your peripheral vision, you can tell she’s working hard and keeping a good pace, better than she should be at her age. You try to sneak a glance at her, but something stops you. Your gaze seems to disagree with you. Odd. Your work feel...

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“Mother Knows Best” by Kristin Hinkle

Submitted to Contest #47

Fashionably late, a semi-formal word used to make the term tardy sound more elegant to the listening ear. In this case, being fashionably late had always been part of the plan. Very strategically plotted, systematically fashioned and careful enacted the plan was now in play. Over the course of time that it took to fit every piece into place for the event taking place only two people knew of the plan’s existence. Those people were yourself and your mother. Your mom had always been free spirited and loved to leave her mark on any part of lif...

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“Corporate Romance” by Małgorzata Ladra

Submitted to Contest #47

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late. You walk into the building and make your way towards the elevator. The meeting started more than 5 minutes ago. You want to get the attention of all the present directors and the only person you have your eyes on, Hua Heng. He will become your business partner soon as you will sign the contract with his H Company. The meeting room is on the 15th floor. You could have taken the stairs if not for your nice clothes and the hot weather that makes it almost impossible to g...

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“a love story for you” by Seth Fuller

Submitted to Contest #47

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you’ve arrived fashionably late. Fourteen minutes and forty-three seconds is the pinnacle of being fashionably late according to your observations. It’s enough that people notice you aren’t there, but close enough to be reasonable still. Of course, this is just because you hate these types of parties, these smile and talk about banal nonsense to blurred faces of people who only know what they want to know about you, parties. Garbage. Garbage, garbage, garbage, you think with each smile and in...

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“Agent.” by Franxine Cawaon

Submitted to Contest #47

You wake up several minutes before you knew your alarm would. You are way too excited to get ready for the day, and you know exactly why.Lack of sleep didn't drain you energy, as you rushed through your preparations in your cell. You flattened the wrinkles in your uniform and couldn't stomach the light breakfast prepared for you. You knew you wouldn't be hungry anyway.Stepping off your doorstep was only the first accomplishment you knew you'd succeed in today. Because today was special. Today was the day you've waited for all year. Today was...

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“Dreamscape #874523” by Alice Blue

Submitted to Contest #47

You stop on the sidewalk, glancing out into the street. The hot sun causes the air above the asphalt to waver. Cars speed past you, and the wind they create scrapes against your skin. “Lovely day, isn’t it?” you murmur to yourself. Another parade of vehicles passes by, drowning out your voice. You hold up your wrist and scan your vintage leather watch. “Perfect.” As intended, you’ve arrived fashionably late. You step into the street. Calmly, you head for the middle of the three-lane road. You train your eyes on th...

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You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 116 stories

“A Ghost Monologue” by Robin Owens

“Cleanup on aisle murder” by Brianna Lynn

“Last Words” by CARLOS MANUEL EUSOYA

“Late” by Dallas Spires

“The Knight of the Night” by Ellie K

“A Close Call in Capri” by Kelly Sullivan

“THE HOMECOMING” by Pearl Johnson-Obi

“Fashionably Late” by Bettina Karpathian

“The Birth of a Toxic Man” by Jonny Moore

“Oranges” by Ingrid Johnson

“Mother Knows Best” by Kristin Hinkle

“Corporate Romance” by Małgorzata Ladra

“a love story for you” by Seth Fuller

“Agent.” by Franxine Cawaon

“Dreamscape #874523” by Alice Blue

🌟 Similar prompts

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks.

"Just say it," you silently reminded yourself. You knew you'd regret it if you didn't.

You looked out the window and, not for the first time, thought about how wrong the weather forecast had been.

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station.

Contest #47

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

881

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: