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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a short story about someone going to the corner store to buy an everyday item.

Posted in General on Mar 12, 2020

Submissions are closed!

Sorry, we are no longer accepting submissions. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

✍️ 74 stories

“I, Chocolate” by Naveena Srinivas

I was neatly packaged and sent to this hideous supermarket in a very non-public atmosphere.  I sat in the second row of the first column in the chocolate aisle. I was happy that I wasn’t placed in the back, along with the unfortunate few others, which was probably covered in cobwebs. Perhaps the deadly ants might even find a chance to creep through the neat packet we were covered in. The h...

26 likes 20 comments 20
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“The Wood's Voice” by Jennifer Stone

“Out of milk again?” Madeline sighed as she opened the refrigerator door. Tanya smirked. “It’s right behind you.”Madeline turned around, embarrassed. But the milk wasn’t behind her. “Just kidding,” Tanya said, laughing. “If you want milk, get it from the corner store. The… what’s it called? The Corner Shop?”Madeline dropped her jaw. “The Corner Shop? That place was alive for over for like a thousand years! The whole place is like nothing but trash and wood! The milk there is always expired! I’m very surprised t...

7 likes 1 comment 1
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“Autumn ” by Sandra Frye

Summer passed without Bear to keep me company. I ran away often to the creek across the highway. I filled an entire notebook with poems. Sixth grade began, and in the fall we visited my father for the last time. The Wisconsin days had turned cold and windy. When Mother put us on the bus to Racine, I didn’t know something would happen to prevent us from visiting Father again.My father and Betty’s red brick apartm...

5 likes 3 comments 3
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“Common Part of Life” by Corrie-lynn Penny

Nothing really seems to change when the days go on, one by one. But those days turn to weeks, then months, then years. That’s when the change comes out and slaps you right in the face. Eight months Convenience store addiction: Baby Bites. The teeth were coming in. Mother’s milk was no longer the sole substance; a suckling mouth was craving. The first taste of apples, bananas, strawberries and squash were branded as healthy baby food, located in the expensive baby ai...

5 likes 3 comments 3
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“The Errand” by Kay Santa cruz

It takes all of her strength and might to push the obstinate door open wide enough to slip out of the faded, dingy apartment building. The heavy glass immediately thunks closed behind her, sealing the building’s interior and occupants away from the outside world. This had once been a grand entrance with a canopy and a doorman. Now the canopy is only rusting iron ribs and the doorman has been gone for decades. The glass window next to the door appears to be decoratively etched. Upon closer inspection though, it is a spiderweb of cracks rad...

4 likes 2 comments 2
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“Super Market” by Amy Dematt

Chicken. That was the reason I’d had to stop. It seemed that there was always an item or two missing from the inventory we’d gathered from the good old Handi-Mart that weekend, and now, Thursday night after work, I thought I’d better pick up the chicken. To that list, I’d added shampoo, milk, cornmeal and two packages of gummy bears, a special request from the kids. The list always grew when we had one item to pick up.               Joe’s...

4 likes 1 comment 1
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“Turning the Corner” by Andrew Kemmer

Another day to step out into the world. Immediately he hears a splash and feels the cold seep between his toes. Across the street, his neighbor comes out at the same time and notices, once again, that the man has become a victim of the pesky puddle at the bottom of the steps. The neighbor never really even bothers to look over at the man’s steps anymore. Maybe if he had plants or flowers they would soak up some of the standing water. Just before he hears the anticipated cursing under the breath of why can life ne...

4 likes 3 comments 3
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“Toilet Paper And A Love Story” by Mary Myerholtz

As I was making breakfast Mom yelled, “Leon can you grab me some toilet paper from the cabinet?” “Sure Mom,” I yelled back heading straight to the cabinet. “Mom we have a problem,” I yelled waiting for a response. “What’s the problem, Leon,” she yelled back annoyed. “We ran out of toilet paper,” I yelled, concerned about what her reaction might be. “Well you will just have to drive to the store to get some more,” Mom yelled. “Okay I’ll be right back,” I told her walking ou...

3 likes 2 comments 2
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“Going To The Corner Store To Buy Everyday Item” by Deborah Durkin

GOING TO THE CORNER STORE TO BUY EVERYDAY ITEMSBY DEBORAH DURKIN     One day my neighbor Carol and I got permission from our Mom’s to walk to the corner store. We strolled leisurely along our partly wooded, two-lane road. New homes were encroaching the woods and now line...

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“Milk” by Lavanya Jain

Tommy was an ordinary senior in college. More ordinary than anybody he knew. All he had was ordinary days with ordinary tasks. Little did he know that something a little different from the usual was about to happen.It was that time of the morning again. Tommy had to go to the store with his daily list, buy everything on it, come back home, sort everything, and put everything at its designated place. Perfectly ordinary ta...

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“Just Great” by Elizabeth Waite

Ella stifled a groan as she saw the unmistakable sign of her monthly visitor (a whole two days too early). Mumbling under her breathe, she reached for the handy little purple and pink box she kept under the sink full of the essentials; tampons of various sizes, personal wipes (which felt just great in lei of regular old toilet paper), and thick, bulky overnight pads. Ella fumbled for a whole minute before realizing there was not a single tampon in her handy little box. Just great. Resolving to pick up a...

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“The Box of Cigarettes” by Mikyla Viloria

It was late at night when I was laying on top of my bed, unable to sleep, when I came across a thought that absorbed me. How does fate operate? What was its way of making it happen? Yet again, I was left wondering as to how life can deceive you at first, then reveal it's reasons. Well, I suppose that I was never a believer at that sort of thing myself because I never really saw the absolute reason for it to be in existence. But, I guess that my reasoning would be put to the test when my friend, Michael, arrived at my door in the early mor...

3 likes 1 comment 1
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“The Trouble with Toothpaste” by R. l. Waterman

Toothpaste. It shouldn’t be a hard decision, but it is. Garishly decorated boxes scream their benefits. What is more important? Cavity protection? Fresh breath? Teeth bright as a beacon, beckoning the unwanted gaze of bystanders? She can feel her heart beating faster as her finger brushes the boxes and she sucks on her lip in indecision. A child grins a merry greeting as he scoops up his box. The cartoon monkey advertises strawberry-flavoured delight, and for a moment the shopper is tempted to follow the child’...

3 likes 1 comment 1
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“The Bodega” by Victor Lana

It’s not a well-kept secret that the bodega on my corner has the best damned coffee around. You can keep your Starbucks and Dunkin’! This cup of joe is great whether you take it black or with milk and sugar, and it’s always piping hot. Depending on how my morning is going determines how I take it. This particular day is not going so well. I work from home editing and proofreading mostly garbage, but since it pays the bills, usually I don’t complain too much. I’ve been working on this long manuscript by some professor who...

3 likes 4 comments 4
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“Not Too Far” by Rachael Richey

It was too far. Much too far. Anna took a deep breath and leaned back against the cold, rough brick wall of the house. Surely it hadn’t always been that far? Closing her eyes she counted to ten, as slowly as she could manage. When she opened them it would have come closer. Cautiously she opened one eye. And then the other. No, it was still too far away.  She drew in a shaky breath and pushed herself upright. The plastic carrier bag clutched ti...

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Contest #31

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This week's theme: The Ordinary

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 06, 2020 EST

Won by Ariel Kalati 🏆

Title: The Memory Garden

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