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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a short story in which a specialist is called upon to carry out a job.

Posted in General on Mar 1, 2021

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✍️ 37 stories

“The Adventures of Malachi Norton: The Mystery of the Missing Memory” by Lee Kull

My dear friend Malachi Norton and I received letters and callers at our London apartments seeking our detective services on a nearly daily basis, but even so, my friend refused to interest himself in any of the cases, claming they lacked novelty. Average, run-of-the-mill crime had always bored him; he craved a challenge worthy of his outstanding mental capabilities. The nearly catatonic appearance of my friend, sitting motionless in his armchair, remained unchanged for the major portion of the day. He was seated thus in perfect silence, ...

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“A Day in the Life of Pest Control” by Kaysie Davis

A Day in the Life of Pest Control I sat there, going over the paperwork for my company. You wouldn’t think a pest control company would generate so much paperwork! The ringing of the phone from the other room jerked me out of my thoughts. 

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“Unfavorable demons ” by Kari Hyp

“Kore, you have a mission.” The leader of my block says; he brandishes a pistol out from his belt-pocket and hands this to me.It’s not like I have a choice either way: why ask?“Yes, commander.” “Good. Now, remember your mission: find the peasant that had betrayed this company and bring him to me alive.”How I wish that I had listened to those words. Alive.           As I shifted my feet back-a...

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“The Nameless Man” by Tanya M

Very few people knew of his existence. Of those few, all but one were dead. Which is why it was such a surprise when he heard the heartbeat-quick rap on his door. Slowly, ever so slowly, the grizzled man shifted from his seated position. His joints cracked as he stood, turtle-slow, and yet the way with which he moved seemed to reflect the man he had once been, a man who could, whisper-silent, slip through the shadows. Yes, his younger self did show- reflected in a warped fun...

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“A babysitting job involving a boy and a ghost” by Chenchen Du

“Hey, John. Want to talk about the ghost you saw?”Dammit. That was a wrong conversation starter. As the words slipped out of her mouth, Ting immediately felt the urge to bite her own tongue off. You probably do not know this, but it’s portrayed as a common way of committing suicide in Chinese drama. Yep, that’s another random fact that is inappropriate to sprinkle in the conversation ...

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“The Girl” by Alana Carpenter`

She was born prettier than anything. Serena's mother brushed her hair every day to soft silky hair. Serena's hair was much like her mother's only golden to the touch. She also had a kind and loving personality such as a dolphin, and much like her mother when she was younger. Serena also had her own beliefs, when she grows up, she would be the most perfect, kind, and caring Queen in all of the lands.Serena loved to play in the Royal Garden, she would climb up on the hedges, swing upon the vines, and even play with other Royal childr...

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“The Specialist” by Steve Cripwell

It’s not my normal job but it has become a specialism of sorts. Don’t get me wrong, my full-time job can be pretty exciting. It gets the adrenaline rushing through my body every day. This task, however, is mind-blowing for someone like me. A dream come true. My day to day job, you ask. My business card reads Consultant which can mean something specific, of course, but it really gives me carte-blanche to do anything I want. So that’s what I do, hire myself out to the highest bidder and I have an unusual skill set. Skills that a...

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“Basham's Theory” by Jay Seate

Basham’s TheoryBy Troy Seate Some men look toward retirement like a capsized sailor might look at a spit of land on the horizon, but Edgar Basham hadn’t been one of them. He missed the intrigue of the pursuit. He had cultivated a slight paunch, but retained the eyes of a cunning investigator above his salt-more-than-pepper mustache. He maintained his theory that, although God remained an unsubstantiated hypothesis, good and evil most definitely ...

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“Mop and Bucket Man” by George Georgerfrost@Gmail.Com

I can’t tell you my real name, but my professional name is Moe the Mop and Bucket Man and there are very good reasons why I carry that code-name with me wherever I go.  In my business the code-name is the hook and the rest is gravy. Perhaps I should explain as recent events have put me in grave jeopardy to say the least. My company has disavowed any knowledge of my existence and I’ve been on the run for some time. See this capsule?  If I think I’m going to cornered, I ju...

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“The Specialist” by Cindy Bennett

Sitting in the corner booth at Big AL’s Takeaway, Patrice couldn’t help but notice how empty the usually bustling place was. As far as a burger joint went in the quaint little town of Napier, situated in the north island of New Zealand, This one was the most popular. Especially for the teens, young adults demographic. Patrice had to book her booth in advance if she wanted to be seated in her favourite spot! “Everybody wants to rule the world”, Tears for fears was droning away, quietly on the duke box situated at the back of the...

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“Special agent truck driver” by Shelby Schwartz

It’s been years since I’ve done a job like this. I quit for a reason and they know the reason too. Instead they call me twenty-two years on the dot to ask me to do a job. Apparently, no one else is good enough. What happened to the others I worked with? I guess I’ll find out. That is if I go. Instead I pace around my living room in my apartment, overthinking this decision. To haul specialized freight across the country. Not to mention heavy. So, I’d be going as fast as maybe 45 miles per hour. Surrounded by men with guns. I’ll have a gun ...

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“illusion of a friend” by Rory Freed

I got a phone call from the police station this morning. It was the usual thing they say when they call me. "Come to the station it's an emergency." I was hoping for a day off but oh well. I get to the station and walk straight to Chief Sander's office not even waiting to check in at reception. "Ah detective it's nice to see you." I huff at his formalities. He does this everytime. "Honestly Kian no need to be so formal around me. I've known you since we were 7." Kian rolls his eyes and points at the chair in front of his desk "Well Alina ...

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“Dying Fire” by Sam Lohr

He stands alone in the wing, back slumped against the door. One hand grips his trumpet, the other, a piece of paper. Behind him an orchestra begins to tune as men and women shuffle to their seats, ready to forget the outside world and all of its trouble for a night. Yet here he stands, eyes swollen and watering, wanting nothing more than a grieving moment. A broken soul dressed to the nines.Somewhere, many miles from here, his brother is dead. Struck through the heart with an errant musket ball.Burying the letter in his cumm...

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“Brace Maker” by Michele Duess

“I’m not sure about this,” John told me. “It’s been a very long time.”“I don’t think we have a choice anymore,” I told him. John is a friend of mine and now about to be my client. “You fell.”He looked away from me. “Yes. My balance is getting worse.”I knew it was. It was why, at the age of 50 he was trying braces in the first place. He hadn't worn them since he was a kid. But cerebral palsy accelerates old age, accelerates osteoarthritis. Tight hip muscles had turned his legs in, so he tripped over his own feet if he ...

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“THE EXPERT” by Andrew Grell

THE EXPERTBy Andrew Paul Grell“Alright, let’s get a whiff of the effector.” Virginia, 52 but perpetually looking 22, third of the inner circle of three, handed Dave, the Quality Control Officer of the operation, a Revereware stew pot containing something that looked like stew. David, sub-optimally treated in his youth for scoliosis, took in the kitchen as if he hadn’t been inside Virginia’s Sanctum Sanctorum many times before. Dave had gotten into the life as a lucky hunchback beggar in Rio when the...

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