Write about someone going to extreme lengths to return an overdue library book.

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 132 stories

“Borrowed Time ” by Jay Howard

Submitted to Contest #91

Ordinarily, the smiling couples, small crowds of laughing families and touring strangers would have looked twice at James as he shuffled hurriedly down the broad sidewalk in an awkward half run. The partly sunny day had become completely overcast with threatening grey clouds so that everyone rationally assumed he had been trying to reach his destination before the incoming downpour. In reality, James was praying the rain would provide the distraction and cover that he needed desperately. He was currently being pursued by two of his old cl...

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“Take Me Home” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #91

Martin was the opposite of every stereotypical thing one might think on first glance. He was not the curious, inventive, clever, gregarious, outgoing gnome that most people expected. He was shy, unimaginative, more at home buried in a book than any social situation, and he was painfully lonely. As much as he desired friends, no one he’d ever met gave him the chance to open up, expecting too much too soon. Univer...

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“Let Me Out of Here!” by John Carpenter

Submitted to Contest #91

Billy! Billy Lockwood! What? Well sure, no bother, come on over! Sit yonder on the old swing and I’ll get us some lemonade. We got the sun beatin’ down on us now, so no lawn mowin’ right now. What? No well I can’t hear you from here, let me go in and get the lemonade, I’ll…what?...Oh just be patient, I’ll be out in no time with that lemonade, now I hope he waits out there. It won’t take me long to make it, and he better not run along in the meanwhile, after I take all the effort to... Well…hmm, I was sure...

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“Damaged ” by Meta M Griffin

Submitted to Contest #91

After the cat puked all over the new library book about a library, Julie contemplated how she would return the book, so she wouldn't have to pay a fine. The book was already overdue. She used to sneak overdue books back into the library, but now it would be difficult to do. She'd be tempted to steal someone else's library card, so she could check out books in another name, as her fines were more than she could pay. Julie...

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“The Unexpected Mishaps of Using Libraries” by Ioana Mareta

Submitted to Contest #91

Monday, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina One month passed since Alex returned home from his amazing trip to London when he finally unpacked all the souvenirs. It was his promise to himself not to look at them immediately after the arrival. This way he could enjoy the big city once more, from another perspective. He took out of the bag a funny kettle in the shape of Big Ben, a key ring with a London...

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“I'm Late” by Merry Marcellino

Submitted to Contest #91

I’m Late By Merry Marcellino The alarm wails and I jump from the bed! Today is the day! I must get moving! I only have an hour left! I hop into the shower tripping on the mat and falling against the wall. “Ow!” Pain radiates up my leg, but it’s not broken. Not letting it stop me, I shower getting soap in my eye. Looking in the mirror, my e...

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“A REMEMBRANCE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #91

Looking at the building in the business district of a city in India, you wouldn’t believe it contained a library. It occupied floors 3 and 4 of a high rise. The ground floor was shared by a firm selling paints and another, a medical products dealer named Apollo Pharmacy. On the third floor you will be in a well-lit large hall with marble flooring, containing reference books, children’s books besides dailies and periodica...

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“Her Name” by Taryn Holmes

Submitted to Contest #91

The golden light streaming through the window turned her brown hair bronze as she tucked a gentle curl behind one ear. Faded ink and paper filled my nose and I looked around at the maze of bookshelves. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly in concentration and wrote a title in the log book. Thinking deeply, she doesn’t notice me walk in, though to be fair I had frozen, starstruck, as soon as I entered. I cleared my throat a...

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“All That Trouble” by Shaquita B.

Submitted to Contest #91

Simone grabbed her jacket and raced out of her apartment. Once she got downstairs, she ran to her car, opened the door, and got in. I’m forgetting something. She looked down. She had her phone, purse, and keys. What could she have forgotten? The book. That’s the reason she was in such a rush in the first place. Simone had always loved to read. Even when she was in elementary school, ...

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“Rush Hour” by Ander Hillyer

Submitted to Contest #91

I entered the dark hallway, my footsteps echoing throughout the room. The elderly lady sat at her desk at the end of the hallway, smiling maliciously as I approached. My head was lowered as I reached into my bag for the object. I stopped at the desk, and handed it to her. “You were five minutes late, young man.” she said, and I nodded sadly. She stood, and put her firm hand on my shoulder as she walked towards the door. “We’ve been over this many times Mr. Hill. The next time you are late, you’re done. For good!” “No!” I said. She laughed...

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“Two Former Villainesses and Overdue Library Books” by LM Konkel-Dixon

Submitted to Contest #91

"Swift!" Noble cries, a clattering of household objects heralding her careless race through the rooms. "Swift, do you know what today is?" She runs into the desk in the room where Swift lounges, a no-nonsense expression on her face. Noble's hair falls into her face as she catches herself. "It's late!" Swift lowers the book she was reading to look at Noble. "You disturbed my reading time." Every day at this exact...

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““Don’t Drop the Grimoire!”” by Aaron Ang

Submitted to Contest #91

An oversized book is cradled in the arms of a bespectacled young warlock as he runs down a peaceful hill, made tumultuous by his presence. Eyeing the sprawling city of Larune in the distance, he sweats and looks at the time. 4:50pm already? Lunacy! Poppycock! Boulderdash! The tome seems to glow with protes...

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“Return Promises ” by Larry Rhoton

Submitted to Contest #91

It was a cool and wet morning; the rain pelted the rooftops, showing no signs of letting up. However, there was something strange and different about this storm; it was unsettling, mysterious, and fell over the city as if trying to consume everything. The lightning flashed, lighting up the sky followed by a mighty clash of thunder.Emily took off her rain suit and placed her lunch in the refrigerator. She usually had lunch at the small café across the street, but today, she would eat her lunch in the library. As a librari...

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“Your book is overdue.” by Pradeep VM

Submitted to Contest #91

The mail did not surprise me. It is overdue. I know it. But the book is excellent and rare. I lack the heart to let it out of my hands. Having felt the dark fresh air breathed out by the little book with its strange figures how could anyone return it. And yet I have to return the book of mystery. It had to be read by others. That will create a following for the ideas hidden in its depths, carefully concealed by t...

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“Engagement ” by Omkareshwar Jha Never Give Up!

Submitted to Contest #91

We all know the power of books. Well i heard that too. It was a weekend and really it was a Weak end. I always wanted some fantasies in my life but it never came in. I am lifted up everyday and fall on my bed every night just like a dead man. Rosy (my mistress) usually being friendly to me but i never been at ease by life. Life bounce backs is just a quote for me. It's a series of continuous...

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Write about someone going to extreme lengths to return an overdue library book.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 132 stories

“Borrowed Time ” by Jay Howard

“Take Me Home” by Sjan Evardsson

“Let Me Out of Here!” by John Carpenter

“Damaged ” by Meta M Griffin

“The Unexpected Mishaps of Using Libraries” by Ioana Mareta

“I'm Late” by Merry Marcellino

“A REMEMBRANCE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“Her Name” by Taryn Holmes

“All That Trouble” by Shaquita B.

“Rush Hour” by Ander Hillyer

“Two Former Villainesses and Overdue Library Books” by LM Konkel-Dixon

““Don’t Drop the Grimoire!”” by Aaron Ang

“Return Promises ” by Larry Rhoton

“Your book is overdue.” by Pradeep VM

“Engagement ” by Omkareshwar Jha Never Give Up!

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a stern librarian scolding two characters for making noise in the library.

Write about a character who meticulously catalogs everything in their life, until something disrupts their system.

Set your story in a library, after hours.

Write about a character stumbling upon a library book that changes the course of their life, for better or worse.

Contest #91

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

773

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: