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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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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✍️ 131 stories

“The Isle of Late Fees” by Josh Poole

Submitted to Contest #91

One hundred and sixty-two days, that was how long the old man had been stranded on the island. One hundred and seventeen days, that was how overdue his books were. He had to work the weight of those three hard covers into the buoyancy of his makeshift raft, which he had assembled meticulously over the course of months. His hair had grown long and unkempt, and his once pale skin had turned the texture of a leather-bound journal while his nails had become long enough to use as bookmarks.       &nbsp...

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“The Horror of the Book Return!!” by Kingston Kiser

Submitted to Contest #91

4:57 PM, 63 minutes left "Hey, isn't that book due today?" My best friend, William, asks. I look at him over the copy of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. "Yeah. Why? It's only 5:00 PM." "Yeah, but today's Sunday, and the library closes at 6:00." That's right, I think. Crap. I'm gonna have to go fast on that skateboard if I want to get there in time! "Gotta run, see you tomorrow!" I tell him, running out the front door. I jump on my skateboard and roll down the road. I have the smart idea to read my book on the way there, as I only had abou...

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“(Over) Due Date” by Julianna Peres

Submitted to Contest #91

            If it was on Okeysha’s to-do list, it had to be done. On August 4th, that list read: 1. water mint plant 2. reply to Fred's email 3. vacuum living room rug 4. return library books. She was a quarter way through tending the mint when a painful cramp overtook her. The blue watering can slipped from her fingers, shattering against the cement. Although the contractions racked her body, Okeysha could only think 5. buy new watering can.       &nbs...

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“Message In A Book” by Evi T

Submitted to Contest #91

I need to go. I need to go.I need to escape this place.This wretched, cursed place.I need to be there.I need to tell her.But they are keeping me here.These demons, they are trying to change me.I don’t need to change.It’s them who need to change.I’m exactly who I’m supposed to be.Why am I hurting?The book. I am holding the book.It’s so tightly pressed against my chest.Perhaps if I press it further it will become one with my flesh.I have to protect it.I open a door. No, that’s not it.I need to be quick now that that damn guard has their attent...

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“Satan and Satanslayer” by Hxmda A.A

Submitted to Contest #91

It was a bright morning, the sun glaring down onto my face as I rushed through the busy crowd of St. Jones Street, my black bag slung over my shoulder, heavy with my thick overdue library book. People bustled busily past me as I rushed down the sidewalk, my worn-out sneakers throwing up dust as I quickly turned the corner. Sliding my sunglasses onto the bridge of my nose, I tightened my grip on the handle of my bag. In the past couple hundred years, I had slowly learned how to casually blend into crowds, change my clothes in dark alleyways ...

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“Red Letter Day” by Shannon Ethel

Submitted to Contest #91

This was it. The day. The final day.Tom picked out his outfit that morning accordingly. Shoes that were easy to run in, pants that weren’t too tight and a light jacket that hadn’t failed him yet. He glanced up at the calendar pinned with care to his wall. The date was circled twice in red, a very stark and important reminder of just how important this was.Library books due!!! It stood out to him with three exclamation marks. Three! It had to be taken seriously.He grabbed his backpack, opening it to check that the three nestled books were saf...

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“The Miraculous Day” by Steve Richey

Submitted to Contest #91

Tired, Tommy sat in his living room, finally home after the daily grind. Spending it either in his cubicle, or floating around addressing computer related issues, he is an IT guy, and all the glamour that comes with it. As he sorted through his mail, he found a postcard with a picture of his old school mixed in with the envelopes. Studying it, he felt many memories come flooding back. He and his friends hanging out in the parking lot, playing baseball, and then the days he would spend talking with Lorelei in the library. Lorelei. Wow, h...

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“The Mission” by Merinda Forwood

Submitted to Contest #91

It was almost night. The crowds below scurried in opposite directions, in that crossover between the work crowd going home, and the entertainment crowd heading out to dinner. Getting across the city with his precious cargo undetected would be a challenge, but he could do it. Half an hour or less, without being stopped. Those were the terms. Going back to his map, he plotted out his routes. The direct way, then potential side streets and short cuts through and over buildings to avoid detection. Failure on these kinds of missions usually came ...

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“Racing for a Return” by David Taylor

Submitted to Contest #91

Oh, what a setback. It was partly my fault for not closing the door on my brand new Chrysler as tightly as I should have, but my friends, Madeline and Jocelyn, decided to go on a quick joy ride... and ended with them striking our garage door with my car, so that was around $260 or so for the garage door and another $200 for the car. Ah whatever, it happened. So, as punishment for my negligence, my dad put me in the passenger seat for about a week. Then the car came back and I still had to let him drive me around for another week, even to sch...

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“FOR YOU” by Sharmishtha Saha

Submitted to Contest #91

“Did he came, mom?” Gracy asked while resting her exhausted body on the sofa. She lives with her mother and works in a law farm. Mom fetched a glass of water for Gracy, sat beside her and said “yes he came. He travelled a long, a really long distance to return that overdue book to me.” Mom lowered her eyes. Gracy was looking at her with calm eyes. Then she said “really? Please tell me mom how it happened. I want to listen from the beginning.” Mom’s face lit up with the glow of thousand bulbs. She began the story “it was a normal and usual d...

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“the late bus” by Moon Bookstore

Submitted to Contest #91

Breakfast in Bed I was late for the school bus, I clearly thought I was late for school. As the bus drove off. i had to walk back in the rain. I got into my bed and mother came to check on me as if I were in my bed sick. I had a splitting cold in the winter. So mother always was a great nurse. But never gave cough medicines or anything, she had other remidies that worked. I was happy I did not go to school this day and faked to be sick and stayed at home. Mother gave me a warm lemonade and honey with the scent of Lavendar on a few flowers. L...

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“Book Project” by Taquindle Remington

Submitted to Contest #91

“That can’t be what I think it is!” I exclaimed as I moved past the handcuffs and strange toys in my grandparent’s basement.   “Grandma, grandpa, you gotta come to look at this!” I shouted as loud as I could.  The basement door quickly swung upon as my grandparents came down to see what all the commotion was about.  “Look at this.” I insisted, gesturing towards what was in the box.  “Kid, you weren't supposed to see that,” my grandad said, “Whatever you do,&...

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“Nathaniel Benedict and the book of Doom” by Quin Parsons

Submitted to Contest #91

As we drift along the ice-cold river, fed by glacier water from the mountains up north, I feel the weight of the book on my shivering back. I consider it to be my luck of the draw that I ended up with this burden, but I do thank the forces of nature that I am not alone on this journey. Though solely responsible for the safe return of this precious cargo, I have by my side my trusted ally and friend, Sunny Deveraux. Courageous, smart, elegant, and sophisticated, she is the driving force behind my will to succeed; she has been since I was firs...

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“50 Years Late” by E.C. Nickelson

Submitted to Contest #91

I cracked the spine on a book that hadn't been opened in two decades. "Wonder what mystery Dad's working on now." Joe Hardy asked. His brother Frank looked eagerly down the platform of the Bayport railroad station. "It must be a very important case, the way Dad dashed off to Detroit. We'll know in a few minutes." Joe looked at his watch impatiently. "Train's late." Both boys were wondering, too, about a certain surprise their father had hinted might be ready for them upon his return. Waiting with Frank and Joe for Mr. Hardy's arrival wa...

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“Ariadne’s Thread ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #91

Alan’s friends could not believe him. They wanted more. They wanted proof. “You met him?” “Merlo exists?” “You spoke?” “What did he say?” “What’s he like?” “He signed it?” “He stole your book?” “His book?” “Why take his own book?” “It’s my copy of his latest, ‘Ariadne’s Thread’.” Everyone envied Alan’s good fortune. Few could claim the great Merlo had stolen one of their books. Fewer, that the thief also wrote it. Many claimed to know Merlo, the celebrated author, eccentric and recluse. He lived in this city where Alan attended univ...

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