Write a short story about an inn-keeper wondering whether this will be their last holiday season in business.

Posted in Holiday on May 8, 2021

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✍️ 33 stories

“And Finally, Me” by R. K.

Submitted to Contest #21

I am a listener. I hear the world.It started with strangers who would come up to me and tell me their story and what was happening in their lives.I never gave advice, never solved their problems for them, and I never told them experiences of my own.I just listened.This is the way I am and the way I have learned to be.I opened my very own Inn. I call it the Half Point which is exactly what it is.In every person's journey, they reach their halfway point where they stop, rest, refresh and reflect.My Inn provides this service to people. I guess ...

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“Good Intentions” by MaKaila Knight

Submitted to Contest #21

[Content Warning: dark supernatural themes, some physical violence] Beth blew warm air over her fingers but didn’t drop her gaze. She absently rubbed her hands together, willing her fingers to stay loose and limber as she watched the store across from the alley she had taken refuge in. As much as she craved gloves in that moment, experience had quickly taught her that her bare hands worked best for this sort of thing. A sharp wind ghosted by, stirring up a fine mist of snow off the tops of the parked cars lining the street and temporarily di...

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“The Last Christmas” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #21

Evie pushed the bolt close on the pub door as the last of the merrymakers made their drunken way home and gave a deep sigh.’ Nick came over from behind the bar pulling her into a hug, ‘Come here you. You deserve a bloody medal for all the hours you’ve put in during the run up to Christmas.’ ‘So do you…’ ‘Hey, what’s the matter?’ he asked noticing that she was about to tear up. ‘It’s nothing,’ ‘It’s Christmas Eve. I have a rule that nobody should be sad on Christmas Eve, especially not my beautiful girlfriend, okay? So, grab a drink and...

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“The Donnell Inn” by Ashley Fernandes

Submitted to Contest #21

“Thank you,” said Clara Donnell, trying not to show her disappointment in taking back her last guest’s room key. “Please come again.”The guest, a woman in her forties who had to make a mere pit-stop along the way to see a relative, left without even so much as a word. Clara took that as a sign that the service hadn’t been up to the woman’s standards - perhaps she hadn’t given her enough towels? Had the hand soap run out again? She would have to send in another order for that, but it would be difficult to find a deal that was within the inn’s...

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“Waiting for the Unknown” by Mike Jackson

Submitted to Contest #21

Martin Harrison had operated his little Inn for over twenty years. Over the years he had enjoyed much success, that was until the new Interstate was built that bypassed the small his small town. He had already witnessed a couple of businesses close shop and had close friends move to the city in search of work. Mr. Harrison had no idea what he was going to do if he had to close his Inn which had been in his family for generations. As Mr. Harrison sat pondering what his future would be, he heard the front door open. He watched as the first vis...

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“A Christmas Miracle” by Randi W

Submitted to Contest #21

Toronto, Canada 1902A few days before Christmas The feather duster swept over the rows of already clean keys. Benjamin shuffled around to the other side of the desk; his shoulders hunched as he slowly made his way to the front door of his little Inn. His gnarled hand carefully gripped the brass door handle and with effort pulled the heavy oak door open; a small smile formed on his face as he watched the snowflakes gracefully fall from the night sky. The winter wonderland outsi...

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“The Innkeepers Hat” by Tia Tomlinson

Submitted to Contest #21

A throwback to another era, the Inn appeared in an enchanted meadow with wildflowers in every size, shape and color. Snapdragons to the west, quarreling in flurries of tiny sparkles with every uttered phrase. To the east are the Daisies, preening in the sunlight and tsking at the Snapdragons. “Uncouth,” says one Daisy to another. “Inconceivably savage,” agrees the third Daisy. Residing next to the Daisies to the north are whorls of Blue Sage, nattering on to each other about this, that and the other thing. To the south lay the Wood Anemone a...

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“The Seven Swans Resort” by Jayden Mendez

Submitted to Contest #21

"It's not enough. Not nearly enough to get us through the summer, let alone next Christmas." I glance over at Margaret. Her eyes shine with tears that she tries to hide behind a sad smile. "Well... I guess we'll make this Christmas the most memorable one yet. There's not much we can do. Unless some privileged billionaire donated some money to the resort, we'll be closed by the end of next Fall." Margaret's words are full of sadness and... acceptance. She knows the truth, and isn't afraid to face it. Smart girl. I'm glad I married her all tho...

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“A Holiday Well-Spent” by Faith McCune

Submitted to Contest #21

Jill was in a quandary. She loved her little bed-and-breakfast inn, but she couldn’t hang on much longer. Her husband died of cancer last year and though she still had a stream of regulars stay at her hostel, she couldn’t run it by herself and the bills were piling up. “Maybe I should just sell this place and move to a small manageable apartment where I can live like a normal person,” Jill thought. “I love this house and all of its charm. And the garden. And the view. And…oh, what’s the use. It used to be fun w...

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“A Helping Hand During the Holidays” by Aurora Lung

Submitted to Contest #21

Thomas Wynn sighed. The Wynn Inn had serious money problems, and it was like customers were purposefully steering clear of his inn.Thomas had gone out into the freezing air while it was beginning to softly snow. He'd needed some fresh air, and the Wynn Inn needed to stock up some firewood before the big snowstorm that many people suspected was coming this way.Taking his ax, Thomas took a big swing and began chopping wood as quickly as possible."Hey, Tom!" called a familiar voice.Thomas turned around with a jolly smile on his face. "Hey, Dan!...

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“The picture on my nightstand ” by Rajan D

Submitted to Contest #21

This is the picture I keep on my nightstand, on the highest floor of our Inn.It’s a selfie of us. Straight and simple. Hand-in-hand. I am not standing behind you, or sitting in front of you like I am in our other family photos; I am beside you. Next to you. I am with you.In the photo, your grin is fighting the frailty of your face that resulted from all the treatment. You don’t look like a washed-out journalist or a recovering alcoholic. You look familiar. You look like home. You look like my brother.-----------------------------------------...

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“A Christmas Miracle” by Abigail Englehart

Submitted to Contest #21

Cathy sighed as she looked at her daughter on the couch with her new grandson. She was terrified. She knew that her daughter needed help with money; the inn was the source of that money. For the past few months, Cathy had been running numbers. The likelihood of lasting until the next holiday season were slim. Her daughter was an aspiring author in a rough spot. Meredith nodded to sleep, looking comfortable on the sofa. "Mer, darling," Cathy said quietly. Meredith looked up, suddenly wide awake. Her baby began to cry. The soun...

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“Letter of Intent” by Greg Bolanos

Submitted to Contest #21

During the tail end of the summer of 2016, SUPOW Inc. acquired a handful of third and fourth tier companies that owned dozens of smaller assets. One of those companies was Eric & Mandrel, which had unilaterally sold a controlling interest in itself. Eric and Mandrel were personal acquaintances, childhood friends, and currently my employers. They hired me some odd fifteen years ago to be the keeper of either our fourth or fifth most popular resort: The Concubine. When I say fourth or fifth, it is important to remember that to be popular i...

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“Thing of Chance” by Savannah Berry

Submitted to Contest #21

It was not always this way you know. Easthaven, North Carolina used to be just that: a haven. A place where families would be excited to take their children and their children would be counting down the days to go. A quaint little town with beautiful beaches, family owned restaurants, and bed and breakfasts that were always active with people. It was the kind of town that had the perfect balance of things to do while also being an oasis away from the everyday hustle and bustle. Now, it is more like a ghost town.Brighton Bed and ...

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“Last Christmas” by Jess Wood

Submitted to Contest #21

The emptiness he had placed in his pocket weighed his jacket down with untold heaviness. His weathered hands reached and fumbled subconsciously with the material, paralleling his mind which he couldn’t drag away from the things he would rather forget.Just for tonight. He would ignore everything just for one last night.The innkeeper placed his hands on the worn oak counter that stretched wall to wall. Candles on each table emitted a warm glow which couldn’t stretch to the bar, although it tried. Tinsel and bells and lights adorned the walls a...

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Write a short story about an inn-keeper wondering whether this will be their last holiday season in business.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 33 stories

“And Finally, Me” by R. K.

“Good Intentions” by MaKaila Knight

“The Last Christmas” by Unknown User

“The Donnell Inn” by Ashley Fernandes

“Waiting for the Unknown” by Mike Jackson

“A Christmas Miracle” by Randi W

“The Innkeepers Hat” by Tia Tomlinson

“The Seven Swans Resort” by Jayden Mendez

“A Holiday Well-Spent” by Faith McCune

“A Helping Hand During the Holidays” by Aurora Lung

“The picture on my nightstand ” by Rajan D

“A Christmas Miracle” by Abigail Englehart

“Letter of Intent” by Greg Bolanos

“Thing of Chance” by Savannah Berry

“Last Christmas” by Jess Wood

🌟 Similar prompts

You live in a neighborhood where lots of people go out of town for the holidays. But lately, this has been resulting in an increased number of break-ins.

Just before Valentine's Day, a long-lost relative you've never heard of enters your life.

Write a short story about a work Christmas party that goes... awry.

You are a bartender working a night shift when a group of people come in on a Valentine's Day pub crawl.

Contest #21

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

168

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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