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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write about someone who is given a bird for the holidays but doesn’t know how to take care of it.

Posted in Holiday on Jul 27, 2021

Submissions are closed

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✍️ 200 stories

“Callie - Most Beautiful” by Boba Bendy

Submitted to Contest #73

You’ve been waiting for this day to come. Your very first day at the job. It was simple pay, but it was so much more than that. It was an opportunity, it was an adventure, and most of all… the entire job was SURROUNDED by birds. You had loved birds your whole life. You drew them on the sides of tests during school, you watched YouTube videos on them flying through the air, you’ve sketched out every bird you’ve ever seen on your walk home from High School. Your whole life, you’ve dreamed of working at this very building, and they finally hire...

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“Winged Symphonies” by Hema Saju

Submitted to Contest #73

“Look out the window, dear, at the last leaf on the wall. Didn’t you wonder why it never moved when the wind was blowing? Oh, my dear, it is Behrmann’s great masterpiece- he painted it there the night that last leaf fell.”Amber ran her fingers through the last lines before closing the book. She looked out through the crystal covered window that barred the sound of winter. She felt that she heard the soft whispering of snowfall. She heaved a deep sigh and looked at her fractured leg. It had been almost two weeks in bed and that was the third ...

4 comments 4
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“The Transmutation Tale” by Saizen 🦜

Submitted to Contest #73

Intense heat permeated the air. Beads of sweat pooled atop Andrea's brow. He winced when they stung his eyes and muddied his vision. Though he must not lose focus.Towering furnaces and vents lined the smeltery. The walls were made of dark stones, while the pieces of machinery were made of dark grey metal. It was a gloomy place, lit only by the orange light of molten ores.Despite the spaciousness of the facility, Andrea felt claustrophobic. He gripped his shovel, scooping gravels of malachite into the furnace. With his shorter limbs, it was a...

8 comments 8
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“Mira” by ❤️✒️𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓔. 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮📝❤️

Submitted to Contest #73

Atlanta, Georgia, 1994 I never thought it was possible to be speechless.  Well, not for me, anyway- I’m quite a talker, as my friends will be sure to tell you.  I’m twenty-six, after all, and my horizons are broad.  But this- this just takes the cake.  I open my mouth to form sounds, desperately groping my brain for some sort of reaction.  Finally, the words come.  “But… why?”  I ask, defeated.  It’s not that I plan to keep it, but it’s rude to blatantly reject a Christmas present, right?  Does ...

16 comments 16
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“The Neglected Dove” by Mariya Khan

Submitted to Contest #73

The Neglected Dove: The dove, it was a beautiful and respected bird, it is small and clean, it almost feels honest and loyal by its behavior. This dove was white like snow, had sharp brown eyes, wings that moved so precisely and delicately, yet no one wanted the poor dove, as it was the only one in the pet shop located in the frosty village. People didn't know how to take care of it, they had more things to worry about in their life and didn't care to waste their time on a bird.As children were making snowmen and the festive season was rolli...

16 comments 16
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“The Love Bird” by Sunshine (:

Submitted to Contest #73

The bright red and green ornaments echo Christmas throughout the entire house. The smell of fresh baked gingerbread wafts from the kitchen. The presents are the size of boulders. Puppies, toys, clothes. Everyone’s smiling. At least, that’s what you would expect from Christmas. My family and I have never had a “normal” Christmas. In fact, sometimes I forget that Christmas exists at all. When someone says the word Christmas, I just think of a holiday where money is important. Christmas revolves around money. The holidays are full of cheer… and...

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“My Best Friend Gave to Me...” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #73

      Oh no.        I can feel it settling in. My head starts pounding as millions of negative thoughts flow through my head like trout in a river. My breathing grows increasingly harder as I try to focus on inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth. My hands are shaking with the ferocity of a city-destroying earthquake. A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.        I fall to my bed as my limbs take on too much weight. My bones re...

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“Lonely Cages” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #73

When the phone started ringing, Jacob jumped, and there was a moment’s flailing about as he dug out the television remote before he answered. “Hello?” “Hey bro, are you in at the moment?” Jacob blinked at the muted TV screen. Where else was he supposed to be going? There was a lockdown on, in all but name at least. “Yeah. I’m in. Though I can’t have visitors.” On the off-chance his sister Maria had forgotten, though how anyone could have done when it had been going on all year was a wonder. “No contact delivery, it’ll be fine. Simon...

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“The Crystal” by Charlie Murphy

Submitted to Contest #73

"Present time!” Grandma announced.“Yay!” I said and sat down on the floor.“Here you go, Megan,” Grandma said, grabbed a big present off the floor, and handed me it. “I thought you might need this.”“Thank you,” I said and tore the wrapping paper off frantically. “It’s a blender.”“I figure you needed a new one after that squirrel ran in and knocked the old one off, shattering it.”“Well, thank you… you gave new meaning to the season of giving.”“This one is for you.”“Thank you.” Keith opened his gift, wearing his Rick and Morty Christm...

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“Pierre” by Elizabeth Rogge

Submitted to Contest #73

Recently Bill has been hinting about a very special Christmas present. After three years of dating, our relationship has reached the stage where I’m ready to get married and start a family.  I put my favorite Christmas CD in the player, pull back the sheer curtains and watch the big, fluffy snowflakes descend on the grass and slowly accumulate. We’re goin to have a white Christmas! I smile as I recall white Christmases from my childhood...making a snowman with my brother...snowball fights with friends...sliding down the hill on a plas...

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“All That's Missing is a Pear Tree” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #73

December 22nd  The doorbell rings, gnawing on my ears. I just need to remove that thing. It’s not like anyone comes to visit. Nor do I want them to.  Ring.   Who could that be? Mom and Dad? Doubtful. They’ve never come to visit. Jake? He’s too busy with his new wife to even remember his younger brother. Friends? I’d need some first.  Ring.  I scramble my way out of the recliner. “Coming!” I yell.  Knock. Knock. Knock. Ring.  Knock. Knock. Knock. Ring.  Knock. Knock. Knock.  Knock. Knock.&...

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“Free Like A Bird” by Emili Silvi

Submitted to Contest #73

Christmas. The saddest time of the year for me. But nationally supported as the happiest time. "Here, open this one next!" My sister eagerly shoved a present at me and I caught it, fumbling for it clumsily. I smiled tiredly at her and she beamed back. I tore off the wrapping. A sweater. "Thanks, Hennah. This is so soft." My parents looked at each other, nodding slightly. "We got something for you, too, Eris." "Thanks, guys." Dad left, coming back in with a covered cage. I pressed my lips together. "It's a bird!" he said excitedly, ri...

4 comments 4
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“An Unexpected Gift” by Amy Sutch

Submitted to Contest #73

The late afternoon sky was quickly getting dark, which created a gray pallor in the dim kitchen. Frank turned on the overhead light above the sink and stared at the pile of dirty dishes that needed to soak. In the houses across the street the lights were popping on one by one as people came home. Soon the neighborhood would be filled with the friendly lights casting out the darkness. Frank always liked that homey feeling as the day settled into evening.            His...

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“My favorite bird” by Molly Freeze

Submitted to Contest #73

It is always fun to go to your grandmother's house on Christmas. My grandmother is a bit mentally challenged and does some crazy things. We celebrated Christmas a few days early with granny, as she had other family members to gather with. As I walked in, the smell of fried chicken and biscuits hit me. I only eat these things on Christmas, so whenever I smelled that, it makes me think of gathering around the Christmas tree and singing with my family. We even did this when I was a kid. The sound of the creaky door opened, bringing me back to t...

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“The Merry Christmas Bird” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #73

The Merry Christmas Bird Suzanne Marsh "You're going to give her a what for Christmas? Vic, she is six years old! Do you seriously think she can take care of a parakeet? Vic, gave me one of his cockeyed grins: "Lori, we can call the parakeet Merry Christmas, Ali will enjoy the bird, maybe she can teach it to talk." Lori looked him right in the eye; "Look Vic, I have already flushed enough fish down the toilet to stock Lake Michigan. Remember the frog, when it got loose, who was it that had to catch it again...it sure wasn't you, it was me!...

2 comments 2
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