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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations (like a snuggly tiger, or something more magical, like a literal fish out of water).

Posted in Kids on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 69 stories

“Flyday” by Phillip Allen

Submitted to Contest #41

“Hey!” Dominique barely opens his eyes, enough to look around the room. He sees no one. The voice comes again. “Hey! Can you hear me?” Dominique sits up in bed, and fully opens his eyes. He looks around the bedroom again but is still unable see anyone. He hears the voice a third time. “Are you awake? Come on man, wake up! We need each other’s help!” A thousand things cross Dominique’s mind, not the least of which is the possibility that he is going insane. He blinks and more thoroughly inspects the room. And yet, not a soul in sight. &nb...

3 comments 3
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“Camille the Caterpillar or Not a Children's story” by Tim Grimo

Submitted to Contest #41

Somewhere in the undergrowth, a fleshy knot stirred in its shell. At one end, a black, featureless mask encased a trap-jaw.Tentatively, as if waking from a slumber it didn’t remember falling into, the knot unwound itself to face the gelatinous wall of its womb. A pair of minuscule mandibles began chewing through the membrane: my first meal, and the beginning of its sentient life. For the sake of anthropomorphism, she was known as Camille, because it had a nice ring to it, Camille the Caterpillar. As she finished the last bit of she...

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“Of Alley Cats, Crows and Mice” by Joan Kearney

Submitted to Contest #41

“I was born in the basement window well of that hardware store, the white alley cat with black spots pointed to the right of the building, my mother told me this when I was just a one-year-old kitten. I had three brothers and two sisters, and we spent our infancy clinging to her and nursing. We’d cry when she’d run off to catch food for herself, but she always came back and that’s why I am proud to be here tonight announcing that we have acquired fourteen mousetraps for our nursing mothers.”The crowd of strays erupted into high meows and stu...

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“A Cat Who Subverts Expectations” by Mark Fischer

Submitted to Contest #41

There was an old man named “Grandpa” who owns a bar near Aon Center in California. His life was pretty boring, serving drinks all day, cleaning the floors, etc. Until one day when he was sitting in a chair at the counter’s table, he encountered a black cat that entered in his bar and sat at one of the chairs near the counter’s table. He didn’t really care, but then the cat said“One shot of whisky pleases”Grandpa was in shock, but he just gave the cat its order because he thought he was just drunk“Cheers!” The cat saidGrandpa and the cat talk...

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“Galumpasores, and Why You Shouldn't Keep Them” by A.G Lesley

Submitted to Contest #41

It’s not really my fault, if I’m being honest. The blame totally and completely lies with that wizard I met on the subway. I mean, seriously, who gives a Galumpasore to a twelve year old? Everyone knows that every one in six twelve year olds are completely irresponsible. Also, how was I supposed to know he was a wizard? He looked like a completely respectable man in a suit with a green and red tie. Everyone knows that wizards are crazy and only wear clashing patterns or weird 80’s shirts. ‘Course, he did say something about a curse when he g...

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“The Cold Polar Bear” by Jane Flourist

Submitted to Contest #41

As we entered the museum, I could already tell I was going to hate it. It looked like it was about to fall apart if someone sneezed too hard. What kind of mother drags along their 13-year-old son to a museum for "bonding time"? I see and talk to her all the time but since summer vacation started I have been too distant, her words not mine. As soon as we enter, the smell of elders and an extensive amount of perfume ran up my nose. My mom even made me wear this weird Safari hat and wouldn't let me take it off. Great now I feel AND look stupid....

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“Cleopurrtra” by Abby Thayananthan

Submitted to Contest #41

Her name was Cleopatra because she dominated the house like a queen and embodied all the qualities of Antony’s scandalous lover- she flirted, she was playful, she was fierce, she was devious, and she thought herself beyond earthly beauty. You could tell this by the way she would stroll boldly into the family living room with her head held high and her hips swaying from side to side. She would glide into the centre of the room and sit there nonchalantly, as though to soak up the exclamations of awe and wonder from the family and their guests....

1 comment 1
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“Bricks and Branches” by Wemory Charnel

Submitted to Contest #41

Jillian stumbles haphazardly through the ghost white birch trees. Their shadows casting prison bars across the leaf-strewn forest floor, with only beams of moonlight to pierce the veil of darkness. She winces as crisp leaves and twigs crunch and snap under her feet. The breeze blowing just hard enough to elicit a shiver as it makes branches send more leaves spiraling down into her hair. She shivers again feeling eyes on her back, sensing she is being watched. She can hear quiet, sinister words among the whisper of the swaying trees. Freezing...

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“Mr. Shy Coyote” by Seth Fuller

Submitted to Contest #41

It’s never good when you see a trickster like a coyote. Because by the time you’ve seen them, they’ve been there for some time, waiting, watching, planning, using that wily mind to figure you out, before you even know they exist. I had been walking down some slow empty highway for a couple of hours, somewhere north of Albuquerque, where exactly I’m not sure, when I first saw the coyote. He was a big one, probably over 50 pounds, missing half his left ear, and with a tail that looked like it had lost some length as well. The sun was just...

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“Lady” by Vivian Eli

Submitted to Contest #41

*yawn!* the room was dark and no light was found anywhere, jumping off the bed to stretch out all of her limbs. Her long body was now ready for the day she just needed to awake her owner. “Girl it’s time to wake up!.” She lightly placed her chin to the bed, but the girl was still asleep a loud wimper was Herd as the girl that look to be 28 years old turn on her lamp to find her Labrador retriever waging her tail waiting for her to wake up. “Come on girl! I have to go!.” The girl takes her phone to check the time and sighs “ok lady let...

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“Greater Than a Legacy” by Davi Nash

Submitted to Contest #41

Have you ever read a story about a tortoise that was faster than a hare? You couldn’t have because there has never been a tortoise that was faster than a hare. Though, a similar story you may recall is one about a tortoise that won a race due to a hare's arrogance.My great, great grandfather is the famed tortoise from “The Tortoise and The Hare.” Since I was a hatchling, the tale of Grandpa Ivor’s victory has plagued me. A burden I wish wasn’t mine. There have been crushing expectations for me to not only live up to his legacy but revive it....

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“A Tiger Heart” by Philip Baker

Submitted to Contest #41

«Kenzo! Grab it now!» The mother tiger yelled.The pack of tigers had circled around on a young deer, leaving no chance of escape. The scene was covered in a veil of silence as the suspense of the attack was rising.«Kenzo wake up! You need to move fast or its gonna run away!»Kenzo looked over at the voice.«Just snatch the damn thing!» called his bigger brother Edan.Little Kenzo looked at the deer without making a move. A few steps further and it could have it in a sheer moment. The little deer looked petrified. The law of the jungle was harsh...

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“A Dream of Ink-Parrots” by BEATRIZ FREITAS

Submitted to Contest #41

Do not laugh for I have seen this creature myself and it is not laughable, the silly name was just a joke me and my companions came. In truth, no other species had ever sparked my interest likywise before I met the Ink-parrots. Ink-parrots would not differ from the ordinary Psittaciformes: the same colorful feathers, the same anoyingly inocculative voice. If distracted, one might even overlook the existance of an ink-parrot in surrounding areas, but that shall not be a problem for those who's interest is to find amusing stories. In fact...

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“Pet Shop” by Sydney G

Submitted to Contest #41

“Ooh! Look! Look at this one! Her hair is funny.” Puff’s claw was hooked onto the ring of one of the cages holding a small, bright-eyed infant with curly, vibrant hair. “Eww! It’s hair is so long. Come on, let’s go!” Puff’s twin brother, Spec, pouted. Their mother leaned over her and peered through the bars at the baby. “Odd, odd creatures indeed. Well, let’s move along now sweetie, obviously one with such unique hues will draw far too much attention. We don’t want that now, do we?” But Puff and Spec were already sticking their paws into ano...

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“The Lonely City ” by Ivy O'Liveon

Submitted to Contest #41

The lights are never turned off in this city until the sun rises, vehicles never stop, people are always busy and they don't have time for each other. They don't even have time to stop even for a minute as every second matters. The restaurants are always crowded, cafeterias are noisy yet you will find the loneliest souls here in this city. Making money seems to be everyone's passion here. I moved here for that same reason, to make money for my family so that I can provide my family best of things which my dad had once promised. There is not ...

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