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Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Posted in Kids on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 230 stories

Venomous Misfortunes

Submitted to Contest #41

Alex checked his phone again. 12:37 and no new messages. He unlocked it and dialed the seller’s number. His new ball python was supposed to have arrived an hour and a half ago, and he hadn’t been able to get in contact with the guy who sold it to him. Alex kept pacing, willing the man to pick up. For the third time that day he was sent to a robotic voice that said This number does not have a voicemail box set up. Try calling again. Goodbye! It wasn’t until 6pm that Alex’s doorbell finally rang. He eagerly opened the door, expecting a deliver...

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The Three Terrors

Submitted to Contest #41

 Long ago, in a time so forgotten that now only the stars themselves remember, there lived a great wizard. This wizard, although he was great, was foolish, and tampered with things that would have been better left alone.      One day, while he was watering his garden, the wizard looked up and found himself face-to-face with a Galeria, one of the darkest creatures known to the magical world.       The wizard swallowed his fear, took a step back, and said as calmly as he cou...

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Puppy Love by Susan Lynn Zenker (2013 words)

Submitted to Contest #41

Puppy Love by Susan Lynn Zenker “Hey, Clark. I’m here to pick up Mitzie.” I always tease Josh and call him “Clark” because the black frames he wears give him a Clark Kent look. “Oh, hi, Brianna.” He stands up from his desk. Hands in his pockets, eyes on the floor. On the counter sits a bouquet of dying sunflowers, I Love My Pet stickers, and a planter in the shape of an owl. Every seat in the waiting room is taken.  I’m suddenly aware Clark is staring at me like my hair’s blue. “You’re acting weird.&...

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A Corgi from Nancy

Submitted to Contest #41

"I swear, this world is out to get me!" groaned Pamela as she hoisted herself out of her car in front of her house.The credit control office where she worked had sent everyone home to continue their work due to a 'terrible plumbing disaster' caused by her coworker James blocking the one shared toilet all 40 workers in the building used. James was not confronted by the managers about it, but they all knew it was him. The office smelled disgusting so they were all sent home.On the way home, she had been pulled over by a young policeman for spe...

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Barkley

Submitted to Contest #41

“Clara, you need to open your mouth. That suck-up is taking credit for all your hard work.” “Why bother, Patti? Mr. Wilder thinks Brad is awesome, ok? He’s not going to listen to anything I have to say.”“Then make him listen. You deserve the credit for this project, not that twit.”  “Patti, thank you for always having my back.”“I know talent when I see it. Take it from me, you’re never going to move up in this world if you let people walk all over you. You have the talent to go far, you just need to let people see it.”“Thanks,...

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Stephanie's Cat

Submitted to Contest #41

Stephanie's Cat Stephanie Greenleaf, a pretty 13-year-old,  had been taking piano lessons for several years from Mrs. Barton, who always brought Stephanie a present, usually candy or a small toy. On one occasion,  when she came to give Stephanie her piano lesson, Mrs. Barton brought a present that was not candy; it was in a small box. "You're going to love her, Steph," she said and opened the lid on the box and took out an adorable Siamese kitten.  "Mrs. Barton, she's the best present in the whole world," she gushed looking a...

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Pot Belly Bear

Submitted to Contest #41

It is the night of Christmas EveAnd a little boy looks out excitedlyOut of a window looking for a lightAs Meema and Poppee will come this nightOh how he loves them soThey will bring him joy, he knowsThey will bring gifts and toys and such That every little boy does love so muchIt’s a magical time for boys like thisA time no family wants to missAs gifts of toys, and clothes and drumBecome treasures for years to comeThe light appears and the boys faceFills with glow as to the door he racesAnd, so Meema and Poppee arrive with boxes and bagsAnd ...

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No More Sunsets

Submitted to Contest #41

Eleven-year old Dixie sat on the step to small porch of her grandmother’s house, tracing her name in the dried cement. She paused at the end of her name to scratch Sweetie’s head.  Dixie’s mom had brought the pup home as a surprise three months ago. As she sat there, Dixie watched the sun dip behind the mountains. There were no sunsets in East Kentucky. “ I guess it’s just you and me now,” Dixie whispered to the pup. The lab mix didn’t respond, but climbed into Dixie’s lap.  Angel stood in the yard sobbing, holding on to...

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A Bad Night

Submitted to Contest #41

I always sit on the bench that sits on the back deck. It always makes me feel nice and the soft air makes me happy. The birds always make me feel less lonely. The empty halls of a mansion don’t make me feel any happier than I thought they would. Ever since I won the lottery, bills have disappeared but new problems have risen. I’m lonely all the time. Depression sets in at 8 A.M..    I don’t feel like I can trust anyone. My friends only ever talk to me now if they need money, my cousins have said that I’ve changed too much. My ...

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You'll Never be Alone

Submitted to Contest #41

Hi, I'm Kai. Meet my friend, Alexa. I have been friends with Alexa since the incident. She has never talked about the incident, so I will stay by her side. I am not an ordinary human. I am actually not a human at all; I'm a fox. Yeah...a fox. Alexa and I are close and she knows that she can talk to me and I will listen. "Alexa, are you okay?" I ask; she has been locked up in her room all day. "Yeah, just go away Kai," she says through sniffles. "Okay, sorry." I say before walking away. "No, I am sorry, I'm just stressed. That moment; it...

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The Revelation

Submitted to Contest #41

If we want to learn about love, care and compassion, then we must learn lessons from nature. Humans are undoubtedly superior beings, who are equipped with unimaginable powers of producing eloquent speech and thought. Most importantly, we have the ability to ponder and reflect on our past actions or work towards our goals that our hearts desire. While Ms Noura Hamid was lost in her stream of thoughts, she came to a sudden realization that we share so many things with our living beings which exist in the conscious world! This little haple...

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"No Mo' Dogs"

Submitted to Contest #41

Riley was a mangy mongrel and my very best friend. It might come as a surprise to you, but I feel I learned more and gained more form Riley’s passing than from Riley’s life. My parents weren’t your typical parents who try to sugarcoat things. They didn’t tell me about some magical farm up in the sky, how Riley was in a better place or any b.s. like that. They were Catholic people, don’t get me wrong, but animals? There’s just no way that there’s room up in heaven for all the animals to go, too. So they didn’t pretend like they thought there ...

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Hayley

Submitted to Contest #41

“Oh my God I’m going to miss you soooooo much!” Said the girl, throwing her arms around the boy and hugging him tightly. She kissed him, straight on the lips. “I’ll miss you too, Hayley,” said the boy, arm around his girlfriend’s waist. He opened his passport again and scrutinized the boarding pass sandwiched between the second and third page, eyes scanning for the gate number. C13…, his eyes looked up to the black sign hanging above him, with fluorescent lime-green dots arranged into a combination of characters: C13. Looks like I’m in the r...

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Land of the Mid-Night Strays

Submitted to Contest #41

Nantahala, at over 530,000 acres, was the largest National Forest in North Carolina. Every year, thousands of nature-enthusiasts visited to touch what the Cherokees called “Land of the Noon-Day Sun.” Four main trails wound through the wilderness of old-growth forest, mountains, rivers, and wildlife; smaller paths extended, tangling through the land, but the trails could only go so far.At least once a year, Elena Worthing, with her father Harvey and her little brother Nathan, made the hour-and-a-half-plus drive from their home in Asheville. T...

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Sixty Days with Scott’s Sheepdog Named Megan

Submitted to Contest #41

Megan pounced into my life in need of love and an urgent haircut. Her coat was so long that her eyes were hardly visible, and it was remarkable how she bounced around without tripping on her tangles. When the friend of a friend was headed to a rehab program, he needed to find a temporary home for Megan. I had just quit my job when I saw his post on social media. I always wanted a dog, but my busy work schedule and commitment issues got the best of me. Scott would generously pay someone to watch Megan for sixty days, and with the end of sixty...

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