Write about two characters’ different perspectives of the same past event.

Posted in Middle School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 36 stories

“Grampa Owl and Grandfather Mouse” by Tanya Humphreys

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #120

“My father told me of the great massacre of Summer, 2020.” Randolf’s grandfather began. Randolf looked over at his twelve siblings, they were all spitting images of Randolf- wee ash grey mice squatting comfortably like furry little pom-poms. All twenty-four of their shiny black bead eyes were wide with raptness, Randolf joined them in their gaze towards the elderly, somewhat scruffy mouse with one torn ear and a kink in his tail. Grandfather mouse continued when he had all thirteen children’s attention in full, he savored the dr...

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“Consensual? ” by Christina Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #120

Trigger Warning: Sexual ContentVoluntary Statement: 11/24/1997Yes, I understand this is serious, but that’s not how it happened. Look. My roommate and I—we just heard about the party in the chem lab. We didn’t premeditate anything . . . We showed up around 10:00. Maybe 11:00. Look, I don’t know the exact time. But I was sober when I got there. I didn’t have any drugs or paraphernalia on me. I didn’t smoke marijuana in the dorms before we left. It wasn’t like that. Victim / Witness Statement: 11/24/1997It had been a long week. I needed s...

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“Some Things Never Change” by Mark Shoe

Submitted to Contest #120

“I’ll take this.” Tanner slid a worn parchment on the long counter top. A spindly bald man in a greasy apron eyed him. “That there is a bounty for a night-terror.” he trailed off. Tanner followed the man’s eyes to his dented artificial leg. Metal bones fused to his left leg’s stump. Tanner swung his cloak over it. “Never seen a cripple in your tavern before?” “Not one who could walk.” He scoffed. “Ten gold now, and the remaining ninety pieces when I bring back its head.” Tanner said. “By the prophet, I ain’t los...

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“In my mind” by Veronica Velez

Submitted to Contest #120

Her: In my mind, we were a movie; no subtitles and in a different language, but nonetheless, a beautiful production. You felt like the sunlight melting the layer of ice built on the surface of my skin. Exactly what I needed to complete myself. The only person that I could be happy around. You showed me how to let my guard down and break the pattern of toxicity. It felt like you were the only one who understood me, and some days, it still does. Our love was truly a sight to see, so when you said you want to separate, I can’t help but wonder w...

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“Strange Red” by Myia Melendy

Submitted to Contest #120

Siobhan Callaghan lives in the same town she grew up in—and has all of her life. She graduated from the local high school, attended the local trade school (but didn’t graduate), and has worked locally ever since. The most traveling she does is taking her delivery truck on the five-hour trip up the coast and back.And, once a year, her cousins convince her to drive to the city with them to shop at a ‘real’ mall. Sometimes, she can even be convinced to stay overnight for a midnight movie premier.“Look, that’s Victoria!” her cousin says, pointin...

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“Autumn Gardening” by Mae Siu-Wai Stroshane

Submitted to Contest #120

(Scenes of bombing, injuries, death) Next to the cyclone fence, chrysanthemums were in bloom. Mariko Abe stooped stiffly to pull out a few weeds around them. A plane passed high above her and she straightened up, her heart pounding. Then she gave herself a shake. “Stop this nonsense. It's been fifty years. Are you going to jump like a rabbit every time a plane goes by?” She heard the phone ringing inside the house, and plodded across the grass, out of breath and wheezing. Fortunately, she made it in time. “Hello?” Mitzi’s cheerful voice...

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“Rudolph's Broken Leg” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #120

“It doesn’t taste like mother’s,” Anna said dropping the hot pan of cornbread dressing on her sister’s kitchen counter.“Anna! Use a potholder under that dish!” Mandie snatched open the kitchen drawer and tossed a crocheted yellow potholder at her sister.“But you sure sound like her!” Anna said as the yellow rectangle landed on the floor, and she bent down to pick it up. “Did you crochet this one?”Mandie turned to look while she stirred the creamed corn. “Yes, I gave it to Mom for Christmas the year I turned fourteen.”“I’m going to miss havin...

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“We Have to Move” by David Ader

Submitted to Contest #120

Phillip turned the car into the gravel driveway comforted by the grassy hump down its middle, the part that car tires hadn’t trampled down. The hump had grown since he was a child. He’d always thought it looked like something you’d find at an English country home. Maybe in the Cotswolds, though he hadn’t ever been there. The old man sat on the porch staring out at him, a curious look that might have been mistake...

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“Chains” by Robert Houston

Submitted to Contest #120

It had been long and difficult process, but I had finally caught him. He put up quite the fight, but in the end he had to know there could only be one outcome. It took everything I had to subdue him, but I had just enough strength to get him restrained. Before he had a chance to recover, I jumped on his back with the collar and leash in my hand.“Get off of me, Alicia!” He screamed as he thrashed and squirmed.“Stop……resisting.” I managed to call out. I was close to passing out from exhaustion.“Please, Chris. I don’t want to have to—” Jus...

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“Through her eyes” by Christy Sutton

Submitted to Contest #120

It is said that the best place to begin is at the beginning. However, sometimes events tarnish the beginning so harshly that it becomes unrecognizable. It becomes frayed in the places where good once existed and replaced with the pain that seeps into every memory, every moment before THE moment. The moment where a new beginning was created. Sharon There are pictures of them at prom, at Disneyland, camping, and one at a friend’s party where she was kissing his cheek. The news loves to feature that one. There was a time, not long ago, ...

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“The Bus Driver” by Leonard Mills

Submitted to Contest #120

Sensitive themes - racial discrimination, verbal abuse.For centuries, stagecoach drivers used to be responsible for the safety of their passengers through the danger of unknown territory, dealing with not only impassable roads, but the constant threat of robbery, or worse.Bus drivers today, although have paved roads and traffic lights to ease one problem, must still keep guard of their passengers, regardless of the threats each day brings.I greet the old-aged pensioners with a smile.“Morning Delilah”, they say, “bit cold this morning.” And I...

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“Shoelaces” by Jen Knox

Submitted to Contest #120

I stand steady on large foot decals and rotate at the waist to survey the room. Wary, appreciative, exhausted. People fresh out of quarantine cup their beverages as though they’re security blankets. They type or scroll their phones. Soft shoulders, exploratory gazes, heavy eyes. We are all vaccinated, animals that can interact again; those of us in this coffeehouse crave solitude among the masses. Baby steps. These are my people—the writers, introverts, artists, and students. I glance around the room, smiling at each of them, my gaze settli...

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“No Thicker Blood” by Hannah Foust

Submitted to Contest #120

They say blood is thicker than water, but would it be enough? The end of the civil war was an interesting time for the Carson family, picking up the pieces of a forgotten childhood, a time when the only thing worth fighting over was Mama’s biscuits. Kurt paced the parlor floor anxiously waiting for his brothers return, he earnestly wanted to reconnect with his little brother Jake, but still he felt betrayed, growing up they were rarely separated, and when war broke out, his brother left the farm to side with the Union, something he ...

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“Dad's Words” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #120

The two brothers, Steve and Earl, were sitting together in a downtown bar. Both had knocked back rather quickly several shots, with not a lot of words spoken in between. It had been a long time since they had done anything like this, the two of them being alone together. Usually when they were in the same room, it was at rather large family get-togethers in which they only exchanged a few polite words before parting company. They were clearly nervous now. The waiter could see that each time he brought them their drin...

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“Memorialized with Lipstick and Dresses” by Hussein Abulamzi

Submitted to Contest #120

I leaned against the passenger door of Dad’s red ’87 Monte Carlo, and I felt unsure of whether to catch my breath or inhale my cigarette. But the wind chaffed my smiling teeth, regardless. The music the car blasted around the Exxon station—the one dad retired from as a cashier—just shied off a ruse. So, Carl ran up to the car, shoved me aside, and jumped half-way inside it through the window. Tonight, I learned Carl started driving the Monte Carlo for the past week, since—well; he took it for a ride that same night after he got the call a...

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Write about two characters’ different perspectives of the same past event.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 36 stories

“Grampa Owl and Grandfather Mouse” by Tanya Humphreys

“Consensual? ” by Christina Reynolds

“Some Things Never Change” by Mark Shoe

“In my mind” by Veronica Velez

“Strange Red” by Myia Melendy

“Autumn Gardening” by Mae Siu-Wai Stroshane

“Rudolph's Broken Leg” by Melony Beard

“We Have to Move” by David Ader

“Chains” by Robert Houston

“Through her eyes” by Christy Sutton

“The Bus Driver” by Leonard Mills

“Shoelaces” by Jen Knox

“No Thicker Blood” by Hannah Foust

“Dad's Words” by John Steckley

“Memorialized with Lipstick and Dresses” by Hussein Abulamzi

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who yearns for something they lost, or never had.

Start your story with the line ‘Back in my day…’

Start your story with a character looking through an old family photo album.

Your character has always viewed the past with rose tinted glasses. Write about what happens when they’re finally confronted with the truth.

Contest #120

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

244

Contest entries

163

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: