Write about a character who discovers something while raking leaves in their neighborhood.

Posted in Mystery on Dec 2, 2022

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✍️ 40 stories

“Under the Stars” by Meryl Hulber

Submitted to Contest #175

When I raked over the embers of the fire after the barbeque we had the previous night, I had to look again when I saw the chard finger bone and the titanium wedding band intact. I had a strange lurching feeling in my stomach. One part of me wanted to touch it and the other part of me told me we needed to call the police. The thing was I recognised the ring. It was my husband’s work partners with his distinctive name ‘Andre’ scrawled across the front. The thing was there had been a bust up between them later in the night. Too much beer had b...

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“While Raking Leaves” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #175

I swear the trees grow more leaves every year, just to give me more raking work to do in November. I will never use leaf blowers to do the job, no matter how many leaves there are. Raking is a real man’s job. Besides, it’s easy for me to remember which end of the rake moves the leaves, and which I hold in my hand. If I operated a leaf blower, I might make it suck, quite literally. I’m no good with machines. &nbs...

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“The hatch.” by Michael Blight

Submitted to Contest #175

“Jeez. What a dump.” Henry said to himself as he pushed his way through the rusty wrought iron gate. All around him, nature had tried her best to reclaim the abandoned property. Overgrown grass had covered almost all of the front yard, with the dead remains of bushes scattered around the tall hedge fence line. Ivy had been left to grow uncontrollably up and down the 2 story Victorian style house, while sections of roof tiles were missing, exposing the frame underneath to the elements causing unknown structural damage to the house. The relic ...

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“Garden Purse” by Jennifer Taylor

Submitted to Contest #175

I grew up calling her, Sizzle, at least, that’s what the neighborhood kids called her. All I knew about Sizzle was that she had an open mailbox stuffed with soggy newspapers and somehow survived in a crumbly house above a garbage heap claimed by vultures and feral cats. It was clear to me how her name rendered from Cecile to Sizzle. She was baking in filth—a gingerbread woman with two mouse turd eyes and three hairball buttons. We had just finished bagging leaves at Sizzle’s neighbor’s house and were on our way to the next. Volun...

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“Unbeleafable Horror!” by Lorrel Cooper

Submitted to Contest #175

The day has finally come! The day when tradition passes on new responsibilities, an opportunity to stand among the ranks of all the great heroes that came before… “Hey! Are you listening to me? I’m not going to repeat myself half-stack!” The moment the rake was thrust forward into his unprepared hands, Emery was wretched from his daydreams. Clumsily he managed to catch the wooden handle, his fingerless gloves offering protection from the ancient tool’s bite. “I am listening, but if you want me to be able to repeat it back word fo...

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“A CARPET OF COLORFUL BLACK LEAVES” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #175

A CARPET OF COLORFUL BLACK LEAVES Saul was in charge of raking the leaves which in that season ____it was late November___ continued to fall like rain from the lindens, the poplars, plane trees, and oaks. The gardens had to be cleaned and also the sidewalks and the street ( had to be cleaned). Yet he, Saul, felt displeasure in destroying those wonderful carpets of leaves that looked like works of art created by chance. Seeing fleeting at a certain distance, as happened to those who passed on the street, these carpets of leaves s...

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“Present in the Leaves” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #175

Unlike most people in the fall who dread raking leaves, Joan was thoroughly enjoying it. Not only was it satisfying to revel in the clean yard afterwards, but it was also great exercise and an opportunity to enjoy the crisp, sunny day outside with her eight-year-old daughter and three-year-old German Shepherd mix. Chelsea was joyfully helping her mother gather the leaves into a pile and jumping into them afterwards. Buster made it his duty to dig at the unraked leaves with his paws and roll in them. Joan smiled at them both as sh...

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“Inheritance” by Lonnie Larson

Submitted to Contest #175

Fred, at twenty, is the owner/operator of a successful lawn care service. He started this service as a means to make extra money during the summer when he turned fifteen. He would go around his neighborhood asking the people if they would like him to mow their lawns, rake their leaves or trim hedges and bushes. He soon developed a loyal following. But there was one house at the very far end of the lane that he was told to stay away from. All the neighbors claimed that a cantankerous, witch like, old lady lived there. And so, Fred avoided goi...

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“Gold and Bronze” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #175

He doesn’t have a favourite time of year, but if he were forced to, after considerable torture and at gunpoint, to say something, not to stop the torture, not because of the gun which holds no fear for him whatsoever, but to make them go away, he would choose the Autumn, or as the Americans call it, Fall. He is not bothered with the Americans, they are a loud and brash nation too busy making a lot of noise to ever stop and think things through, but they got something right when they coined the name Fall for this season. Fall is when it all...

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“The heartless photographer” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #175

Click, click, click. He continued taking photos of the lake, despite the strong wind, which at times made him squint. He was underdressed, which made the experience even more freezing, and he managed to click a few more times before going back into his house. At least I took these pictures, he thinks to himself. He looks at his camera roll with a smile. As he looked through the window, the house next door caught his attention. It was a house that his great grandfather built – also an avid photographer – as was the one he was livi...

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“The New Arrival” by Zadie Schrader

Submitted to Contest #175

Things had a tendency to show up in Twinlake. From a teenage boy who’d last been spotted at a roller skating rink three years ago, to celebrities everyone had forgotten, to relics of the past found in unruly bushes and beneath the floorboards of the town hall. That was probably where the town got its motto. “If it’s not here, it’s nowhere!” It was probably referring to the many artisans that sat on the streets on Sundays to sell porcelain trees and paintings of dreams you’d forgotten, and wine glasses made from the sands of beaches that ha...

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“Mole Meet Hammer” by Gregory Day

Submitted to Contest #175

The ice cream truck was working later than normal this year. The thermometer read 80 degrees, an unusual temperature for November in the Midwest. It was great weather for Gerry. It meant he could play outside and ride his bike far past Halloween. It was now November 21, about a month before Gerry’s favorite holiday. Christmas meant more this year to Gerry because he was in a new foster home and he finally had a family he could be with. “Mom” what a great feeling that was, to have someone he could call that. “Can I have money for the ice cr...

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“Decision of a Cause” by Douglas W. Carr

Submitted to Contest #175

Joe lived in a rural community and had turned his backyard into a massive garden with many vegetables, trees, flowers, cactus, and other miscellaneous plants. Because he lived in the north where winters could be harsh and lengthy, he made it an annual chore to collect fallen leaves to insulate all his plants—so they had a chance to survive the winter. As such, Joe would seek out neighbors or anyone in the community trying to get rid of their leaves. Most people raked or blew their leaves into a pile, and he would show up and bag them, but ...

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“Whilst Gathering the Fallen” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #175

Content Warning: Mentions of shooting living things with BB guns The neighbors just can’t stand leaves on their lawn. Even though they’re both advanced in years, if we don’t rake up the leaves and do something with them, fast, Mr. McGregor and his wife will both be outside, picking up the fallen foliage and stuffing it into plastic trash bags. Annoyed as I may be, I don't want to let them do that.I wish we didn't have to rake. Why can't they just leave the leaves alone? I like shuffling through them, hearing the sounds they make, a...

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“Leaving Grace” by Victoria Rose

Submitted to Contest #175

The rake leaned against the wall. Unused. When I moved in five years ago, the cherry tree was barely alive. Only in my imagination could I envision the majesty of the tree in its prime. I witnessed the death of the tree and not its vibrancy. I grieved for what I missed. In the empty space, I envision a terraced garden, a mix of herbs and flowers. With shovel in hand, I began to dig in the ground. As I dug I felt something hard. I would have thought it was a root but I heard a clink. Maybe a rock? I dug some more until I saw what might be met...

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Write about a character who discovers something while raking leaves in their neighborhood.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“Under the Stars” by Meryl Hulber

“While Raking Leaves” by John Steckley

“The hatch.” by Michael Blight

“Garden Purse” by Jennifer Taylor

“Unbeleafable Horror!” by Lorrel Cooper

“A CARPET OF COLORFUL BLACK LEAVES” by Mara Masolini

“Present in the Leaves” by Kimberly McFetridge

“Inheritance” by Lonnie Larson

“Gold and Bronze” by Jed Cope

“The heartless photographer” by Ksenija Rubež

“The New Arrival” by Zadie Schrader

“Mole Meet Hammer” by Gregory Day

“Decision of a Cause” by Douglas W. Carr

“Whilst Gathering the Fallen” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“Leaving Grace” by Victoria Rose

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with two people planting a tree together.

Write a story about someone who volunteers to read for others at the local library, and how it impacts their community.

Write about a professional who is called back to serve their community after retirement.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Thank you for that.”

Contest #175

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

176

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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