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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story about waiting — but don't reveal what's being waited for until the very end.

Posted in Nonfiction on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 323 stories

“The Long Wait” by Christina Hall

Submitted to Contest #49

She waited at the edge of her beloved pond, mud squelching beneath her cold toes.  The wind blew angrily against her, a warning perhaps that she ought not be there. The wind was wrong of course, this is exactly where she had to be. She yearned to see what this night brought. Her heart thundered in excitement, in knowing that she was so close. Yet, for all that she waited and craved what was coming, she feared the change. For this night would bring an end to who she was, to her life lived so far, to the innocence...

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“Letting Life Catch Up” by Nanci Arvizu

Submitted to Contest #49

The view from the peak is something to stop and look at.  This was her place. The spot where she always stopped to rest before descending the trail into the valley below, back to her car, her apartment, and the rest of her life. Today she’d arrived early before the sun had peaked over the horizon in the distance, just enough light to get started. Her day ahead did not need to be rushed, she planned to sit here and enjoy a view she would normally glimpse as she made the U-turn at the top and then running back to the parking lot, alwa...

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“Feigning Tales” by Christine Johnson

Submitted to Contest #49

He arrives at the bench early, sitting about six inches to the left of the sun shade line. He measures his wait by how many times he has to scoot further to the left before his departure. He did not need to come out as early as he did. He knew it only increased the uneasy feeling that flowed through his belly, but the longer he remained close to the bathroom, the more he wanted to throw up. He had done his best to stay busy this morning. He made his bed and cleaned his side of the room. The distinction between his ...

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“From Whom to Where?” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #49

Peter DeLuccio sat waiting for what could have been three hours to three hundred years in the train station. There was no way of telling what the day or time was since he’d discovered that the area lacked any clocks or calendars. The sun sat low in the west, giving a dull glow on the tracks that seemed to lead right into the orange-gold ball of light, but even that was no use in helping with determining the time since the sky had looked the same since Peter had arrived here.  Peter looked down and checked his ticket for the umpteenth t...

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“the wish” by Nate R. Blade .

Submitted to Contest #49

Some people don't think before they wish the reason I say this is that I knew someone who got their family killed now, these were nice people but the daughter had anger issues she didn't get physical she just said horrible stuff if she didn't get her way. Before I tell you the story, I should tell you how I met them. One day I was going for a daily walk and as I walked back home when I was about half a block away I saw some unfamiliar people moving in. I walked up to the family as the daughter was throwing a fit, saying “I don’t have to help...

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“A Late Night Wait” by Cheska Ortega

Submitted to Contest #49

It was a dark and cold night. My feet were freezing inside my work boots, and the cold wind blew harshly on my face. The ground I was sitting on was frozen dry and did not do me well as I waited. As a police officer, I was used to extreme situations like this – but I cannot deny the fact that it was really really cold, especially with the fact that I was waiting outside hiding behind the bushes by a dim dirt road. The coldness seemed to be less tolerable as time went by. Waiting for a few minutes is acceptable. Add a few more minutes, it w...

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“The Old Man and the Sea of Leaves” by Eugene Baldwin

Submitted to Contest #49

The Old Man and the Sea of Leaves He waited. He sat on the splintery green bench in the woods and waited. Twenty years since retirement, he waited. His entertainments were mostly birds. A mockingbird and a Carolina wren perched overhead and dueled for his pleasure. He liked them, and those mourning doves which sidled up to him, and he fed them sunflower seeds. He had staring contests with bluetail skinks, and once he saw a litter of water snakes being born and wrapping around their mother’s body. In the winter months, he got to be friend...

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“A Timeless Ending” by Lulu Bird

Submitted to Contest #49

I pulled up beside the curb and parked. Waiting, I took in my surroundings. A small parking lot packed with vehicles, long windows on a rectangular building, and trees without leaves. I turned the radio off in my old Honda, wondering when I'll be able to stop waiting for a new car. The paint was chipped, the exterior was ruined by dents from hail, and there are strange noises that come from under the hood. However, it much resembled me.Waiting. Normal people who live regular lives grow sick of waiting for everyday things. They take advantage...

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“The Honeybun Show” by Renee Padmore

Submitted to Contest #49

At 6:14 a.m. Fiona opened her dark brown eyes. She remained motionless, anticipating the nausea that plagued her every morning like clockwork and threatened to replace her daily alarm. It never came and her smile grew like slow moving molasses. She dwelt for a few moments in the peace that had eluded her for the past few weeks.  Fiona tried to roll over and grimaced as she was impeded by her fiancé’s large bicep crushing her waist length dreadlocks. She gently massaged her scalp and turned fully onto her left side to take in Caleb. Be...

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“FATE IS CRUEL MY FRIEND” by RADIUS HAVWAALA

Submitted to Contest #49

FATE IS CRUEL MY FRIENDThe sun was attempting to climb on the eastern horizon. But the correct time was six hours when the clock hands stretched out like the legs of a squatting ballet dancer. That same time the alarm shrilled cutting into the stillness of the morning coolness. The sound banged Monica’s ears causing her a mild headache for discomfort and significant annoyance for tempers.She started by jerking like a startled rabbit, throwing about a pair of eyes widened to look like dark ringed balls. Her hands, by the instinct for self-pre...

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“Just Wait” by Scarlet S.

Submitted to Contest #49

I'm just a typical teenage girl who resides in Chicago, U.S. my granny raised me up and I'm extremely grateful for that. I’m the kind of person who would never tell anyone what’s going on in my head, perhaps I’d elucidate my feelings with some selected individuals who are somehow like me. Greta (my granny) is an amazing Lady, How can a person stay gleeful all the time? Greta grew up in Shanghai, China. She was a successful athlete in her teenage years and I always wanted to be the very picture of Greta however I ended up as a High school ner...

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“Refreshments anyone?” by Shawnalynn Cromwell

Submitted to Contest #49

Jennie checks her watch for the umpteenth time, wondering when her turn will be. She arrived an hour early she was so nervous about the whole thing if she missed her chance "again" it would be the end of everything for her and her husband. Her husband wished her luck and told her to keep focused.The other people that had arrived were not as nervous as she was just were better at hiding it than she was. "I cannot believe the spread they put out for everyone some good eats!" said a man enthusiastically while stuffing yet another...

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“ The Molly doll” by Tyra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #49

I sat in the big, red chair while watching the hands of the clock move around,dressed in my skinny and tight jeans waiting on my grandfather. Today is the best day in my life, my grandfather is not here yet as yet. I start counting my toes and fingers saying this little piggy went market,this little piggy went home and this little piggy went wee-wee all the way home. I really enjoyed playing that game,it was fun.I learn that game in school from my teacher name Mary; she is a pretty,kind,funny person. Miss Mary when we do good in spelling and...

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“A Perfect Holiday” by Amy DeMatt

Submitted to Contest #49

He never had any respect for what hung in the balance. The day had started off with such promise. The sun shone, glittering on the snowbanks and she had packed a perfect picnic lunch, roast beef on a hard french roll, hard-boiled eggs, a thermos of thick mocha and a sleeve of chocolate sandwich cookies. It had been one of those February days when spring tiptoed to the front door and stuck his nose out, while the sun was still high in the winter sky. She was always the one to attend to the details, she thought. She'd suggested the weekend, bo...

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“The Eyewitness” by Linda Rossi

Submitted to Contest #49

     She was always the rock - the one that the family could lean on for strength and wisdom about, well just about everything.        She always knew where to find the best watering hole to catch all kinds of bass, the best meadows where perennial wildflowers, including Aster and Milkweed grew, where colorful butterflies clustered that the kids could catch with a net.  And she knew the best trails for hiking and birdwatching, which were her very favorite things to do.&nbs...

2 comments 2
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