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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story inspired by a memory of yours.

Posted in Nonfiction on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 90 stories

“My Brother's Wedding” by Jasz Garrett

Submitted to Contest #140

The walls were that formal, clean gray-white color like all churches have, a spread-out kitchen with dipping sinks and stained counters. There was a closet with a thin drape that blew a little every time you walked by and could easily get caught in for a few laughable seconds. It was raining outside, springing mud in the dense woods. I remember seeing Alex smiling like she’d never smiled before. Usually, she smiles one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen, flashing her teeth like a model, but just for a moment; this one was more subtle, li...

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“Not My Finest Hour” by Kara Beth Baker

Submitted to Contest #140

*This story contains sensitive material about prison and what happens behind bars. Word Count -1219 "Alright, y'all know the drill," said one of the guards sternly, as all the women groaned. Another guard yelled,”Shut up!” and I stood frozen just standing there and looking around. Which is the last thing I should EVER get caught doing.  Having never been to prison before, I most certainly did not know what ‘the drill’ was. But I learned very quickly and began to follow suit-the whole time being screamed at by the guards about ...

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“A Kept Promise” by Samoa Sualoa

Submitted to Contest #140

It was late July, and summer was almost over. I live with my grandparents on a small island, just thirty minutes away from the main island where my parents and my older brother, Tyson, lived. Every summer, I would visit my parents and my brother until it’s time to go back for school. He just recently graduated high school, so he’s taking care of my parents on the main island. It’s always hard for the two of us whenever summer is coming to an end. It was just three days shy from my first day of senior year, which means I had to leave for...

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“My New Birthday ” by Jeannie Thomas

Submitted to Contest #140

 “Mama, we need to celebrate today. Do you remember why?’ I heard Betsy say and I answered, “I do. While I don’t constantly dwell on it, I will always remember.” Of course, I remembered why. As I reflected on what she asked, I was taken back in time to the date she was referring.  Sometimes, I see vivid details of that day, and sometimes, it’s just a blur. It was a day, much like today, when the schools had early dismissal due to the possibility of severe weather, and James, Betsy and I were at my...

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“Life is full of choices” by Richard Woods

Submitted to Contest #140

MEMORIES can be dangerous things. If wrong of course they can cause endless and unexpected trouble. If correct they can encourage mistaken expectations. And if it is someone else's memory then anything is possible. In this case the 'anything' wasn't too serious but, shall we say, embarrassing. It started by me being invited to a party. “You'll love it” she said, giving me that amazing smile that she knew very well cut right to my heart. “They are terrific fun and the house is amazing,,, fantastic views and a pool to die for”. “It 's January...

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“They're All Jins” by Shelby Fraser

Submitted to Contest #140

“Ssshhhh, it’s going to be okay. Just hang in there a bit longer.” Momma tenderly rubs my back as I’m heaved over in a stiff chair that desperately needs padding.         “I’m sorry, Momma,” I say after vomiting once again into the blue vomit bag from Daddy’s truck.         Wrapping her loving arms around my shoulders, she tells me she loves me. “Don’t be sorry. I’m your mom. It’s what I do.” Gently, she wipes my mouth as she struggles to breathe. She’s pretendin...

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“Precious Memories: The Cycle of Giving and Receiving” by Donna Smith

Submitted to Contest #140

I had just returned from dropping my daughter off for her first day of kindergarten. She wore a cute little blue denim jumper with an elephant embroidered on the front over a red long-sleeved T-shirt and red sneakers to match. She was adorable and so excited about starting school. I was excited too, until the ride back home when I cried like a baby because my sweet girl was growing up and making her first big move from being constantly in my care. Oh she had gone to some mom’s day out programs, but those didn’t count as they didn’t happen ev...

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“Remembrances” by Peter Liander

Submitted to Contest #140

Remembrances          I am sitting in a restaurant overlooking the Kill Van Kull watching the tugboats pushing barges and tankers arriving and leaving. Waiting for the rest of my family to arrive to help celebrate my 75th birthday I can’t help but wonder about how did I manage to live this long? Looking down I see the tracks of an old railway that no longer runs and waves generated by the passing tugs. My mind wanders back to days when I was young and I lived in a city that no longer exists...

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“One Lucky Unlucky Week” by Kara Stevens

Submitted to Contest #140

Contains sensitive topics, including sexual violence, trafficking, and mental health. Kala stopped on the running trail to tie her worn running shoes. She had purchased them on a whim after having her arches assessed; sprained arches were a thing of the past. She had been on a temporary duty assignment, TDY for short, for a month already. Five more months and she’d have to go back to her life in Nebraska. For now, she stayed in Meridian, Mississippi, where the mosquitos could compare to hummingbirds, had they been prettier and bitten her l...

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“All the Running you Can Do” by Fredrikke Barth

Submitted to Contest #140

She is quite old now, and her life is very different from how she imagined it would be, when she was younger. Not bad different, necessarily, and maybe not good different either, just absolutely and completely different. When she was young she was adventurous, she tried everything once, said yes to every offer that came her way. She never lived anywhere for more than a year. Her friends were used to this, to her nomadism, she was home and gone, visited Oslo and lived all over the world, working and not working, studying and not studying, the...

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“With Snow Comes Warmth” by Barbara Garnett

Submitted to Contest #140

With Snow:Comes Warmth The year was 1973 if memory serves me right.  My mother and I had arrived in Texas on my 6th birthday, February 3rd.  I had been living in California, before that, Louisiana.  We moved every year of my childhood at least once, sometimes two or three times in a 12 month period.   I must have known that I had family other than my mother; but to muse over such trivial thoughts, would have seemed rather petty to me at that age. I am not sure that I ever thought about it before I was six.  My...

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“Amends” by L Moon

Submitted to Contest #140

Good morning, it’s been awhile since we talked but I’m in town until next week. I wanted to know if you wanted to get coffee or something and catch up? I don’t know if you still live here, but I thought I’d give it a shot. I stared blankly at my screen, the bright words etching themselves into my mind as I read and reread them. Was this real? Was this some sort of scam or twisted trick? Why would he reach out? Why now? The questions collided in my brain as I searched for an appropriate response. I set my phone down and tried to concentrate...

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“The emails about my grandmother” by Lucia Whitely

Submitted to Contest #140

Dear Charlie, There is something not right with me. I’m not sure what it is. The doctor keeps telling me but I never remember what he says. It is not right that they are keeping me here. It is like a prison, they are watching me every day, every moment forcing food down my throat every second. Why can’t they just leave me alone? I can look after myself. Why don’t you ever come and visit me? Anyway, love to your mum. Hope to see you soon.  Love,  Gran  Hi Gran,  Don’t worry you are not in prison. You are in a care home...

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“Memories on Tap” by Deborah Hogenmiller

Submitted to Contest #140

The four of us were so excited! We got permission from Cindy's mom to play inside their house, which was quite a privilege for kids in the 60s. We were rarely allowed to play in someone’s house so this was a special treat. Our summer days in my Detroit neighborhood were usually spent outside all day until the street lights came on, then we were homeward bound as quickly as possible. But not this time. We were able to extend our time together by playing inside. Cindy was my next-door neighbor. One year older, and oh, so much wiser than the re...

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“Brain Protest” by Chuck Canady

Submitted to Contest #140

We needed to get to the top of the dam. Truth be told, the top of the dam was only at eye-level, but from where we were standing, it was virtually impossible to get on top of it. None of us was strong enough to pull ourselves up onto it. And what kind of dam was it, exactly? From where I was standing, it appeared to be a wooden pole with plastic sheeting attached to it that came down to the ground. It was holding back a huge volume of water. Part of my brain was protesting vehemently. The lake covered several ...

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Contest #140

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Title: Old Soul

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