Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Posted in Teens on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 34 stories

“The Transition of Spring to Summer” by Adelaide Murphy

Submitted to Contest #85

I eventually started writing this short story for the prompt, "Start your story with the line, 'That's the thing about this city . . .'", but quickly decided it was more suitable for this prompt, because of the fact the main character, Aja, desperately wants to stop the constant changes that plague her entire city, especially the changes in her house and neighbourhood—where she spends most of her time. I don't expect many people will end up reading this, but I do hope to write a part two, if I can. It's also a bit random, but I liked all the...

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“Six of One...” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #85

I love this city; I just can’t live here. But then, that has little to do with appreciating a fix that takes you to a place you can believe in, or one that you can’t forget, if only on a Monday. It is not just the excitement of the city; it is more than that. The lights, the noise, the immediacy that permeates from every crack in the sidewalk; the city, the world, as though taking its final breath. The pulsating waves of fear, hate, euphoria that accompany you on a stroll through a town that is being born, ...

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“The Park” by Pasupu .

Submitted to Contest #85

I was born in Bangalore, way before the corporate revolution hit India. We were satisfied with routine jobs and stable life. But my hometown was something else. The old British roads were still intact. The neatly spaced lines of copper pods never ceased to turn with the season. The air always seemed to smell of light vapor. The rainy seasons were particularly brilliant. Drinking spicy chai as the rain lightly flecked my face, that is definitely something I miss. Even the cold winters always brought a sense of warmth....

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“ONCE UPON A TIME” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #85

Lecture delivered to a historical society by a distinguished professor of history on the occasion of its centenary at Chennai in India: Ladies and gentlemen, It is my privilege to be here this day. I was asked to address you about the importance of preserving the past. When I arrived in this city after nearly three decades I cast my eyes eagerly to look at a certain equestrian statue of Sir Hector Munro which had graced an important road. It was no longer there and I asked the reason. The answer was the statues of British rulers were no long...

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“The True Maleficent ” by 𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓸𝓷

Submitted to Contest #85

It may seem bad, but we didn't like it one bit. The king and queen needed to fix this. You see, in this town, the people here are-shall we say- a bit odd and different. I mean, if you came across a black cat with horns, or four tails-in this period of time- you would run away screaming about witchcraft. But in this town, it wasn't a strange sight. A strange sight would be a 'normal' cat. You know with only two eyes, and one tail. The boring kind. Anyways, this was one of very limited places where you could live, and magic would run wi...

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“Machines” by N S

Submitted to Contest #85

TW: terrorism Many might say I have lost my way but it is those who say that, who have lost their way. Our city neighborhood is changing because of them. Because they lost their way. My journal entries are my place of happiness. I write the good old days long before Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. The time when we were all safe. The only millionaires were sawmill operators, one named Henry Yesler. He was one of the pioneers of the city and built what became the city’s first steam-powered sawmill. People looked up to him and made him the cit...

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“Extracurriculars” by Adam Schwartz

Submitted to Contest #85

My guidance counselor, Mr. Hopkirk, had a talent for telling students devastating news in the nicest of ways. We huddled together in his tiny box of an office. He avoided meeting my anxious eyes as he methodically jogged the pages of my application together against his desk into a neat rectangle. “This is all fine, Marcus. Very well written.” He hesitated, still not looking up. “Your extracurriculars are weak, though. I just don’t see your spark.” I frowned and opened my mouth, but he kept talking ...

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“For Better or For Worse” by Ellasyn Carpenter

Submitted to Contest #85

"They can't" I yell it so loud my voice cracks. He goes through his notes without looking up at me."I don't know what to tell you Darling." He says. "Just because Darling's my name doesn't mean you get to call me by it." I shout."You can't kick them out of their homes!" He chuckles under his breath. "They don't have homes Darling." He says "They're trespassing on private property. Do you think that old geezers gonna let them stay much longer? It's for their own good, I don't want someone to get shot.""Then give them homes!" I plead. "You kno...

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“You'll Forget My Stories” by Delphine Hintz

Submitted to Contest #85

“No one else remembers her anymore.” “Oh, I’m sure somebody does, Papa,” Rosalinda flicked on her blinker, looking much too little both ways before turning. “Yah? Who?” Frank grunted, staring over the Sternberg’s old fields. Great-grandmother Sternberg used to grow the largest pumpkins and win the fair every year. Him and Joey would get to carve them afterwards. Ginseng in row after shaded row, planted by Jung Co., grew there now. Rosalinda shrugged. “Oh, maybe an old friend that you forgot about, or somebody who just passed her on the ...

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“Devil's in the Apathy” by Dawn Walter

Submitted to Contest #85

Jerry, the owner of the last “restaurant,” is in a current state of embracing his alcoholism. He maintains the open/closed hours of the old fountain building. The few dollars he makes from his regulars each morning keep the beast fed. Most everyone else steers clear of the joint. This is the sort of place where “used to” is a word in the local dialect. Pronounced ustah, like “yous-ta.” Ustah is a mantra. Out of habit, or loneliness, or both; the same half dozen aging fellas show up to this sad hovel every morning, except Tuesdays when Jerr...

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“Changing The Neighborhood” by James Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #85

Changing The Neighborhood By James M. Vines I cannot believe it, another business is closin...

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“Coffee Corner” by Alasdair Strachan

Submitted to Contest #85

We are creatures of habit, addicted to coffee. That is my excuse. I went to The Coffee Corner, a coffee shop, merely because it was on my way to work, recommended by Google, and you know... coffee. So it became part of my routine walking from my apartment to this hidden gem. It has been buried amongst the city grime so it's not busy when I walk in and I order the same drink; a flat white. It’s plain, efficient, and most importantly it comes from the same barista every day, You. You are a goddess, a modern-day Cleopatra, a b...

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“For the love of a building” by Amanda Stuntz

Submitted to Contest #85

“You can’t demolish this building!” Lisa crossed her arms over her chest and blocked the doorway. “Lady, I have a job to do. If you have a problem with it, take it up with Mr. Sanders, it’s his property.” The pot-bellied man shoved past her into the building, marking on his clipboard as he went. “This is a historical building. It’s been around for almost a hundred years!” She followed behind him as he weaved his way around boxes and broken furniture. “Well, I just do as I’m told, and I’m told to tear it down.” He made another mark on his...

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“Another Revision” by Nancy Gwillym

Submitted to Contest #85

It was no use trying to hide. Crazy Alice had spotted Margaret fair and square. Margaret sighed. She knew she would acquiesce to her demands. Crazy Alice had a way of doing that.Alice had received her endearing moniker for an abundance of reasons. She was most famous for strong-arming her neighbors into performing random tasks. These missions would hold no benefit for the crazy woman but she would make them sound as if they were necessary for humanity’s survival until you gave in and agreed to assist. She was a sweet, older woman who had onc...

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“Pink Flamingos” by Kyd Craimer

Submitted to Contest #85

“This is crazy. This is insane. Why now? It's summer for God's sake and those Robinsons won't even have a pink flamingo on their lawn.” huffed the old man to himself. He stomped up his perfect little concrete walkway. It was a hot summer day and according to Mr. Falcia, it was the most perfect day of summer. It would be a nice 80 degrees Fahrenheit, just a few clouds in the sky, the birds and bees would be out, there would be no chance of rain, and, as he had thought previously, no chance of some unexplained disaster. He scaled the white st...

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Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 34 stories

“The Transition of Spring to Summer” by Adelaide Murphy

“Six of One...” by Joe Swanson

“The Park” by Pasupu .

“ONCE UPON A TIME” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“The True Maleficent ” by 𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓸𝓷

“Machines” by N S

“Extracurriculars” by Adam Schwartz

“For Better or For Worse” by Ellasyn Carpenter

“You'll Forget My Stories” by Delphine Hintz

“Devil's in the Apathy” by Dawn Walter

“Changing The Neighborhood” by James Mckinley

“Coffee Corner” by Alasdair Strachan

“For the love of a building” by Amanda Stuntz

“Another Revision” by Nancy Gwillym

“Pink Flamingos” by Kyd Craimer

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: