Write a story about a character who buys a secondhand coat and then discovers something in the pocket.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 99 stories

“A Ring For No-One.” by Taliah Melur

Submitted to Contest #18

Laurel Crouch was never one to feel glad being dragged around. Especially by her best friend. Unfortunately, Romilda Finch was a rather merry, curious girl who lost interest in things at the tip of a hat. Laurel was in an especially grouchy mood one particular Sunday; her mother had unleashed hell upon her, after discovering her secret stash of ramen packets in the back of her closet."Just because you're going on a stupid diet does not mean that I get to suffer as well!" Laurel had roared. "What about my rights as a human livi...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Fate's Keeper” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #18

I hate feeling obligated into anything, especially attending events. I know you’re supposed to be there for family, but mine wasn’t as tight knit as movies make you believe they should be. We were at some fancy restaurant in town for a rehearsal dinner for my brother’s wedding. But what’s a rehearsal dinner anyway, just another chance for the two families to argue, fight, or compete. I guess that’s a bit harsh; our two families get along in general. My brother and fiancé have known one another for as far back as I can rem...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Treasure Hunting” by Tuesday Michael

Submitted to Contest #18

Growing up, my father and I loved going to the old thrift store down the street. The brick-red building had fading paint on the sides. I think it used to be a mural of some kind. The windows were littered with old deals and ads to lure people in. I'm pretty sure I've seen a 'Grand Opening' sign still there. The cluttered outside was the opposite of the neat rows of old clothes, toys, and other trinkets. It was almost too clean, with white tile floors and bright lighting that made even the dullest broach shine like it was new. Even the ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Slice of Life” by Sofia Ventura

Submitted to Contest #18

She was shivering. I wondered if she had a fever, because the fur coat was too heavy to be cold under. "I didn't do it.""Not entirely, no. He'll live."Her eyes were definitely looking a little feverish."It made me. But I don't remember doing it. You can't lock me up for it.""Clara, it very much looks like you did it."She was crying now, shaking like a leaf. I wanted to hug her, but the bloodstains weren't quite dry."Please," she said, rubbing childishly at her eyes with the sleeve of her coat. "It was the knife.""All by itself?""I don't know...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Smoke and Letters” by Alicia Trevino

Submitted to Contest #18

It was more of a gag gift than her being serious about wearing a plush, plum, suede coat. In fact, the thrift store had a deal going that all purple tags were half off. She got the coat for a swimming total of eight dollars. Who knew it would come with so much trouble to top it off? Actually, would it be defined as trouble? Maybe it could just be defined as sad. That’s what it makes her. Not the coat. The coat fills her with emotions that she can’t figure out how to compute. It’s the note inside of the coat of her coat th...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Red & Emerald” by Sarcastic Kate

Submitted to Contest #18

As she ran her hands over the various colors of fabrics, the vintage secondhand coat on the re-sale rack demanded her attention immediately; she had a knack for scouting all things that seemed like they were from another time and another place, but this bright red coat definitely was a score that felt transportive in its power. She stood in front of the full-length mirror and watched the trench-coat style jacket flow coyly past her knees. Yes, this was the find of the day for sure, she thought as she slipped back out of the jacket, returned ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Pocket Angel ” by Kristen Brandon

Submitted to Contest #18

Noele thumbed through the racks at the Goodwill store for a replacement jacket. Her old one was too tight from her sudden weight gain—seasonal depression had hit. She also just had surgery two weeks ago and they found and removed endometriosis, which explained her emotional eating, constant pain, and mood swings. She questioned the last twenty years of her life and how she was labeled as difficult, psycho, and other things. She wished she could take back those years and redo them now that she had an explanation of why medication and therapy ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“"This Hypothetical Adventure"” by Hamish Braithwaite

Submitted to Contest #18

James was having an average day. He was walking down the moderately busy city street in his new coat. Technically it was an old coat, but it was newly in his possession. He’d just bought it from the local second hand store, and honestly, it was the most exciting thing he’d done all week. He was quite pleased with himself about the purchase. A very soft, warm fleece lining inside a worn denim exterior. A cool, vintage look. And for only $40. Perfect for this time of year as Autumn was starting to put a chill on the wind. He was still testing ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Birthday Magic.” by Monika Anderson

Submitted to Contest #18

Eliza woke up the morning after her nineteenth birthday, she seemed frozen in her bed and the panic woke her with a fright. She woke up in a panicked frenzy each and every morning since she was nine years old and didn’t know why. With a sigh she wipes the sweat from her brow and sits up to sip her sup of midnight water on her nightstand. The old analog clock read 6:30 am. She thought to her self she might as well get up and start her day. She slips her jeans ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“New Beginnings and Old Memories” by Carol Coupland

Submitted to Contest #18

He walked out of the shop with the tote bag. It was not what he would have called a great buy. The colour was alright, but it was not r trendy. Well he couldn't complain when it was all he could afford. He would try to wash the mustiness out and wear it with style. It still irritated him. It was not the fact that it was a second hand good – he had worn those in his childhood. It was not the fact that he was earning a minimum wage. He liked the honest work. It was that all those who had profited from his hard work we...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Fate Ring” by Maggie McVey

Submitted to Contest #18

She wore me on her finger as she yelled, tears were streaming down her face. She was angry. Then, she took me off, threw me at him, and ran. That was the last time I saw her, the last time I called her finger home. Her name was Honey. He held me in his hand tightly as he yelled and cursed after her. After he shouted at an empty doorway for what felt like eternity, he shoved me in his pocket. He never pulled me back out. That was the last time I saw him. His name was Dear. I don't know how long I've been in his pocket. I hear voices, but I n...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Am I Blue” by Terry R Barca

Submitted to Contest #18

I saw it as I drove by.The Salvation Army had opened a new store in my town, but I hadn’t had the time to look around.The shop was once a Video Store. It had been there for more than a decade. I remember a broken-down old Milk Bar being on that site. We used to go in there when we were kids and buy a penny’s worth of those, and a penny’s worth of those, we must have driven the shopkeeper crazy.One day the wreckers moved in, and the old Milk Bar disappeared.Not long after, the builders turned up, and a large shop with prefab wa...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A hand to hold ” by Emily Nagel

Submitted to Contest #18

Boris shoved his bare hands into his trouser pockets, stretching them out in an attempt to rouse the feeling he lost in them long ago. One of his fingers popped out of a tattered hole, only to be buffeted by the mid-December gale. The boy sighed, squeezing his hands into protective balls, barely shielded by the thin material of his pockets. Across the icy road, a banner wrapped around a dingy shop without a name, loudly proclaiming in bold black letters, “Second-hand, vintage, antique, thrift.” The open sign was just visible between two...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Purple Coat” by Laura S

Submitted to Contest #18

"Hello, may I help you?" the little old woman asked me as I wondered slowly around the shop of second hand clothes, accessories and other interestingly dated things. I didn't notice her initially since her slacks and blouse matched the items in what seemed to be well, the entire store, so she kinda camouflaged for a moment there. Old and shabby, used and reused, hand-me-downs that looked to have gone through about nine siblings before ending up here, at Seccy, the shop where things go for another life when someone doesn't want them anymore. ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“RAINY DAY” by Grace Galton

Submitted to Contest #18

Thirty years had passed Compton on Sea by without the little town seeming to have noticed.Maggie strolled down the quiet road of identical bungalows, distinguished only by their slightly differing gardens and knocked on the door of Number 22.As the door opened, Margaret seemed to be looking at her own reflection. The only difference being the immaculate styling of Janet's long, dark hair. Margaret, having recently returned from Australia, sported a far more shaggy look. The twins smiled and hugged each other and Janet linked arms with her si...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Your fingers tensed around the object in your pocket, ready to pull it out at a moment's notice.

Science Fiction – 44 stories

Write a story about someone cleaning out their attic. They find an old piece of clothing, and inside of its pocket is an old keepsake.

Adults – 52 stories

"It was just here!" you shout, frantically searching your pockets for the missing thing.

Funny – 31 stories

Write a story about a very skilled pickpocket.

Character – 65 stories

Contest #18

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Pocketful of Sunshine

$50

Prize money

291

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 06, 2019 EST

Won by Sam Lauren 🏆

Title: The Price of a Nice Guy

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story about a character who buys a secondhand coat and then discovers something in the pocket.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 99 stories

“A Ring For No-One.” by Taliah Melur

“Fate's Keeper” by Jason Burchfield

“Treasure Hunting” by Tuesday Michael

“Slice of Life” by Sofia Ventura

“Smoke and Letters” by Alicia Trevino

“Red & Emerald” by Sarcastic Kate

“A Pocket Angel ” by Kristen Brandon

“"This Hypothetical Adventure"” by Hamish Braithwaite

“Birthday Magic.” by Monika Anderson

“New Beginnings and Old Memories” by Carol Coupland

“Fate Ring” by Maggie McVey

“Am I Blue” by Terry R Barca

“A hand to hold ” by Emily Nagel

“The Purple Coat” by Laura S

“RAINY DAY” by Grace Galton

🌟 Similar prompts

Your fingers tensed around the object in your pocket, ready to pull it out at a moment's notice.

Write a story about someone cleaning out their attic. They find an old piece of clothing, and inside of its pocket is an old keepsake.

"It was just here!" you shout, frantically searching your pockets for the missing thing.

Write a story about a very skilled pickpocket.

Contest #18

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

291

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: