Write a story about a person waiting for an answer to a question.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 171 stories

“Worth the Wait” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #49

Music from the ice cream van echoed through the streets. Front doors opened and then slammed as kids of all ages sprinted over to it, loose coins clutched in their palms, and then jostled to be first in line. The man laughed, leaning out of the window, trying to create some order as they shouted up requests to him. Deftly he started to scoop ice cream into various cones, pouring topping and sprinkles. He paused as he handed one to a tiny girl standing on her tiptoes trying to reach, and glanced up. His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed ...

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“Family History” by Raquel Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #49

The building had one story, but even so, it towered over me, like an elephant towering over a mouse. In all my years of living, I'd never seen anything like it. Is Angelina going to give me away?! I thought worriedly. I'd seen a lot of things. I saw the foolish teenage sisters who decided to buy me - their names were Maeve and Mabel - grow up to be young, successful women with children. I was there at their funerals, sitting peacefully on their graves. The sisters were very stubborn and demanded to be buried right next to each other. So that...

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“Strawberries and Cigarettes” by Johan Stones

Submitted to Contest #49

September 29, 2018. Dear, John Wesley. How are you? It’s been a long time. Oh, not really I guess, since it’s just almost a year, but you know what, John? it feels like many decades for me. John, something funny happened. I mean, something that for me was funny, happened. I was accompanying my friend at the mall for her birthday party preparation and there was a song played and it said, Remember when we first met? You said, “Light my cigarette.” Do you remember, John? Three years ago in summer thirteen. The turning point of my life...

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“Another chance” by Anushka Binoy

Submitted to Contest #49

I can’t play the waiting game anymore. I can’t get through another day. The clock on the kitchen wall stares at me, blank-faced, as I watch its slender hands gently tick past. The sink cluttered with dirty dishes and remnants of last week’s dinner screams at me, begging me to stand up for once and get my act together. But their cries fall on deaf ears. Every morning, I make myself a cup of watered-down coffee, and then perching on my stool, I watch the hours drift away. I ignore the buzzing of my phone when I see the contacts of family and f...

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“Finding A Place for The Blame to Rest” by A O

Submitted to Contest #49

Well, I forgot to take my phone off the charger and put it in my handbag when I took my daughter to school this morning. When I got home I had a missed call from my mom. I tried to call her at the office, but I got no answer, so I called my parents' home number to ask Dad if she was working from home today or something. He retired last year. I think I told you that. I’m sorry. I’m scattered right now with all that’s happening.Dad answered, and he seemed off. He asked me what I’d been up to. I told him I’d just gotten back from dropping ...

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“The Lonely Earth” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #49

She stepped barefoot onto the grass, feeling the dampness of the night against her skin. She breathed in slowly, relishing the fresh air, feeling it cooling her throat and lungs — it was delicious. The aromas of the evening danced on her tongue. A chilly breeze, wet grass, darkness. It was strange to say that darkness had a taste, but it most certainly did. She would be the first to argue so, even if she couldn’t quite articulate what she meant. She sighed and craned her neck to look at the night sky. Far above, the stars glinted down at h...

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“Number Two's number twos” by Vanessa Marczan

Submitted to Contest #49

Oh hello, are you awake, little one? Are you hungry? Ah, yes, yes you are. Alright then, just let mummy get herself organised. Well it is... Let's see... Ah, we made it to 1am. Nice one baby Georgie! We'll start with some freshening up. Change your nappy, okay? No one likes to have something to eat with a wet or stinky bottom right? Well maybe your sister... Maybe daddy, hahaha! Just gonna get you unswaddled- bit cold I know. I know. Now just gonna unzip you and take your little legs out. Pop! Pop! Oh! Bit brisk. Now, what have we g...

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“A never ending wait” by Sofie Barnet E.K

Submitted to Contest #49

Marco left the thought of being betrayed. As they had often quarreled and patched up, every time this voice would speak out loud, you know what this time it is not a quarrel but a major breach in your family and love and life. She was wronged and she won’t be here today so leave the idea of meeting him. At the same time another voice spoke inside his mind.She loved you and if she really did then she will be here today even if for a second. Go go…..she’ll come and see you and introduce you to him. With this thought in his mind he di...

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“The Final Card to Play” by Heissell Ramirez

Submitted to Contest #49

We got up early that morning so we could be on the road to beat traffic. This was not a day to be late. The appointment was for 10am but we needed to be there by 8:30am. Everything was riding on this one conversation with a man we had only met once before. It had not gone well the first time. “Let’s wait until we are closer to the office before we stop to get breakfast,” he said. “Ok,” I replied knowing well that he was not hungry. He was just trying to see my reaction. Trying to figure out if I was just as nervous as he was. We ...

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“Of Questions and Princes” by Kaysie Davis

Submitted to Contest #49

Note- 3rd in the South Wood series. What could have Thaddeus meant by “I am going to be important”? I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl from a quiet village. I haven’t even kissed a boy yet for goodness sake! I am only the daughter of a scullery cook and a kind-hearted man. What importance could I have to magical beings? I wish that I’d gotten to ask him that yesterday. No sooner than he told me that than we had gotten back to the village and found it a whirl of activity. Thaddeus had ducked under my hair when he saw all the people around. ...

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“The Firefighter” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #49

Ever since I was a small kid I wanted to be a fireman. I couldn’t wait each week to watch The Third Watch. Most of the kids in my neighborhood either wanted to get into the NBA. According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, none of them have a very high probability of being drafted. For young men, about three out of 10,000 male high school basketball players will be drafted into the NBA or about .03 percent. Then there were the I’m going to get into the NFL dreamers. According to calculations by the NFL Players Ass...

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“Nightborn 5” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #49

Three pickup trucks, two Fords and a Chevy, rolled up the mudded path. As the drivers saw the red and blue lights of the police car, they pulled their pickups to a halt, headlights falling straight on Damien’s face. Why did you come now, Mortensen? Why now, after five years of silence? He should have known his nightmare would not stay buried. It was just like his old man used to say. ‘Make sure they’re dead before you bury ‘em.’ He was referring to problems in life, but Damien thought the saying fit perfectly. “Cross,” Briggs said from the b...

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“Waiting on Reedsy” by Eric Smiley

Submitted to Contest #49

Timothy Boundeslas couldn't wait. He couldn't, he had written beyond any doubt the perfect short story that he was sure to win this week's Reedsy Short Story Contest. A beautiful story, "Bobby Brittlethorp and the Bully" about a boy who, after coming into contact with a radioactive Bombardier Beetle, develops the ability to shoot hot acid at people. It was soo good. He was going to be an author. He had waited almost seventy years to do so but now was his time. Well the first five or ten years were really about getting out of diapers and lear...

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“The Interrogation” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #49

I will not let her know I’m worried, thought Sophie. I will look her in the eyes and not evade her gaze, and I will answer her questions calmly and accurately. She was also determined that the impassive woman behind the desk should not realise that she had barely slept the previous night. She had splashed her face with cold water (this was no time for a cucumber-scented toner!) and put concealer on the dark circles under her eyes. I have all the necessary documents, ...

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“Why Won't Anyone Listen?” by Maya Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #49

Tap. Tap. Tap. “Dad!” “Not right now, son.” Shrugs his shoulders to avoid his son’s patting hands. A few seconds later…Tap. Tap. Tap. “Please, Dad!” “Son, I’m busy. Not right now.” Turns his chair away. Tap. Tap. Tap. “Come on, Dad, I have to ask you something!” “Ask me later. I’m busy. Go play or read a book.” Rolls his chair closer to his desk. Sadly trails off with a downcast face. Mutters to himself under his breath. Why is Dad always so busy? I just have to ask him a question. Dad doesn’t love me. Dad doesn’t care. I wonder where...

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Write a story about a person waiting for an answer to a question.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 171 stories

“Worth the Wait” by Vicky S

“Family History” by Raquel Rodriguez

“Strawberries and Cigarettes” by Johan Stones

“Another chance” by Anushka Binoy

“Finding A Place for The Blame to Rest” by A O

“The Lonely Earth” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“Number Two's number twos” by Vanessa Marczan

“A never ending wait” by Sofie Barnet E.K

“The Final Card to Play” by Heissell Ramirez

“Of Questions and Princes” by Kaysie Davis

“The Firefighter” by Blane Britt

“Nightborn 5” by Harken Void

“Waiting on Reedsy” by Eric Smiley

“The Interrogation” by Deborah Mercer

“Why Won't Anyone Listen?” by Maya Reynolds

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that takes place in a waiting room.

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

Write a story about a relationship where one person is always running late and the other is constantly kept waiting.

Write a story about two strangers chatting while waiting for something.

Contest #49

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

1054

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: