10150+ Contemporary Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. All the newest modern day stories to thrill and inspire, all in one place.

🏆 Winning stories

“The Three Little Pigs Incident: A Building Inspector’s Report” by Troy Phillips

🏆 Winner of Contest #277

The Three Little Pigs Incident: A Building Inspector’s ReportBy B.B. Wolf, Senior Building Inspector, Woodland District Code Enforcement DivisionLet me set the record straight. After twenty-seven years with the Woodland Building Department (WBD), I’ve seen every construction shortcut and code violation imaginable. But nothing—and I mean nothing—compares to the infamous Three Pigs incident of 2023. The media had a field day with it, of course. “Big Bad Wolf Terrorizes Innocent Homeowners!” Please. I enforced the International Building Code, 2...

125 likes 114 comments 114

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“They haven't even won my heart and mind” by Maxwell Brooks

🏆 Winner of Contest #276

I feel the JACKAL sway below me, the dust-red road unrolling in front and the stunted mahogany scrub flashing alongside. We pass women bent double under towering loads of firewood and are passed by young men on mopeds in turn. I make it a point to always wave - with my left hand only, the right stays welded to the .50 cal. You can always tell there’s a village ahead because the trees start to thin and the umber houses begin to multiply. They could have been built yesterday or a hundred years ago and the only thing that changes is the age of ...

72 likes 31 comments 31

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“One-Mississippi, two-Mississippi ” by Fi Riley

🏆 Winner of Contest #267

His visit wasn’t planned. Yet when she saw the car pull up, riding the cusp of a tempest, Eve was unsurprised. Headlights sweeping up her driveway in this remote, vast space they called home could have been reason for fear, panic or, at the very least, an unsettling unease. But looking up from the sink, where she stood carefully drying a crystal wine glass, seeing the lights, she immediately knew. Rafe was behind her in a second, all agitation and tension, hating surprises, hating things out of his control.  ‘Who on earth can this be at...

105 likes 55 comments 55

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⭐️ Recommended stories

“To the Fire” by Sarah Horne

Submitted to Contest #281

“Today’s low is going to dip into the low teens and it’s shaping up to be the coldest day of the year, so bund-“  I groaned, and cut the engine; Thank God, I made it to my driveway before I had to endure more radio chatter. One day I would get my aux port fixed and have my control over my commute listening material again.   I stepped out of my car and regretted not wearing a heavier coat. It was so cold my breath was a solid cloud. I ran as best as I could in the snow to my mailbox, grabbed my couple weeks’ worth of forgotten mail,...

1 like 0 comments 0

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“Never Again” by Caroline Poplawski

Submitted to Contest #281

This is hell. Hell has literally frozen over, and now Danielle has to follow through with an ungodly number of empty promises made on these conditions. Whoever looked at the forecast and decided it was still perfectly safe and acceptable to hold a football game in the middle of the worst cold snap of the year deserves a special place in this hell to burn—freeze?—for eternity. Danielle had hoped and prayed that it would get canceled today, so she could stay curled up in her weighted blanket and watch Christmas episodes from a bunch of random ...

5 likes 0 comments 0

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“Never Let You Go” by Cameron Navarre

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #280

Mom? Can you hear me? 01110111 01101000 01100001 00111111 00100000 01001001 00100000 01100011 01100001 01101110 00100111 01110100 00101110 00101110 00101110 Mom, this is Chris…your son Chris, can you hear me?01100011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 0111100…Chrisy? 01001001 00100000 01100110 01100101 01100101 01101100…I feel…so tired… They said you might feel…er…have a simulated feeling of grogginess. That’s the digital anesthetics tapering off. Chrisy…where am I? It sounds…I can hear your voice all around me… It’s okay Mom, I know you ar...

15 likes 6 comments 6

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✍️ All stories

“The Umbrella Brigade” by Sonia So

Submitted to Contest #281

The Umbrella Brigade Picture this: Mei Mei and Leslie step out of their tent, and suddenly, the world bursts into a riot of color. Rain falls gently, hinting at the chaos that’s about to unfold. They raise their umbrellas high, determined guardians against the encroaching silence that surrounds them. That day, September 28, 2014—how vividly it remains in their minds! The movement erupted like a living, breathing thing, fueled by the dreams of countless souls. Students emerged, fierce and resolute, their faces aglow with urgency, ready to cha...

1 like 0 comments 0

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“To the Fire” by Sarah Horne

Submitted to Contest #281

“Today’s low is going to dip into the low teens and it’s shaping up to be the coldest day of the year, so bund-“  I groaned, and cut the engine; Thank God, I made it to my driveway before I had to endure more radio chatter. One day I would get my aux port fixed and have my control over my commute listening material again.   I stepped out of my car and regretted not wearing a heavier coat. It was so cold my breath was a solid cloud. I ran as best as I could in the snow to my mailbox, grabbed my couple weeks’ worth of forgotten mail,...

1 like 0 comments 0

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“Pandora” by Cat Davey

Submitted to Contest #281

My husband Carl is drinking eggnog cocktails with a woman called Pandora. Brief glances between them develop into extended eye contact. Pandora laughs and touches Carl’s hand. He collects her hand, brings it to his lips and kisses it.  They move to the restaurant area just as a group of patrons arrive wearing novelty hats, stumbling and loud. I recognise a man from my work. Joe from Marketing is wearing a hat that looks like a turkey. He is with a woman wearing a grinning plum pudding on her head, a man with a mini pine tree with tiny l...

3 likes 1 comment 1

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“Be careful what you wish for... eventually, it will come true!” by Stefanie Anna Kremser

Submitted to Contest #281

I just wanna be like them. Different. But not me. That’s for sure. It just doesn`t feel right. It hurts so much. The pain in my chest. No one prepared me for that. Oh my god, it's tearing me apart. Ripping in half. I wanna get rid of my skin that feels so strange. But it doesn`t work. I tried so hard. If you could see me now, you would see the scars. She is the one who doesn’t love herself on top of the world or in the depths of despair. She feels lost caught up in her fears of not being perfect. Looking into the mirror means seeing a stra...

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“A Party of Surprises!” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #281

Prompt: Write about a mysterious guest who arrives at a party-but no one knows who they are. A Party of Surprises! Wow! The Christmas party was in full swing! It was only 7:00 pm and I did not think our house could fit so many people. My task, since I was still under drinking age, was to act as watchman of the front door entry way. I also collected any car keys to avoid impaired driving and serious liability issues. I felt assured there would be no problems because everyone seemed totally absorbed in festive egg nog drinking, bois...

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“Kaleidoscope Tree” by Heidi Fedore

Submitted to Contest #281

As they sat on the carpet, their eyes mirrored the sparkling, blinking white lights. The ornaments reflected their images across the globular surfaces, making their faces seem bigger than they were. Fisheye round, like a fun-house mirror. “I wouldn’t do it if I were you,” he said, shaking his head and arching a judgmental eyebrow. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion,” she said. “Might I remind you of last year?” “You might not,” she said, tilting her head in opposition. He shifted, blocking her view of the tree, and glared into her eyes....

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“Into the Deep Freeze” by Pete Gautchier

Submitted to Contest #281

Prompt: Set your story during the coldest day of the year. Into the Deep Freeze Unquestionably, this was the coldest day I had ever experienced. I was literally chilled down to my bones.  I could not feel my hands nor my feet. Other nerves in my body, however, were actively feeling the frigid air. The cold pierced my face as though I was a pin cushion. I morphed into a human iceberg. What made matters worse, I was surrounded in darkness. Pitch black darkness. I quickly understood the meaning of th...

4 likes 0 comments 0

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“Guide my steps” by Alan Hancock

Submitted to Contest #281

Guide my stepsAlan Hancock 2024    I watch him as he walks in the rain. If only he knew, how close I am, always, how much I care. He would be surprised, frightened maybe. And I don't want to frighten him. Not now. So close I can feel his poor heart. He thinks he is a poet. He notes things down in the special notebook that he bought at the bookshop by the harbour. He goes there often, when he is lonely, when he wants to leave his lonely house and be part of the big world. I've followed him down there, watched him walk up and...

2 likes 0 comments 0

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“Snowflakes for Christmas” by Peter Brown

Submitted to Contest #281

Snowflakes drift, swirling past the treetops, falling gently to the ground without making a sound. In the night sky, they appear as darkened dots, only turning white when the spotlight from the porch illuminates their underbellies. Some glance my eyelashes, making me blink. Others land on my soft, black nose—icy pinpricks quickly melting—vapor from my nostrils disappearing into the cold, still night.I’m not particularly cold. Layers keep me relatively warm, except the bottoms of my feet and parts of my belly, but I can curl my toes under and...

3 likes 0 comments 0

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“MEDITERRANEAN MISCHIEF” by Shirley Medhurst

Submitted to Contest #281

OK, so my patience is gradually beginning to wear thin. I consider that I’ve actually been more than reasonable in my behaviour, considering what I’ve had to put up with over time… but recently, the issue seems be getting worse, and the damage they inflict upon me increases with each passing year. More often than not, I try to make light of the situation, amuse myself a little to take my mind off more serious things—do a spot of teasing, let’s say. Allow me to explain. Take that cute little beach they created way back when, down off the...

30 likes 30 comments 30

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“Never Again” by Caroline Poplawski

Submitted to Contest #281

This is hell. Hell has literally frozen over, and now Danielle has to follow through with an ungodly number of empty promises made on these conditions. Whoever looked at the forecast and decided it was still perfectly safe and acceptable to hold a football game in the middle of the worst cold snap of the year deserves a special place in this hell to burn—freeze?—for eternity. Danielle had hoped and prayed that it would get canceled today, so she could stay curled up in her weighted blanket and watch Christmas episodes from a bunch of random ...

5 likes 0 comments 0

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“The Stranger” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #281

A chill went through the room as the tall stranger entered the doorway. No one seemed to recognize or claim him. Rhonda, our hostess, rose from the table and tentatively walked to the hallway. She had a pained look on her face. We all assumed she knew him, but her question put our assumption in doubt.“Hi, were you invited by one of my friends? There was an open invitation to invite anyone. We are celebrating the election. Are you here to celebrate with us?”The man took the black hood off his head and just glared at her. He stood silently for...

7 likes 10 comments 10

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“Ironic Hubris Party Guest” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #281

Oh, how delightful it is to be here among such intriguing companies! The audacity of it all is undeniable, isn't it? A certain bravado, a charming overconfidence, permeates the air, dancing around the table like a well-rehearsed performance. Isn't it almost like we're all part of a grand prank? The conversations swirl with a mix of wit and whim. Isn't it fascinating how irony unfolds? It's that delightful twist where what you anticipate takes a surprising turn, leading to the opposite of your expectations. Quite the conversation starter, wou...

12 likes 5 comments 5

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“Whitetail Trail” by Michelle SHAAY

Submitted to Contest #281

Warning: Story contains sensitive content i.e. animal huntingSunlight dashed quickly away like a thief in the night and it had become bitterly cold. The wind began nipping at Ryan's neck and his brown corduroy hat dangled with glistening icicles.He shifted his weight on the tree stand a bit and chumped on old chewing gum to focus on some thick brush a few feet below him. His buttocks were sore, his feet were extremely cold even with three pairs of socks stuffed in rugged combat boots, and his stomach rumbled loudly from hunger."Damn," he mum...

9 likes 1 comment 1

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“The Christmas Fairy.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #281

So this was Christmas. The Christmas Fairy was gorgeous. A scintillating frock adorned with glitter and sparkles, a golden wand and crown, completed by gossamer wings. By now, she was six foot four inches tall, plus inclusive high heeled, jeweled, platform sandals. But, hey, she was loud and proud. Abusive and aggressive, yes, alone for now, but still, she was lovely looking Christmas fairy. So this was Christmas. And what had the Christmas fairy done, finally achieved? She had her own considered personal point of view about the spirit of Ch...

16 likes 3 comments 3

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