Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Featured stories
Activity feed

Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of happy short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

2950+ Happy Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. A good story doesn’t need a devastating twist. Nor does it have to plumb the darkest depths of the human conditions. These happy short stories might be exactly what you’re looking for in these uncertain times.

Happy Short Stories – Page 18 of 197

A strange heart warming meeting

Submitted to Contest #271

                                   A strange heart warming meeting Deep in the land of dreams I heard a hideous sound, an annoying call to rise and shine. Who invented alarm bells or maybe I did not spend the time to select a more agreeable one. I turned over to see my wife had already risen. I was thankful that the chaotic mornings of having young children had long pas...

6 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

We Have Something in Common

Submitted to Contest #271

Two young men in their late twenties, George and Frank have just been hired by a large company which sells seeds. They both are working in the warehouse engaged in labour that requires a lot of heavy lifting bags of seed on their part. The two of them were already fairly strong, one reason why they were hired. At first they didn’t talk much to each other, they just quietly did their work, speaking only when they needed some help from the other.  That started to change when George made a sarcastic remark about the for...

14 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Day Jar View

Submitted to Contest #271

Monday’s were an increasing struggle. They shouldn’t have been, and they hadn’t been for an age. Eons in fact. Time was of no consequence to him. The consequences of time were applied to those he encountered. In fact, he was surrounded by time. Even when he went home. Home. Since when had the space he occupied become home? He stroked his nicely named horse on the head as he led him from the stables. Binky snorted affectionate approval.  I KNOW, said death to his steed, WE’RE BOTH GETTING A BIT OLD FOR THIS. Death missed the curious look...

17 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Taking in the Laundry

Submitted to Contest #270

Early one morning from her kitchen window, Grannie Annie studied the storm clouds speeding toward the village. Next door’s clothes danced, pegged out on the line strung over the new family’s back garden.   She only had a nodding acquaintance with them so far, but they seemed nice enough. The little boy had not come to Storytime at the library yet on a Saturday morning, but she expected he would in time. She knew she would tell the right story for him when he did. After a moment’s consideration, she realised that nobody would be home in ...

14 likes 12 comments 12
Read story

Fresh Start

Submitted to Contest #270

Fresh Start By Amanda Stogsdill Mandy's stomach was in Butterfly City as she boarded the bus the first day of school. Why did we have to move anyway? She knew the answer; Mom switched jobs, (she now baked at the cafe, which offered better pay than her previous one) and unexpectedly sold their house and moved to a new city towards the end of summer. Life would still be tough for a while. Glumly, Mandy slumped down in a middle seat, and stared out the window. The only bright spot was her Mom was going to teach her how to bake a pie. "Mandy, we...

8 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

When Paths Cross Again

Submitted to Contest #271

The warm glow of lamps filled the little café on Pine Street, making it feel like a snug retreat from the chilly autumn air outside. Soft music played in the background, and the smell of freshly baked cookies and coffee made the place cozy and inviting.Lily pushed open the door, the bell above jingling softly. She smiled as she stepped inside, feeling the warmth wrap around her. This was her favorite spot to relax after a long day at work."Hi, Lily!" the barista called out."Hi, Mia," Lily replied. "Just the usual, please.""One hot chocolate ...

13 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Jenna's Famous Bread

Submitted to Contest #270

MONICA DO NOT READ THIS! DELETE THIS FILE AND OPEN THE SECOND ONE I SENT YOU! Hey Monica, you’ve been asking for me to bring rolls for ages so I figured I would send you my bread recipe. That way you can make them for the next family gathering. I know bread is intimidating but I am going to leave you notes so it should be easy. If you have any questions I am only a text or call away. Bread making isn’t something just for little old ladies! It’s a life skill, 20 year-old “pretend adults” can do it too. Preferred Ingredients 2 Cups warmed Milk...

6 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Biscuit Hacks

Submitted to Contest #270

My grandfather always said we came from a long line of good cooks, and good eaters. It doesn’t take a detective to surmise the latter to be true. But I’m not here to talk about overweight excellent cooks, but to share my grandmother’s secret for mouth-watering biscuits. My mother never saw the need for homemade biscuits, felt it was a better use of her time simply to whop a can on the counter's edge. Watching Big Mama make biscuits in the early morning hours was like seeing an artist create the most beautiful sculpture, and I suppose, in her...

7 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Sacred Ritual

Submitted to Contest #270

Saturday! My favorite day of the week! And that means that today I can do the Sacred Ritual. Yes, that's right, with capital letters. For this, some of the preparations must be done in the evening. So, let's begin.In the evening, we need to put a jug of purified water in the fridge, because the water must be cold. Also in the evening, we pour cream into a cup - there are no options, we need to take cream. We also put the cup in the fridge. Overnight, a film of foam will settle on the surface, and this is what we need. Slightly yellow, soft, ...

10 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

The Missing Ingredient

Submitted to Contest #270

Maria loved to be in the kitchen. The small space was always filled with the sound of something: the sizzling of onions hitting hot oil, the bubbling of sauces simmering, and the occasional clatter of a spoon against a dish. Today, though, the room felt different. The chopping of vegetables was slower, her movements more careful as she prepared rice with chicken, a dish she had made countless times before. But something wasn’t right. The recipe lay on the counter, fragile and worn from years of use. It was her grandmother’s recipe, written i...

9 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Cooking up a Successful Restaurant: A Recipe for Success

Submitted to Contest #270

Recipe OverviewStart out with dreams. Restaurants are based on this magical ingredient. Restaurants are not created just to sell tasty delicacies, but rather to showcase desires, ambitions, and personal fancy. They are selfish in that way, as only the creator truly understands the artistry they put into their work.  So start with a dream. Grab a sheet of paper and sketch out what the kitchen would look like. Then spend countless hours pondering whether the crispy Po’Boy should have jerk seasoning or traditional blackening spice. It’s al...

18 likes 12 comments 12
Read story

Fishing for Something Nordic

Submitted to Contest #270

Following is Soan Papdi, a.k.a. a Recipe Designed to Catch the Heart of My New Neighbor, Jergen, Who’s Just Moved Here From Finland and Said He’d Love to Try a Regional Indian Dessert of the Sort That I Grew Up Eating.Here’s the background: Jergen showed up last week at the otherwise-boring-the-ugly-sweater-off-me apartment complex’s holiday party. I’m glad, because he lives on the other side of the complex from me, and I’ve seen him coming and going. He’s a cloud-scrapingly tall blond glass of Alpine goat’s milk with a thick accent that mak...

10 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

A RECIPE WITH A PINCH

Submitted to Contest #270

The kitchen is neat; fat-bellied copper pots glisten on hooks, dishes are stacked on a rack, an old-fashioned toaster for refreshing corn tortillas is scrubbed of all residues and shiny, and amidst them all, is she -  the Queen of Lard Cakes, the Princess of Preserving Jars, the Gravy Goddess, Doña Flor. Her apron is stained with the remnants of countless culinary conquests, while her hands tell the tale of years spent crafting exquisite masterpieces. "Chop the onions into small pieces,” she whispers to herself. The white bulb of ...

10 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Jon's Cooking Class Surprise

Submitted to Contest #270

Out of the kindness of her heart, retired Master Chef Rose Bowl currently teaches a Friday evening cooking class sponsored by our own Carson City Adult School. Rose studied pastry making under the tutelage of the now famous and renowned French Chef Julia Child. I was recently invited to audit the class last weekend and I would like to share my experience here in what follows. In preparation for the drive over to the campus, after a quick review of the evening weather forecast, I decided to make sure my umbrella was close at hand. Of course, ...

10 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Living among shadows

Submitted to Contest #269

Mary Jane wasn’t an adventurous girl. She rarely left her house and hardly ever without one of her parents or siblings. Not that she didn’t like to - hearing the chatter of all the people at the town market and feeling the sun on her face were her favorite moments of any week. No, Mary Jane liked the outside. The mysterious, unknowable space. It’s just that she could never find her way through the confusing world of shadows that surrounded her. She alone lived in it. Noone else in her family had to navigate the same everchanging ethereal lan...

8 likes 0 comments 0
Read story
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. All for free.