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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.

2920+ 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 4 of 195

Everything but the Glass Slipper

Submitted to Contest #293

Note: This is a lighthearted story, but it does portray binge drinking, and briefly mentions stalking. Reader discretion is advised. Gum. My mom had tossed a pack of it into my purse that morning. Gum would help.   Forget my eardrums. The sugary white square didn’t stand a chance against the jaws of an anxious girl flying alone. It had already begun to lose its mintiness when a garbled voice on the intercom apologized for the delay. “We’ll be leaving sunny Atlanta behind in just a few moments, here, folks.” A groan came from the...

10 likes 7 comments 7
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My first air travel

Submitted to Contest #293

The very first time I flew by an airplane was when I was in my early twenties. I was in my first job and was asked to travel from New Delhi to Chennai (then Madras). This was also pretty exciting for me because this was a journey of almost 3 hours by air, and I felt quite important.As I started preparing, I realized I had no suitcase or luggage rack.My mom dug through our stores and came up with an old, brown-colored attaché which had a disinterested lock and a reluctant zip. It was a familiar artefact, one that likely came over with Mom whe...

4 likes 2 comments 2
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Going Home or Going Away?

Submitted to Contest #293

I’m not claustrophobic, per se, but the tightness of economy seats in an airplane makes me feel uneasy. However, whenever I have to fly (at least on shorter trips, under about 3 hours), something works to pass the time and distract me from the air-specific claustrophobia: striking up a conversation. I’m not dumb, though. If someone has headphones on, or an eye covering and a pillow situated for a nap, I will manage with whatever I can watch or listen to on my phone if the connection works decently. But if someone has their eyes open and seem...

20 likes 10 comments 10
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An Orange Coloured Sky

Submitted to Contest #292

“Almost there!” You call back to me, a few paces ahead. The wind is whipping your hair into a frenzy; salt mist tangling it playfully into a halo of platinum curls that bounce and shift with each step you take. It seems to be having the opposite effect on me; I didn’t know my hair was even long enough to get stuck in my mouth and nose before today.“I don’t believe you!” I managed to choke out, between laboured breaths. The straps of my backpack are beginning to bite into my shoulders, gnawing deeper with every step. My clammy hands are findi...

3 likes 2 comments 2
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The Color Thief

Submitted to Contest #292

The sky had once been blue—at least, that’s what the stories said. Not that anyone in the Low States had ever actually seen it. Here, the world was gray: washed-out concrete streets and buildings, dusty clothing, and ashen skin. Only those lucky enough to reside in the Upper States could afford color. Reds, blues, golds—the best way to flaunt wealth was with color while the rest of the world sulked in the shadows. But Liza had never been content with the monochromatic lifestyle.She crouched on the rooftop of a building that had seen much bet...

3 likes 0 comments 0
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A Colour of Confusion

Submitted to Contest #292

A Colour of Confusion by Stephen L. Brayton Bob White waited for the reaction from his best friend and roommate Violet Greene. It came in the form of a creased forehead, squinting eyes, and quirked up corner of her mouth. She raised one hand in a halting gesture as if he was going to speak. “Wait a minute. Let me see if I have this correct. You entered a writing contest.” “Yes.” “A short story contest.” “Yes.” “And the title of your short story?” “A Colour of Confusion,” White said. “See, it’s a takeoff on colour blindness. You know ho...

6 likes 2 comments 2
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The colors of life

Submitted to Contest #292

"Would you like to have another cup of chai?" Geetha asked her husband. It would be the sixth cup since morning if Bharath agreed. He needs a cup of tea every time he is tired or bored. Two or three cups a day was the norm on regular days. The boredom of staying at home after retirement would have contributed to the increase in frequency. He has already consumed more today. She couldn't understand what was going on in Bharath's mind for wanting more tea. She waited for Bharath's response, but he seemed lost in his world. "Bharath!" Geetha ra...

3 likes 2 comments 2
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No Place Like…

Submitted to Contest #292

Dorothy awakened from her fitful sleep, exhausted. Once again, she’d dreamed of Oz.‘Would call it a nightmare, except that it’s so tedious.’Having grown up, far from crowded cities, on the vast, flat prairies of Kansas, Dorothy lived simply. She had no wish to return to that bustling chaos, now a legend in her town. After her mishap in the tornado, Dorothy had wearied of the attention drawn by her tornado concussion story. She craved ordinary days strung together into an ordinary life. ‘Feet on the ground…’Her physician Dr. Jensen assur...

15 likes 12 comments 12
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The old men and the painting

Submitted to Contest #292

Two old men stood next to each other, staring at the same wall, which only had a painting hanging on it. ‘So what is this supposed to mean?’ Asked the first man while stroking his mustache. The other man took a better look at it; it was a painting full of colored circles and lines along a white background, where in the middle, a black silhouette of a woman could be seen raising both her arms. She had red hair, she did not bear any expression, and her minimalistic features only showed some white lines as her eyebrows and nose and dots as eyes...

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A New Lens

Submitted to Contest #292

The wind blew at the blue and green decorations. Parents, Aunts and Uncles were getting everything ready for the big day. Us grandkids though were just playing around on the tire swing. I was climbing one of the trees to try to get a better look at the driveway without being seen. Today was Pop’s surprise birthday party for his 60th birthday. I looked across the yard from my favourite tree, Pop’s truck wasn’t there yet. Granny had made the distraction of sending Pop to the airport to pick up Uncle Tom who was just getting back from the army....

6 likes 0 comments 0
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A Blue Reality

Submitted to Contest #292

'Colorland', the banner read across the top of the building at hand.We were set to ride the elevator up to the roof top, all 74 of us, and we had tickets. There was only one problem, the guide was supposed to meet us out here, and was not showing up. The doors were locked, and it was very cold.We milled about, in our scarves hats gloves and boots, winter coats around. Greta said we should choreograph a dance to meet our tardy guide."Ah, there you are!", she finally walked through the door. "I've been looking all over..."Our school teacher in...

8 likes 4 comments 4
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Melanie's Hit Single

Submitted to Contest #292

Melanie Shaw, dubbed “Rattle Rocker,” stood at the crossroads of aspiration and reality, her heart beat in time with the strum of guitar strings. Though the bright lights of fame beckoned her, they were still miles away, and flickered like distant stars in the vast night sky. Though pursuing her musical dream, doubts about a more lucrative career plagued her.Known for her stubborn spirit; Melanie battled to juggle her love for music with the harsh truths of financial necessity. She shared laughter and dreams, her close bandmates were oblivio...

14 likes 7 comments 7
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My Golden Pond.

Submitted to Contest #292

It was one of those golden days in late summer, as the seasons were turning. Ava had been tidying her cupboards, Spring cleaning before Autumn. Her once golden hair was grey now, aging spots cluttered her hands. She had fancied writing a letter, as in those golden days, instead of the modern digital world of emailing and texting. As her friends were either dead, vision impaired or half gaga, she caught her breath, and composed a letter to posterity. Or, indeed, an epistle to the generations of youth."Here is a message from one the world's ol...

5 likes 0 comments 0
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Blueriel, Redirion, Greenyree.

Submitted to Contest #292

Blueriel, Redirion, Greenyree. We met at a Café. Me, they had placed me by the window. That’s where they put me. Her, she was late. That, I didn’t know. Besides, she would be late to every date with me. I would even learn to like that personality trait. Not that she’s being flippant… she would place several alarms, but the time that it took to try on four sets of clothes, to have the advice of her friends, or even finding the address… Oh, and there is nothing else longer than putting on make-up, in a way that you didn’t do it on purpose. It ...

8 likes 2 comments 2
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Diane and Norm

Submitted to Contest #291

WednesdayDiane was in the sauna, wrapped in a towel, still in her bathing suit. She had just finished water aerobics and came in to warm up before showering. Just as she settled in her favorite corner spot, another woman from the class sprang in, holding herself tightly. “That hallway is freezing!” she said as she spread her towel on the bench and sat down. Diane recognized this woman by her swimsuit: bright yellow with a red waist band. She was three rows behind and to the right of her and every time she jumped up, the flash of ye...

5 likes 1 comment 1
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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