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Write a story about an argument that seems to be about one thing, but is actually about another.

Posted in Dialogue on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 121 stories

Man Boss

Submitted to Contest #50

Ronan sat at his desk,"{| in the little closet that he called his office. The desk had a huge grease stain, his laptop, a desktop phone, and a“Man Boss” desk plate. A flickering bulb hung from the ceiling. Without it, there would be no light in the room. His eyes were squinting, he forgot his computer glasses in his car, as he looked at the screen.“Goddamn 18-19 business taxes,” he muttered to himself. 5 minutes into filing the taxes and he was sick of it. He shut his laptop and propped his legs up on the desk. It was nearing the end of the ...

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If You Love Me

Submitted to Contest #50

"There's no way we can make it through after all that you've done," I said as tears filled my eyes. “Lydia, please,” his voice cracked as he spoke, tears brimming his eyes. “Don’t do this.” With a strangled cry, I snapped at him, “I’m not the one doing this! This,” I motioned between the two of us, “is all your fault. If you had any ounce of self-control, we would still be happy and okay.” Tears fell down his cheeks as he whispered, “I don’t wanna lose you.” I angrily wiped the tears from my eyes as I coldly said, “It’s too late, Elias. ...

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The Weight You Carry

Submitted to Contest #50

Unable to ignore the heaviness of humidity any longer, you slowly bend down to carefully place the heavy box on the little square landing in front of you. Hovering over the package draped with a lemon-coloured, fleece blanket, you fold into a hunched squat. You place your elbows on your knees and rest your chin on your hands; fingertips just barely brushing your lashes as you blink, covering the dark shadows under your tired, heavy eyes and leaving only the bright blue iris and pale skin visible that hasn’t yet started to wrinkle. With one b...

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Two Curtains Before the Last

Submitted to Contest #50

When he was eight, Stanley Platt saw waving angels in the powdery white curtains his mother hung. They were quiet and pretty, and sometimes, they’d whisper little prayers as he ran through the house. On summer days, they brought back inside hints of magnolia, honeysuckle and sunlight. In the winter, they hibernated and smelled of crisp, clean starch. When his mother left, Stanley watched the curtains grow dirty and when they waved, they were grimy ghosts that brought in the odors of stale car grease and burnt meat from his father’s grill. Mr...

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Pick Your Battle...

Submitted to Contest #50

“Can I interest you in the dessert menu? The the special this week is a single-origin chocolate mousse.” Our server asks. “None for me thanks, but I’d like another Mule please,” Miles points to his near-empty glass. “For me as well, please,” I say.  “Excellent, I’ll be right back with that,” she says, making notes on her pad.  “Hey, do you wanna go see this pop-up exhibit downtown? Sean went and he said it’s really cool! It’s a look at the ways mainstream media has portrayed women over the last century and–” UGH. “How that tracks p...

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What I Mean Is

Submitted to Contest #50

Gwen stands behind the couch, watching Arthur flip channels on the remote with alarming speed.  She’s seen him do this many times before, but for some reason, tonight she stands transfixed as the images fly by on the television at the speed of light. Arthur senses her presence but doesn’t turn around. “I thought you were going to bed”. He tosses the words over his shoulder. “I was, but I wanted to see what captivated you so much that you’re not”.  “I was watching something but then I lost interest”. “Yeah, given the flippin...

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An Old House

Submitted to Contest #50

“Want some tea, honey? I can brew some.” “Sure.” “I’ll get right to it. Gosh, these floors creak with every step, I can barely walk to the dresser without sounding like a marching band. If you had called that handyman like I asked you to, it wouldn’t be half as bad.” “Why don’t you call him yourself and quit complaining Dorothy?” “Do you want some biscuits with your tea?” “Mhm.” “I’m brewing it now- look at all the rust on this kettle. Frank, when are we going to get new appliances? Everything in this house is over 100 years old!...

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The Sleep

Submitted to Contest #50

The house shook with an almighty bang, waking him from his slumber.‘Are you still asleep?!’ she cried out, rolling her eyes. She stormed off into the kitchen. He lay there, his naked back sticking to the leatherette sofa. He groaned involuntarily as he shifted his weight into a sitting position and the room slowly blurred into shape around him. Empty coffee cups and crisp packets littered the table whilst the TV was quietly playing some tea-time quiz show. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her. She stood arms folded in disgust observing the c...

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Fast Food

Submitted to Contest #50

The truck bounced as it merged onto I-5 towards San Diego International Airport off of Highway 78 in Oceanside California. “No thanks,” she said “What do you mean no thanks?” he blurted with a short laugh. “I just don’t want to.” “Whatever,” he said playfully as he popped her exposed left thigh with the tips of his fingers. She did not respond. He glanced over. “You’re actually serious? I don’t understand why not,” he said shifting in the driver’s seat of the pickup. “Because it’s dumb, and I don’t want to.” “Care to explain ...

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Paying the Bills

Submitted to Contest #50

“I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth” she always diverted to threats you see. “Do you want to be sued? Do you want to go to court for this?” Also, rhetorical questions. “I have my lawyer on speed dial, and 911 is only 3 numbers!” And more threats. The conversation started simple enough at first. “Good morning, How can I help you today?” the smiling bank employee asked. “Hi, I’d like to know my balance and access my account,” the response, cordial enough. But not genuine enough. I didn’t know if I trusted her. But the banker speak...

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What cake to choose and other huge decisions

Submitted to Contest #50

We glared at each other over the cake samples spread out on the table, none of us backing down. The man working at the cake-shop looked back and forth between us, gulping nervously. What was supposed to be a nice cake-testing had become a battlefield. I should have known my sister would bring this up again. “I thought we agreed to drop this,” I said through clenched teeth. My sister flipped her hair over one shoulder, rolling her eyes. “You asked for my opinion.” “On which cake to choose!” “Fine then!” Leaning over the table she ...

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The Great Pie Incident

Submitted to Contest #50

Lacking a single crumb of self-control, Chloe picked up the bowl of fruit loops offered to her and threw it as hard as possible at Fred’s stupid face. She was neither strong nor had particularly good aim, so the bowl went over Fred’s head by a good margin and shattered against the back white wall of the rented two-bedroom apartment. Milk and fruit loops went everywhere and left a rainbow splatter on the kitchen wall. Chloe briefly registered that she had in fact smashed to pieces her favorite white bone china bowl from Crate & Barrel. Be...

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TRACEE AND BOB AND THE NON-ARGUMENT

Submitted to Contest #50

Tracee knew. something was wrong with the way things were going between her and Bob, her new husband of less than two weeks. He definitely was NOT the same happy go lucky, funny sweet spirited guy she met that night at her sister’s wedding reception in August a year and a half ago. His looks still appealed to her, but his spirit seemed darker. He was often withdrawn, moody, and sometime brooding. She dealt with it, but what was challenging was that Bob seemed to have four or 5 sides to him and invariably she never knew wh...

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The Agreement.

Submitted to Contest #50

Saturday, June 6 1:16 p.m. “So I am not going to be able to take Caroline today. Either take her and drop her off or let Camille come get her, let them stay a couple of hours and then go get them. I don’t care which.” Diane had waited for this text from her husband for a couple of hours, knowing that he had to work today and wouldn’t be able to take their children to his parents’ house for a visit.  She had her response ready.  She quickly typed, “David. We agreed. No unsupervised.” “You can always stay w...

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Vision in Vermilion

Submitted to Contest #50

I had my earbuds in, so I didn’t hear her come up behind so much as feel her breathing down the back of my neck. She swipes my earbuds out of my ears. I disentangle the cord from my hair. “God, Valeria, what?”  Swinging herself down, she flops onto the couch. “Watching that trash vampire show again?” She props her chin in her hand, taps bright red nails against her cheek. “If you’re going to binge watch something you could at least watch something good.”  I sigh and close my laptop. “Just because you’re a weirdo who doesn’t appre...

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