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Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Posted in Kids on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 150 stories

They Will Come Back

Submitted to Contest #41

I’m not a dog person. Shoot me.Dogs might be the model for the phrase, “puppy eyes”, but what can I say? I’m strong-willed. After the one time I got an asthmatic cold from letting my friend’s Golden Retriever lie next to me at a sleepover, I can say with absolute certainty that puppy eyes do not work on me. Allergies over empathy.…I’m a hypocrite. Shoot me.There’s a dog outside my door right now, and I live in the middle of nowhere. Why? Because I’m not a people person. Spending day after day with people did that to me. I’d be exhausted by t...

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Transitions

Submitted to Contest #41

I open the door to my apartment and walk in, dragging two huge bags of cat litter over the doorstep. My mom is right behind me, she sets the crate down in the living room of my one-bedroom walk-up. The cat inside meows in disapproval and pushes its head into the grill of the door.  “Let’s go get the rest,” I say hastily, afraid to have a quiet moment alone with Mom, event though I deeply desire one and need it. Three trips later, we’re both out of breath and sweating but we finally got everything up. And they tell you cats are easy. “Wa...

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Finger Food

Submitted to Contest #41

 The moray darted out of a crevice with its menacing stalactite teeth. Its serpentine body undulated along the colorful reef, threatening but not approaching.Growing up in the Midwest, marine life was something Jack had dreamed about. He’d appreciated Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams, but desired something more dramatic. His friend Mark liked the ocean, too. They’d been buddies since middle school, competing on the same swim team. Together, they’d moved to Florida after university. He had a marine biology degree and Mark’s was...

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Oh rats

Submitted to Contest #41

Rats It started with a gentle whisper. The soft mumble breaking the midnight silence. Curling into the night. “Do you hear that?” He heard it alright. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it. Once you do that, it becomes real. And real he couldn’t deal with it. The unmistakable scratching was filling in the holes around the room. Clawing against their skin. Pushing against the front of their heads, echoing in their minds. “I think we might have rats.” She whispered again. He sighed, and turned over in the bed...

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The ultimate guide to parenthood perfection

Submitted to Contest #41

 So let's make it clear right in the beginning: she is cute, but she is not a fury friend, not a niche of something in my life, especially not a child! She is a pet. Not less, not more.Not that I was planning to have a pet.. One day my friend, Liz called me if I would accommodate a stray cat."She is hiding under the van, and seems so scared" she said. "I have seen her around for a while. Someone must throw her out. What do you say?"What should I say? I am going to be a mom soon. I mean, not tomorrow or not in this month, but still, soon...

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Dust

Submitted to Contest #41

Amelia held her cat close to her chest. From an onlooker’s perspective, it might have seemed as though a tattered scarecrow were standing in front of the house, clad in a faded yellow tablecloth, black rug in its arms, straw braids draped stiffly over its shoulders. Its mother called it from the doorway with a handkerchief clutched in her right hand. “Get inside. There’s another one comin’,” she said. The scarecrow turned helplessly from her post and retreated into the house before dust darkened the sky for the third time that week. Try...

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Speedy

Submitted to Contest #41

Zoe was staring at the rectangle-shaped glass aquarium in front of her. It was no bigger than a shoebox, yet Zoe felt as if it was taking up all her workspace. Her desk had somehow shrunk and Zoe couldn’t concentrate on writing her paper anymore. It wasn’t the aquarium per se who disturbed her, but the small creature inside of it. It was now standing on a pile of rocks and was looking back at her. “It’s a turtle.”, that’s what she said when she ripped open the wrapping paper from the gift her best friend gave her. It was the same aquari...

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Billy the Goat

Submitted to Contest #41

“Billy!” I shouted, “Stop eating my shoes!” Munch, munch! Like a goat would listen. I tugged the shoe out of his mouth. Ugh! Goat slobber. If my dad saw what Billy had done to my shoes, he would kill him! My dad hates Billy, but we keep him around. Me, my brother and my mom all like him. Tomorrow my dad has the most important job interview of his life.  His job requires him to stay and work 10 hours each day, so we don’t get to spend much time with him. I’ve been trying to convince him to get a job at the zoo (he has wanted to work at a...

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Pigasso

Submitted to Contest #41

“It’s a pig,” Lily said blankly, staring at the wriggling buddle in her mother’s arms. “Yes.” The squirming was intensifying now.“It’s a pig,” Lily stressed again, as if her mother hadn’t quite grasped the fact yet, “Why do you have a pig?”She smiled widely and held out the flailing mass, “It’s a present. I thought it might cheer you up.” Her smile faded slightly at the look of disgust on Lily’s face before she continued, “You haven’t been outside since-…well I thought you’d like the company but…”“I don’t want to go outside,” Lily’s voice wa...

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The Memory

Submitted to Contest #41

The Vadenais house had been haunted for days. Not years, months, or weeks, but precisely five days come two o'clock A.M. tomorrow.Let's see if haunted's the right word. Let's look at the facts. Ever since the 'haunting' began, those living near enough have heard strange noises coming from what their sleepy brains think is the direction of the Vadenais house.No one's lived there for a year, but young Lucille Penning saw a light in the second floor window.And... I necessarily add, purely as evidence... there have been almost countless ani...

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Perceive the beautiful souls around.....

Submitted to Contest #41

"Oh my! Hey just stay back.Please,if you can use another lift"Orrr..um let me get off.""Woah,don't panic!Trust me,they won't hurt.Stay there,the other lift is out of service."It was a question of just a few seconds but panic was swelling within me.My eyes constantly stuck on the duo four legged blackies.As the destination arrived one of them came sniffing towards me and I just ran out impulsively crying out in alarm.Next day the young lady was at my door apologising."Oh,I am so sorry for yesterday."she said."Hey,No worries"I continued feelin...

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freckles' story

Submitted to Contest #41

Well, this new experience has been different. Honestly, to heck with experience! My pet toad can drive race cars! Well, he can’t really, but honest! So I was in this one city tourney qualifiers race, and I had recently bought a toad because my depression counselor decided 1) I have depression and 2) I should buy a pet to talk to. But this guy, he’s like turbo the snail! He snuck into my race visor and started pulling on my ears. I crushed those guys like… what do crush? A can? Ok, anyway, it started that I was in my counselor’s office, and s...

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Kitty doesn't care

Submitted to Contest #41

I hate going out to get the post. I hate leaving my safe space in the house; I hate the knot in my stomach as I look over anonymous white envelopes with my name on them. I hate opening them and I hate the tasks they force on me, pay my bills, go to the dentist, it’s always something and it overwhelms me with anxiety. I promised myself I would do it today. Just go and get it. I don’t even have to look at it. I can save that for tomorrow. As I open the door, I see a kitten sitting on my doorstep. I blink stupidly at it. It’s a three coloured g...

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Pet Shop

Submitted to Contest #41

Jingle jangle went the opening door of Ms. Kayman's pet store. The people walking by smiled at the sleeping puppies nuzzled up by the big bay window facing the street. They touched their fingers to the glass, trying to get the attention of the fish inside the tanks on display. They beckoned to the cages filled with the kittens, or turtles, or the tiny Tweetie birds. They peered into the little tanks trying to catch a glimpse of lizards hiding out on their little caves. Ms Kayman greeted all the people with a jovial grin. “How do y...

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Broken Bridges Restored

Submitted to Contest #41

Every piece must have a good introduction. Because that’s when you’re first acquainted with the theme, before you embark on a musical journey, composing multiple variations towards its resolution. At least that’s what Master tells the Little Master. I have no idea what a good introduction to a musical piece is though. I think you need opposable thumbs for it. Of which I lack, being a Siberian Husky. I think I got a good introduction to music itself though, just by virtue of being in this family. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning...

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