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“Tell a story through messages in any form, such as snail mail, email, voicemail, text, diary entry, interview, newspaper classified ad, or carrier pigeon.”

Posted in Short Story on May 22, 2026

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✍️ 53 stories

The Game

Weekly Contest #356

The Game Dear Mr. Macy,I hope this finds you well. It was a pleasure to meet you at the Kendall Annual Amateur Chess Match. I was competitor 346. In case you don’t remember (things did end a little hectically, didn’t they?), we had just sat down to play when our game was quite rudely interrupted. As I was looking forward to playing with you, and the Kendall contest is the only one I will attend this year, I am reaching out in hopes you are willing to continue our game. If so, as our coin was already tossed, I will assume white. Pawn to D4. ...

28 likes 10 comments 10
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Things I Texted My Husband: Between Gate C19 and Denver

Weekly Contest #356

Seat 14A. The aircraft has not yet moved.ME: We boarded. I’m in. Window seat like an idiot so I can watch the wing fall off in real time. 5:51 PMDON: wings don’t fall off 5:53 PMME: That’s exactly what someone would text the wife of a man whose wing fell off. 5:53 PMME: The flight attendant tried to gate-check my carry-on, the little one, and I said no thank you, it goes under the seat with me. It’s fragile. 5:54 PMDON: you ok? that’s a lot of feeling for a tote bag 5:55 PMME: I’m fine. I’m at a gas station of the soul, Donal...

22 likes 15 comments 15
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Condition: Used. As seen on Facebook Marketplace

Weekly Contest #356

FOR SALE-USED HUMANS$1000 (ono)Individual prices listed below. DescriptionI have a selection of used humans for sale. Some have only seen light use, while others show signs of heavy wear and tear and have been discounted accordingly. 1. Nosey neighbour. Although this might seem like a poor investment, this model is very observant. She is able to maintain a vigilant neighbourhood watch and has her finger on the pulse of all that is happening in our street. She can save you money on private investigators, so I believe she is well worth the ask...

18 likes 16 comments 16
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Sign Wars

Weekly Contest #356

When you eat here, you’re royalty. Burger King Who needs royalty when we have Wendy. Wendy’s We have crowns. Burger King You know where you can put those crowns. Wendy’s Americans are crass. Eat Italian. Olive Garden We’re Italian too. We have the Force. We’re Pizza the Hut. Pizza Hut Jabba was not a Jedi. The force isn’t with him. Wendy’s Besides, you’re not real Italian PH. Olive Garden Neither are you. Burger King We’re the Italian OGs. Olive Garden Americans and Italians letting you down? Eat Mexican. Taco Bell Who wa...

17 likes 20 comments 20
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The Paper Boat Society

Weekly Contest #356

The Paper Boat Society Discord – #contest-talk Thursday, March 13 – 9:23 PMhungry_ghost_93: did everyone submit to red mirror this week?jade_fake: i did. prompt was aftermath of sacrifice. wrote about a mother who gave her qr code to a stranger so he could eatten_lives_no_wins: that's good. you'll losejade_fake: lmaohungry_ghost_93: it's actually funny. week 47 of the first timer rule holding strongten_lives_no_wins: not a rule. a curse.mei_lin: submitted mine. third time this year. same story. different name.ten_lives_no_wins: you're doing ...

16 likes 6 comments 6
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After the beep

Weekly Contest #356

Monday 20 April 2020Voicemail message 117:19The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep."I know you are never going to hear this.You would probably find this weird. Me talking to a phone as if it could listen. Yeah, you definitely would. You were never the type of person to support this kind of stuff: fate and all that. You would get mad when I would drink orange juice before a game, or always wear my yellow socks for good luck. Yeah, you're not the superstitious type, for sure."Pause."I don't eve...

15 likes 6 comments 6
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Ruhe

Weekly Contest #356

October 12, 1823 Samuel Ruhe had spent the morning sorting through his mother's belongings. Outside, the maples had turned brilliant shades of crimson and gold, their leaves drifting lazily across the yard and gathering against the stone wall beyond the garden. The house had settled into an unfamiliar stillness, as though even the walls were holding their breath. It was broken only by the hushed voices of his younger sisters downstairs and the occasional knock of a neighbor carrying a loaf of bread, a pie, or a few words spoken softly at the...

14 likes 3 comments 3
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The Gentleman's Parcel

Weekly Contest #356

May 3rd, 1877 Dear Mr. Crumpet, I am in receipt of your package, though I must admit I am quite surprised by its contents and am unclear about the reason for its sending. Of course, I do appreciate what you sent, as I know you well enough to understand that you are a thoughtful and intelligent person. Therefore, I request that, at your convenience, you provide a thorough explanation of exactly what I should be doing with it. I do not wish to appear insincere, or even foolish, but it is, well, how to put it—quite extraordinary. Please, sir, ...

14 likes 5 comments 5
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A Text to Sam

Weekly Contest #356

SAMTuesday, June 6 2012 5:15 pm Hey, what is for din tonight? We were going to stop by Chester’s and get the cheese pizza, hadn’t had it in a while and we know you love itCool, be there in a bit, finishing up work now.Be careful coming home. Friday June 16 2012 9:02 am Coming in this weekend?Friday June 16, 2012 2:05 pmI’ll swing by Sunday afternoon. Have a few things going on Friday and Saturday night.Monday, June 19, 11:23 amIt was so good seeing you this weekend buddy. Mom and I are so glad your internship is going well. And I...

12 likes 6 comments 6
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The Things Arthur Couldn’t Break

Weekly Contest #356

The checkered linoleum in the kitchen was peeling up at the corners with age. Every time I stepped near the sink, the floorboards gave a wet, low groan that felt less like old timber and more like the house warning me to stay back.I had spent three days packing my grandmother Evelyn’s life into cardboard liquor boxes I’d begged off the guy at the corner store. The house smelled exactly how she had during her final years… Mothballs, damp cedar, and that sharp, medicinal sting of generic liniment. To the rest of the family, Evelyn was a bitter...

12 likes 4 comments 4
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City Mouse Severance

Weekly Contest #356

Date: May 29Time: 05:58From: AdministrationTo: All StaffSubject: Bernard’s PassingBody:<Attachments: BernardOBrienMemoriam.jpg; roses.gif>It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of our Chairman and beloved friend Bernard O’Brien. His long legacy of devotion and dedication to his clients and staff were only surpassed by his loyalty and commitment to his wife Debra, and daughter Sarah. He was 64 years old.Seymour Hitchens will be handling his duties, until a new CEO is elected. We ask ...

12 likes 7 comments 7
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Dear Newly Abducted

Weekly Contest #356

Dear Newly Abductedby Philip Daniel Louro Dear Newly Abducted, As per protocol, this message will be your first point of contact upon awakening. Our deepest condolences are with you during this time of transition. Being transported off Earth can be a traumatic experience for all involved. There'll be no returning to the life you once knew. In the moments since you've begun reading this, your transport ship will have crossed billions of dimensions at speeds currently impossible to modern physics. Understand that this is not the end. It is a t...

11 likes 4 comments 4
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My Dearest John

Weekly Contest #356

Trigger Warning: Mental health mentioned, Suicide mentioned, Miscarriage mentioned, Death mentioned March 1, 1962My Dearest John, I have grown tired of waiting for day and night for you. You don’t come around like you used to, like in our younger years of marriage. Many nights I have pondered this, but alas, my feelings on the matter have grown cold. Then, out of the blue one day, after our nightly fighting, I saw you downtown going to a hat shop. I would have thought nothing of it if you didn’t have that blonde tramp hanging off ...

11 likes 3 comments 3
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With rosemary and rue

Weekly Contest #356

Dearest Laura,It was so lovely to see you again. And your party was great! I haven’t had so much fun for ages. You know with the kids and Martin … but that’s not what I want to write about … no whining.How’s the renovation going along? It already looked so cozy. I always loved your visions. Send me some photos as soon as you are done, will you?-----The letter has been lying around for a week. Simon interrupted me. Then Sophie was sick. Martin I think I won’t be able to write more any time soon. Sorry.I hope to hear from you, nevertheless.Lot...

11 likes 7 comments 7
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Estranged in the Interregnum

Weekly Contest #356

Strasbourg, The Feast of Saint Denis Dmitri, This goes by Conrad the wool-merchant, who is honest and cannot read. Your last letter reached me whole with the seal intact. I have read it enough times that the creases in the vellum are going soft. But I do enjoy reading your words, even though you are sparing with them even on parchment. I am glad that I taught you to read and to write there at that table where we sat together, your hand under mine. I will not now pretend I regret arming you with this skill as it has proven useful. I am stil...

10 likes 3 comments 3
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