Welcome to Short Tales
A collection of short stories for your reading enjoyment
Currently 12,517 short tales
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The Apricot Tree's Gift
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the rolling hills of a far-off land, there was a young girl named Lily. Lily lived with her parents and younger brother in a cozy little cottage surrounded by lush gardens full of fruit trees. But among all the trees in the garden, one tree stood out to Lily - an apricot tree that produced the most deliciously sweet and juicy apricots anyone had ever tasted.
Every summer, Lily would spend hours under the apricot tree, picking and eating fresh apricots right off the branch. She loved their velvety texture and their tangy flavor that left a pleasant tingle on her tongue. Her brother, Jack, wasn't as fond of apricots as Lily was, but he still enjoyed the occasional treat whenever his sister offered him one.
One day, while Lily was busy plucking apricots from the tree, she noticed something strange - a small, furry creature was climbing up the trunk of the apricot tree! It was a tiny squirrel with big, round eyes and twitchy whiskers. Lily couldn't help but giggle at the sight of it.
The squirrel seemed to be in a hurry, scampering up the tree without hesitation. Lily watched as it reached the top branch and began munching on an apricot that had fallen from the tree earlier. The squirrel's tiny hands were stained orange from the apricot juice, and its whiskers stood straight up with each bite it took.
Lily couldn't resist the urge to interact with the squirrel. She slowly reached out her hand, holding a freshly picked apricot in her palm. The squirrel looked down at Lily, then back at the apricot in her hand. It seemed to be weighing its options before finally scampering closer and snatching the apricot from Lily's hand.
Lily laughed as the squirrel scurried off with its prize. She couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the tiny creature's antics. From that day on, Lily made it a point to set aside time each day to sit under the apricot tree and watch the squirrel play.
As the summer months passed, Lily grew closer to the squirrel. She learned its habits and quirks, and even began leaving treats for it in the form of freshly picked apricots. The squirrel would scamper down from the tree each time, tail twitching with excitement, to collect its reward.
One day, as Lily was busy tending to her garden, she heard a faint rustling coming from under the apricot tree. She peered up at the branches and saw the squirrel scampering towards her, holding something in its tiny paws. To Lily's surprise, it dropped a small, intricately carved wooden box at her feet.
Lily picked up the box, admiring the delicate patterns etched into its surface. She opened it to find a single, perfectly shaped apricot stone inside. It was as if the squirrel had been trying to give Lily a gift all along!
From that day on, Lily and the squirrel became inseparable friends. They would spend hours together under the apricot tree, sharing treats and laughter. And whenever Lily looked up at the tree, she saw the squirrel's twitchy whiskers peeking out from behind a branch, watching over her with a mischievous glint in its eye.
Years went by, and Lily grew older, but the memories of her time spent under the apricot tree never faded. She would often look up at the tree, now a sturdy and proud specimen, and smile at the thought of her furry friend scampering around its branches.
And every summer, when the apricots were ripe for picking, Lily would return to the tree with a basket in hand, ready to relive the sweet memories of her youth and bask in the joy of her unlikely friendship with the squirrel.
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The Secret Life of Abalones: A World of Wonder and Adventure
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Abigails Journey: Finding Hope Amidst Regret
Abandoning My True Self: A Journey of Rediscovery
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The Shadowed City: A Haunting Legacy of Disappearance
Maria's Mystical Journey: Unlocking Her True Potential
The Kind Heart of Abase: A Legacy of Compassion and Caring
The Brave Girl of the Rolling Hills: Abash's Quest to Save the Forest
Abashed: The Animal Communicator's Quest for Kindness and Protection
The Legend of Ash and Lila: A Tale of Unlikely Love
Emily's Gift of Courage
Unlocking the Art of Winemaking: A Small Village's Legacy of Passion and Excellence
The Sky's Great Mystery: A Massive Light Figure Appears in the Abatement
The Ancient Tree's Gift: A Boy's Quest for Communication
Ember's Legacy: A Young Girl's Quest to Protect the Natural World
The Secrets of Abattoir: A Gateway to Malevolent Spirits
The Magic Within: A Kind Man's Journey to Enchanted Lands
The Boy Who Wished for Adventure: A Magical Tale of Travel and Triumph
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Amidst the Winter's Darkness, a Beacon of Hope: The Story of Abbé Pierre and His Café of Compassion
A Glimmer of Hope: A Priest's Encounter with Magic
The Wishes of the Abbaye de Bellevue: A Monastery's Descent into the Supernatural
Finding Peace in the Face of Doubt: The Story of Brother Thomas
The Abbess's Heart: A Tale of Love, Compassion, and Redemption
Finding Peace and Purpose at St. Agnes Abbey: A Story of Grief, Healing, and Redemption
Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Abbey: Sarah's Journey to Enlightenment
Finding Peace in the Ancient Walls: A Young Woman's Journey to Solace at the Abbey of St. Mary
The Eternal Sanctuary: A Place of Peace and Legacy
The Magic of Abbot: A Young Man's Quest for Ancient Power
Finding Inner Peace: A Journey of Discovery and Transformation
Finding Peace and Purpose in the Heart of Abbots
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The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Donuts: A Tale of Mischievous Treats
The Magic of Abbr: A Curious Girl's Journey to Mastery
The Secret of the Hidden Clearing: A Brave Girl's Quest for Adventure and Survival
The Guardian of the Woods: A Young Girl's Quest for Magic and Protection
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King Edward Abdicates, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Kindness and Compassion
The Kingdom's New Queen: A Reflection of Wisdom and Compassion
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The Kind and Just King: A Legacy of Wisdom and Compassion
King Henry's Legacy of Peace: The Kingdom's Path Towards Selfless Leadership
A New Queen, a New Era: The Transition of Power in a Far-Off Kingdom
A New Era Begins: King Edward's Legacy Continues
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Sarah's Journey: From Earth to Alien Ship and Back Again
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Trapped in Darkness: Sarah's Escape
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Abe's Community Garden: A Small Act of Kindness with a Lasting Impact
Abe's Elemental Magic: A Simple Tailor's Quest for Heroism
Sailing Through the Storm: Abeam's Heroic Rescue
Abed's Magical Grove: A Legendary Adventure of Wonder and Discovery
Abel's Quest: A Journey of Kindness and Adventure
The Craftsman's Quest: Unlocking Inner Power and Potential
The Passionate Pursuit of True Love: The Tale of Pierre Abelard and Heloise
The Curious Adventures of Abelson: A Young Girl's Quest for Magic and Bravery
Abelsons: The Portal to Infinite Journeys
The Secret Isle: A Journey of Discovery and Redemption
Finding Solace in Aberdeen's Cozy Cup
The Secret Heart of Abernathy: A Tale of Adventure and Homecoming
A Town's Transformation: From Industrial Hub to Artistic Oasis
The Evil Force Within
The Aberrants Tale: A Mysterious Encounter in the Rainy City
The Girl Who Saved Eleria: A Tale of Magic and Bravery
Alice's Enchanted Adventure: The Girl Who Could Talk to Animals
The Magical Friendship of Hootie and Betsy: A Tale of Joy and Wonder
Thieving in the Night: A Master Heist
The Book of Unlocking: A Tale of Ingenuity and Responsibility in a World of Advanced Technology
Finding Hope: Better's Journey to a Better Life
The Betters' Downfall: A Hero's Quest for Humanity's Future
The Magic of Community: Ember's Legacy
The Bettors Curse: When Desire Becomes a Living Nightmare
The Shadow Whispers: A Beta's Descent into Darkness
Embracing Abeyance: Finding Hope and Resilience in the Face of Adversity
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All stories are fictional works
- You may use any of these short stories as a base to create your own longer stories! -