Short Stories
The "73 Words in the 732" contest seeks original short stories that contain seventy-three words or fewer. Stories can be on any theme or topic, and a panel of library staff will select the best short stories, which will appear on the library's website.
The contest is open through the month of May every year. Ages 18 and older are welcome to participate and East Brunswick residency is not required.
Furever Friends
We were worried when our dog sitter Maxie got a tiny puppy named Teddy. Our dog Magenta barks a lot at unfamiliar dogs. So Maxie introduced them slowly, keeping Teddy in a pen. The dogs sniffed...
Donna Lee Goldberg
What She Didn’t Say
“What do you do?” he asked, just as her daughter snatched a book from another child, triggering tears. She swooped in, murmured apologies, returned the book, soothed both kids. “I’m... a stay-at-...
Alexandria Theordor
Vehicle Violations
"My wonderful old car had seen better days. Right sideview mirror was taped, left taillight was out, muffler had a hole, and inspection was overdue. A state trooper stopped me.
"Sir, your...
Donald Carugati
Humanity At Stake
My people may be facing a war due to recent events. Blood will shed. Soldiers will die. Their families will grieve. Poor people will suffer the most. Religious and political terms will be thrown...
Serenity Dash
New World
I don’t like what the world is becoming. The older I get the more I realize how badly I wish things would stay the same. With new technology and advances, more scams and issues become the norm. I...
Deanna Perlmutter
The Cabin in the Pines
Fog swirled around Lucy's ankles as she photographed the abandoned cabin in the Pine Barrens. She captured the crooked weather vane, blood-dark stains beneath peeling wallpaper, claw marks scoring...
Monica Shah
Recovery Walk
Other’s success stories inspired the man’s practice following his doctor’s declaration of permanently lost walking ability. After enough recovery for independent slow strolls and questioning the...
Maina
The Next Mourning
You didn’t need a doctorate, to know something was wrong. Grief was a beast,
and attacked from the inside out. So, they stepped up. Church was on Sundays,
and couldn’t kill them. Long...
Amanda Visokay
The Interrogation
Detective Rappaport decided Gordon Tho's guilt the day they met. A weird man with difficulties socializing, Tho brought down Rappaport's wrath. The detective \"interviewed\" Tho in a small, tight...
Shikhar Dixit
Run
I am K99. My training began at the tender age of five, to kill one man. A specific man, the same age as I. He will attempt to commit a crime. The greatest crime, in my estimation.
Mass...
Shikhar Dixit
The Monster
Dylan shook under his covers. There was a monster under his bed, he was sure of it this time - he could hear its claws skittering across his floorboards. He had to check, to be brave like his...
Virginia Lee
The MonsterDylan shook under his covers. There was a monster under his bed, he was sure of it this time - he could hear its claws skittering across his floorboards. He had to check, to be brave like his father was always telling him to be. He picked up hi
Dylan shook under his covers. There was a monster under his bed, he was sure of it this time - he could hear its claws skittering across his floorboards. He had to check, to be brave like his...