This periodic magazine highlights a small selection of short stories posted to The Ink Well community that stood out and were awarded a Curie vote. Thank you to all authors in The Ink Well for sharing your creative work!
Important Note
We are showcasing authors who have contributed well-written and edited stories, have read and commented on the work of other authors and comply with all of the community rules posted on our home page. These activities help our community thrive.
The following are just a few of our favorite stories from July 28 to August 3 /2025.
Featured Author: 
@gabmr
Impromptu Tsar
It was certainly special. It was a vast white plain where humans and magical creatures—unicorns, bipedal bears, and golems—roamed alike. There were a few dachas around, but the most striking feature was undoubtedly an ice castle that glowed along several hills.
“Welcome to Nvogotow, Moscow's magical counterpart!” exclaimed Oksana.
Featured Author: 
@nathy33
A very special ticket
“What will look like fun to a 7 year old?”
He had to think fast, at any moment Elias was going to wake up.
So he placed surrounding the edge of the tub the huge car track his uncle gave him recently, he placed it in a way that the water in the tub was an obstacle that the cars had to jump over.
“He's going to love this” she thought.
Featured Author: 
@zain-ab001
Left Behind, Not Alone
“But what about the ticket? You missed it, so now your ticket is invalid."
“Nah, don't sweat it,” he said as he walked to her and patted her on the head. “I have enough saved to get us new tickets.”
"Really!?" Jay beamed with joy.
Featured Author: 
@delightedpen
Superstitious Mama
[Image Source: ChatGPT] ( )
As is most of the Nigerian culture, the bride's mother would purchase some kitchen items and take them to her (the bride) after her wedding. That afternoon was the most hectic for me — filling up the trunk of the bus with my sister's boxes and the new kitchen utensils. When we lifted the mortar and pestle Mama had bought into the trunk, Mama instructed us to put some naira notes into the mortar. I turned to cast a questioning glance at her.
Featured Author: 
@litguru
Departure Times
His footsteps echoed as he made his way toward the exit.
Whenever the units pushed back, he felt a sense of elation and accomplishment at having completed a job. If they put his life in danger, the reality of their risk to others was tangible. But the assignments that went smooth and without problems, stuck with him the longest and left him feeling emotionally drained.
Featured Author: 
@bisolamih
The Bicycle Man
Gradually, Pa. Agbongbe started to have more kids around him and parents started getting cool with it. At first, he was segregated in the neighborhood and seen as someone delusional but eventually, everyone started getting used to the delusional man.
As Pa. Agbongbe’s favorite, I had the opportunity to ride his bicycle around and that spread to other kids as well. That’s how almost every kid in the neighborhood learnt how to ride bicycle and every evening, we all go to the meeting point, Pa. Agbongbe’s house.
Featured Author: 
@suqueen
The Biscuit Tin Theory of My Life
In the biscuit tin! I shouted from the kitchen.
She opened it, paused, then shouted back, There’s no scissors here! Just paper. Old paper.
I chuckled but said nothing. She wouldn’t understand. Even I didn’t fully understand. Why was I keeping a receipt from a random fast food joint dated two years ago? Or a transport ticket to a place I no longer had reason to visit?
p.s. You can see the past magazines here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46,47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107,108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128,129,130, 131,132,133,134, 135, 136, 138, 139,140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146,147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155,156,157,158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177,178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184,185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206,207,208,209,210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 , 218, 219, 220
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