Start your story with the line ‘Back in my day…’

Posted in Adults on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 28 stories

“Paperboy route” by Francesco James

Submitted to Contest #120

Back in my day, there were no such things as “online publications,” and newspapers were the major source of information. Hence, the world of suburbia was filled with paperboys, of which I was one. Raised Catholic, I was also an altar boy, which made Sundays a bit hectic for me. On one particular Sunday morning, six a.m. four days before Thanksgiving, the weather was bitter cold and the sky dark, pockets of visible stars slowly fading as the light of the full moon beckons the morning. My breath appears in front of me, short puffs of f...

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“The Selkie” by Emma Wood

Submitted to Contest #120

“Back in my day, we used to spend every day by the sea. It did not matter the weather, if it was raining or snowing, that was our playground.” “I know, grandma,” Pierre said with a smile as he continued pushing Grandma’s wheelchair carefully towards the dock. “Here’s find, lovely. Come closer.” Startled, Pierre took a step back, heart pounding. He made to grab the handles of Grandmother’s wheelchair to pull her back, but she held onto the wheels firmly, stopping any movement. “Don’t you want to know why your mother and grandfather never ...

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“The New Sun Also Rises” by London Cohen

Submitted to Contest #120

“Back in my day, the Sun was the center of the universe. There were plants and trees and animals that yawned each dawn and stretched luxuriously toward that glorious orb,” I said.“Oh grandma, I’ve heard this one before!” my youngest protested, perched on my lap. But she snuggled closer, which in the unspoken language between grandparents and grandchildren, meant that she wanted to hear more. Her tiny feet dangled and swung absently with the total trust that comes from knowing you are loved and loved well.How could she be expected to understa...

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“Back In The Day” by Judy Robinson

Submitted to Contest #120

Judith Robinson Back In the Day Back in my day, things were a lot less complicated. We lived in a small town where when the sun came up, we rolled out of bed in our pajamas and ran downstairs. I can still smell the beautiful lilacs and peonies blooming in the yard. We started our day of playing, with our gang, and dog, who ran with us where ever we went. In those days dogs were allowed to roam free and if someone was bitten people accepted the blame. We played until sundown when the s...

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“Back in the Day” by Patrick Otvos

Submitted to Contest #120

Back in my day is a thing an old guy would say. No teenager could pull off a term such as that, or even a twenty something year old. Hell, even somebody in their mid-thirties would be hard pressed to be able to begin a sentence like Back in my day. Nope. Only some old fart with stories from the great war, maybe, could begin anything with Back in my day.Well. Well, well, well. There were chores to be done, perimeters to be checked, and computer diagnostics to be run. Fifteen year old Danny Bernard had ...

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“Dear Halloway” by J. W.

Submitted to Contest #120

Dear Halloway, Back in my day, during the old scares of cholera and Ebola, we didn't have any of these terrible differences that we have now. We loved each other as people-neighbors. Nowadays, life is oriented from a point of view that is relevant to the selfish mind. That does sadden me. You, son, are an example of the opposite in the world. You give thanks to those that give you treats and you give treats to those who give thanks. You are the greatest man I know, and, though my old age messes with my memory sometimes, I know that you are...

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“Lunch with Aunt Bea” by John Wiltgen

Submitted to Contest #120

“Back in my day I was out four or five nights a week,” Bea wheezed through her portable oxygen tank. We sat on the terrace. Bea, Steven, and me. I positioned her in the shade as it was getting warm in the October desert sun. “Don’t ever get old, boys,” she reflected. “Old age isn’t for sissies.” How many times had we heard that line before? She uses it three or four times in every conversation, and we speak with her 4 or 5 days a week. “I hardly go to the club (her country club) anymore. It’s too difficult, you know. I cannot see. Some...

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“3514 West Mariposa” by Suzanne Baker

Submitted to Contest #120

3514 West Mariposa Back in the day, before the city grew to over 4 million people, before urban sprawl into the foothills of the utopian McDowell mountains, and before the segregation of folks living in South Phoenix was openly addressed, the extent of our world was life in our own middleclass subdivision, on our own street. Mariposa. The extra-long city block in Phoenix stretched under the homes of high school teachers, the Phoenix Sun’s basketball coach, Title officers, bookkeepers, and more. At one time, in the late “60’s, ...

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“The Crimson Reporter” by Kendri Petersen

Submitted to Contest #120

“Back in my day, we didn’t have to eat this bullshit,” Nana says. “Mom, language!” My mom stands across the room with her eyebrows raised. Nana has always been like this. Using the old language, talking about the old days, both of which were forbidden years ago. The governor decided that the old language was crude and unprofessional and talking about past times wasn't forward facing, not productive for society, so he outlawed both. “We all got to eat what we wanted and when we wanted.” Nana continues without even looking back a...

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“Back in my Day” by Jane Ruth

Submitted to Contest #120

Jane E.Ruth words 1477 35 Galilee Street Falling Waters, West Virginia,25419 304 285 8870 jeruth44@gmail.com BACK IN MY DAY by Jane E.Ruth "Back in my day," stories always bring laughter and disbelief to my grandchildren. "Grandma, you're kidding, right?" And they proceed to make me the ancient of days. They are in complete denial th...

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“Now and Then” by Karen Xoxoxo

Submitted to Contest #120

I used to be a teacher, a nurse, a mom. I loved my busy life. Lots of women say that, but really I was literally all these things. Then right before ‘the great lockdown of 2020’, all that ended. I had a heart attack, then another then a stroke on the table. Yeah, I’ve always been an overachiever. On this fateful day, all was well, or so I thought. I had what I thought was severe heartburn the night before but turned out to =be the first heart attack. As I sat up in bed crying with the pain, ...

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“Love Was Easier Then” by Love My Hope7

Submitted to Contest #120

Back in my day, there was no such thing as dating apps; I remember just having a crush on someone and confessing to them. Of course, I also dreamt of putting on a beautiful white dress and walking down the aisle to marry the love of my life. As I grew up, I realized a lot of things about love. When I was a little girl, I watched romantic-themed movies; I liked to see the main characters fall in love and have that special ending. I would always imagine cute scenarios in my mind, always finishing with that special ending. It all star...

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“Serene oblivion” by Nina Pol

Submitted to Contest #120

"Back in my day, we did not need bionics to do these things, I tell ya!" the squeaky voice made Anne jerk out of her daydreaming stance. Wait. Where was she? She did not recognize the place. How did she get here?"And take my word, the world was a better place for it!" continued the voice that she could now assign to a scrawny, wrinkled man.She rubbed her eyes. Her mind felt clouded as if she was looking at the world through a thick, milky glass. She was in some kind of a... bar? It was a very crowded room with dozens of p...

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Start your story with the line ‘Back in my day…’

Submissions are closed

✍️ 28 stories

“Paperboy route” by Francesco James

“The Selkie” by Emma Wood

“The New Sun Also Rises” by London Cohen

“Back In The Day” by Judy Robinson

“Back in the Day” by Patrick Otvos

“Dear Halloway” by J. W.

“Lunch with Aunt Bea” by John Wiltgen

“3514 West Mariposa” by Suzanne Baker

“The Crimson Reporter” by Kendri Petersen

“Back in my Day” by Jane Ruth

“Now and Then” by Karen Xoxoxo

“Love Was Easier Then” by Love My Hope7

“Serene oblivion” by Nina Pol

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who yearns for something they lost, or never had.

Write about two characters’ different perspectives of the same past event.

Start your story with a character looking through an old family photo album.

Your character has always viewed the past with rose tinted glasses. Write about what happens when they’re finally confronted with the truth.

Contest #120

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

244

Contest entries

163

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: