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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#137: Albert Einstein

On March 14th, 1879 one of the greatest physicists of all time was born. Of course, Einstein is known for his theory of relativity and his Nobel Prize. But Einstein lived a full (and often dramatic) life outside of the world of physics.

He fell in love with a professor’s daughter while at school, and years later — while married to another woman — confessed his love for her, and the mistake he made not courting her when he had the chance. In 1933, he emigrated to the United States, knowing he’d not be able to return to Germany while Hitler was in power — he and his family were Jewish. After Einstein legally renounced his German citizenship, his Berlin cottage was turned into a Hitler’s Youth camp.

In light of his upcoming birthday, this week’s prompts are a reflection on the complex and storied life of this remarkable man.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a scientist.

Science Fiction – 40 stories

Write about a character who gets called an Einstein ironically.

Middle School – 18 stories

Write a story about somebody in love with someone from their past.

Romance – 79 stories

Write a story about a character forced to give up something important to stand up for what they believe in.

Character – 26 stories

Write a story about someone forced out of their home.

Narrative – 54 stories

Stories

“Metronome” by Prithviraj Suryawanshi

Submitted to Contest #137

The metallic air, along with the stench of runoff coolants, wafting up from the street through the rain smelled so acerbic that it made Leta imagine her nose hairs curling inward as she inhaled it, her stomach churning at the thought of it. She quickened her pace when she tasted bile at the tip of her tongue. She walked with her eyes downcast, trying to discourage any phantoms that might want to talk to her. How does anyone live here!Of course, the scant few who lived on Metronome were either used to it or were crazy. Perhaps, they lived on ...

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“Albert” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #137

Albert Finley was born with what the medical professionals referred to as, “Macrocephaly,” or an overly large head. Doctors warned Albert’s parents that this condition most often led to complications later in life, so they should prepare themselves. His parents chose the name, Albert, after the world-renowned physicist, Albert Einstein, a role model for Albert’s father who was a physicist himself. Little did the...

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“My Old Love” by Stories Are Fun

Submitted to Contest #137

Everytime I look at pictures of her, I cant help but look back on the past. They bring back good memories of her. But they also bring back sad ones to.My name is Augustijin Dom.During my teenage years, I was fortunate, or rather unfortunate, to have experienced the second World War. It was a frightful experience I can tell you that, as well as other youngsters who had to bare witness to it all.One good thing about it is that I was not old enough to have legally fought in it, which is a relief as I heard about the horrors of men that did figh...

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“Memoria” by Poppy Jackson

Submitted to Contest #137

Amelia, 1891 The cold night is pierced by the screech of an owl. The sound goes right through me and I sit bolt upright, the sheets tangled around me and my nightgown bunched in awkward places. My breathing is heavy and my head throbs, pulled violently from the solace of sleep. The sound of the match striking and the soft flame enveloping the wick of the candle is a comfort in the pitch black of my room. The room I’m not quite used to yet. It’s too quiet here in Norfolk and the air is too clear, too clean. Mother makes a point of drinking ...

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“A Neighbor's Calling” by Sean Sorce

Submitted to Contest #137

"Ms. Lu has been rather distance lately," whispered my mother as we came back home from my Lacrosse practice. "She normally always greets us when you are back home from school and practice. This is the thrid day in a row."I asked: "Yeah, I've noticed. Did you try calling her?"My mother replied: "Yes, several times but it always goes to voicemail.""Maybe I should call her up," I said willing to give it a try."That's really sweet of you to do Stuart. Do you still have her number?""Yes ma'am, I do. She gave me her number since last year.""Lovel...

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“The Botanist” by Hannah P. Simmons

Submitted to Contest #137

The Conservatory glittered atop the crest of the only hill in Fallsfell like a glass castle, its gables and spires framed in bronze that once blazed with rich amber tones. Now, their aged fittings looked like the work of a fae artisan, as if the latches that time had tinted with robin’s egg blue might have guarded the bower of Titania. If you listened closely on midsummer night, I imagine you might faintly hear the admonitions of Moth and Mustardseed, whispering “Come not near… come not near our fairy queen.”But one man did dare to draw near...

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“The Letter” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #137

She pushed the letter between her thigh and the seat of the kitchen chair as her daughter came into the room.“Was that the post I heard?”“Yes, the usual rubbish. I’ve thrown it in the bin.”“I’m off to work now.”Jenny gave her mother a gentle kiss on the forehead, picked up her handbag, and headed for the front door.Grace brushed her cheek as if trying to rub away the wrinkles that she was sure had multiplied since her forty-third birthday last week. Seeing her twenty-five-year-old daughter swoop up her handbag, hook it over her shoulder and ...

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“When the sky shone blue” by Jessamie R.

Submitted to Contest #137

Wednesday 14th March 1945 Will it ever end? The suffering, the pain. Will life ever return to what it once was? Will the sun ever shine on a land so peaceful and green? Will Papa ever come home to us? I don’t know. We don’t know. Mrs. Woźniak gave me this empty notebook, she told me to write in it, that it will help pass the time. Although, I am unsure if I like it. It is chilly today. The ice is skittering across the floor like translucent snakes riding the wind. The blizzard hisses and wails through the narrow gaps by the ceil...

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“The Tree in the Backyard of a House on Russet Street” by Robin Davidson

Submitted to Contest #137

I stacked my dad’s books in the doorway of his office, pretending to build a brick wall. His office should be sealed off, anyway. No one else belongs here on Russet Street, in our house. I blew some dust off the bookshelf, the part where I’d carved my name with a butter knife 13 years ago. When my dad found the carving, he called me an asshole and told me if I were going to carve my name into his beautiful, reclaimed wood shelf, I could at least spell it right. I’d forgotten the ‘e’ in Davey. Besides me and mom, my dad loved only two other...

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“Painted Memories ” by Z B

Submitted to Contest #137

It was a chilly day, and the sun teased the edge of the sky with bright hues of orange, yellow, pink, and purple. It was a wondrous sight, the lightness of the sky fading, beckoning ever so slightly the night, it held promise. An old soul sat on the sandy soil that was the beach and stared out at the blended colors that vacated the sky. His eyes held a semblance of longing, of aching. He smiled, small crinkles forming at the edge of his eyes and atop his frail forehead. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath: taking in the salty smell ...

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“Entry Prohibited” by Douglas Wright

Submitted to Contest #137

The helicopter’s blades thup-thup-thupped steadily as the small yellow machine flew low over the forest. The morning sun gave a coniferous green glow to the trees that spread in all directions like a bristly shag rug. Beside the pilot sat a young geologist in new blue overalls and fresh leather boots; nodding and staring intently at the screen of a laptop. His screen displayed data from the GPR transceiver that was mounted underneath the helicopter, and to him things looked promising. The pilot had no idea what it all meant, and he didn’t ne...

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“Live and Let Die” by Clyde Laffan

Submitted to Contest #137

With deliberate intention, Adrian Wallis had not answered the door to a caller in 30 years. Unless he needed a plumber to fix a leaking pipe or the gas man to read the meter, there was no reason to take visitors. And if a faucet did need mending, then Adrian supervised closely; no need for wandering eyes or feet, stumbling across a man's secrets. So, when the doorbell did ring on a Sunday morning towards the end of November, the jolt of surprise was enough for Adrian to drop the newspaper he read onto his lap. Several pages came loose and fe...

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“Roommates” by Lisa Massimilla

Submitted to Contest #137

I had just entered that in-between phase of sleep and wakefulness when my cell phone rang. Normally I shut it off before going to bed because of this very reason but I fell asleep watching a video. Damn near gave me a heart attack because the phone was close to my ear and the ringtone is a voice telling me to answer it. The fact that my best friend is the only one who has that ringtone saved my phone from getting flung across the room. Fully awake, I answered it and tapped on the speaker.“What’s wrong Luka?” There was a long pause befor...

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“Love Letter from the Past” by Amy Green

Submitted to Contest #137

Love, one small word that defines so many of life’s connections. From the beauty and innocence of one’s first love, to the enduring love throughout life’s most challenging times, love plays a part in most stories worth telling, but often where you least expect it. It was 2012 and my husband John, and I were almost five years into our marriage. Although still very much in love, we were buckling under some of the challenges that came with our union. Navigating the needs of two people in a marriage can require some trial and error, howeve...

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“The Rest Was Ours To Make” by Amanda Wisdom

Submitted to Contest #137

Can we ever really fuck up? I mean, to the point of no return. When the person you once loved couldn't give two shits about where you are, how you got here, or even who you are, as you write this.You hope that they'll stumble upon this note, “accidentally,” and that they will wish they could have done more.But we both know the truth; they left because there was no fixing us. We’re broken people, with broken hearts, and we’ve tried every which way to be better.I guess we could have tried a little bit harder, to stay in each other’s lives...

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$250

Prize money

217

Contest entries

116

Stories

Ended on 00:59 - Mar 19, 2022 EST

Won by Story Time 🏆

Title: The Boy in the Pink Tuxedo

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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