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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

“In the Past” by Adam El Nabli

Submitted to Contest #137

The mother pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath before knocking on her son’s door.“Come in!” she hears. She then gently opens the door and softly asks,“Hey, son. How are you?”“I’m alright. Just reading and trying to pass the time until tomorrow. You know, I’ll be leaving pretty early to visit her in the hospital so don’t be surprised if I’m gone by the time you wake up.”With a dreadful look in her eyes, her son could sense the burden weighing on her lips.“What’s wrong, Mama?”The tension strangles her. She squeaks out a jumpy stutter b...

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“Flaco and Guillermo” by Luis Cruz

Submitted to Contest #137

The old man sat in shade, under the rustle of windy palms and looked out over the ocean through white, milky eyes. Behind him, the early morning traffic on Ocean Avenue hummed, and in the distance he could hear kids bursting out of the housing projects, hurtling headlong into the cool morning sun. It amused him that his blindness had extended his vision.The ocean crashed and receded.He was thinking about the ocean. Contemplating its immensity - its steadfastness, its long memory, its reach. Nostalgia came over him, and he felt grat...

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“Jack Gets Energized” by John Hanna

Submitted to Contest #137

Young Jack isn’t a weak or inexperienced young man but he was having trouble concentrating. He wasn’t required to move the camera around as Becky knew the boundaries of her frame and was careful to keep them. It was the first take and all Jack had to do was watch for glitches while the girl begged for money. Young tanned olive-skinned, green-eyed sinuous beauty that Becky is doesn’t need to move during her pitch, but she does; seemingly random undulations reveal chasms between creamily squeezed breasts while the midriff allows bottom boobs t...

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“Does the Cap and Gown Make Me Grown?” by Sue Hunter

Submitted to Contest #137

She stood there, a can of soda clutched in her hand. The bathroom was the only place in the house where she could be alone. The condensation from the drink was cold, making her hands freeze. It was a good feeling. The cold kept her from getting stuck in her own head. She leaned over the sink, taking a tentative sip in the hopes it would keep herself from getting sick. It didn’t work. The noise from the party bled through the doors. Her party. Her graduation party. Amy sat the ...

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“Nanna's secret” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #137

The canyons were beautiful, with their boisterous dancing streams, thick foliage, and flowering shrubs. Not too much time passed before the small villages grew into large cities. The tidal wave of miners who returned from the West lived there. That was a long time ago. There weren't even railroad or overland stagecoaches crossing the plains. The only people to be found there at the time were the immigrants, who made their way slowly through the winding valley towards the far west. Attracted by the promise that riches would wait for them in t...

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“And Counting . . . .” by Lavonne H.

Submitted to Contest #137

“I always wanted to be a scientist. Ever since I was six years old. I was a precocious reader and had read Childcraft, Volume 11, “Scientists and Inventors” so many times, I had it memorized by six and a half years,” Cynthia (never ‘Cindy’) Abigail Black was telling her therapist. “I would be just like Marie Currie and work with my husband on breakthrough research. It would be so romantic to create new chemicals with a brilliant man.“Then I read about the Radium Girls and decided that chemistry was not as attractive a field as I first though...

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“Under the Gazebo” by Julian Steele

Submitted to Contest #137

Trigger warning: strong language; physical violence, gore, or abuse; suicide or self-harm.I can make out a few vigilant silhouettes behind the neighbours' curtains, trailing me—a stranger—as I pull the keys out from my travel backpack. Some things never change in the suburbs. The lock resists for a second but then turns and, once again, I step onto the garden walk. After so many years, I’m finally home again.They haven't bothered to change the locks. I imagine mother continually nagging father to change them or, at the very least, call someo...

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“Looks” by Stella Bee

Submitted to Contest #137

Her name was Michelle and I thought I hated her. She was perfect. Too perfect, in my opinion. She had thick, black hair that swept her shoulders. She had dark, warm eyes that seemed to say a million beautiful things at once. She had a nose so unique, you’d never forget her face. She was short, no more than five feet, four inches. She was petite, breakable even. She was beautiful. She was perfect. And I thought I hated her. There were many times I’d catch Michelle staring at me. Mind you, I’m the only black kid in class. There were white...

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“In the Next Life” by Laura Rosario

Submitted to Contest #137

I stepped into an empty bus. There were only a handful of people inside. Not paying much attention I sat at the closest open seat. I took out a book from my bag and started reading it. “Dream State” “There are discussions over what dreams could possibly be. Some say dreams are just the brain trying to compartmentalize day to day events. While others say they are messages sent by higher beings. However some dreams feel too real, you can almost taste it, breathe it in. Could dreams also be memories of another life?” I contemp...

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“Summoned” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #137

Content warning: There are a couple of instances of foul language in this story. *** The roaring fire eased the aching in Gerrod’s old knees as he stretched out in the soft, plump armchair. I could get used to this, he thought as he watched the orange flames dance merrily in the hearth. He removed the leather-bound tome from his lap and deposited it on the table. “The First Age Conquests of Emperor Gordos by Scholar First Class Vayo Chen” had Gerrod’s eyelids drooping. History had become his passion since he’d retired, but this particula...

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“11:59” by Krystal Pepper

Submitted to Contest #137

11:59 I shoot straight out of bed to an ear piercing alarm right outside my door. The walls of this room are a dull white. Every day that passes it seems as though those walls are closing in on me. The bed feels as though I am sleeping on just springs. The only other items in this room are a sink and a toilet. The door, my only release from this hole, is so thick a bullet would not even pierce it. There is a small window in here, which is more just a tease than anything else, showing me green ...

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“A Mediocre Conversation” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #137

“They call me Einstein,” Henry says. “That’s great, my boy! What a compliment,” Albert replies. “They say it when I miss a math problem or stumble over my words or forget to wear pants. It’s humiliating!” “What’s humiliating?” “When they call me Einstein. I just said that.” “Oh, I thought you were referring to the pants. Funny story, that happened to me once too. So, it was right after I moved to America—” “I wish I could just disappear.” “That is physically impossible, son. We are made of matter and matter can’t just go away.” “You ...

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“Unfinished” by Jordan Caves-Callarman

Submitted to Contest #137

Outside, the wind howls. Lightning crackles, thunder crashes, so deep and close the bedroom windows rattle in their frames. Rain hammers at the house in endless wind-tossed sheets, shrouding the night in a churning veil. It’s a lovely evening. I wish I could spend it with you. From my chair by the window, I watch the raindrops race in wild rivulets across the glass. I look over at her, asleep in the bed. She reminds me of you sometimes. You have the same glossy brown hair, though hers wants to curl while yours fell in delicate waves. T...

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“Giving It Up for Good” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #137

A Drive in the Country I am driving out into the countryside with my good friend ‘Stan the -Stang-, my mustang which I bought long years ago when I was 20. He was my first car. I hope that if I take care of it properly it will be my last. I almost wish that it could be buried with me. Maybe just the rearview mirror. I remember so well the first drive out here on the country roads with Stan. I felt so much freedom. Now, years later, whenever anything disturbs me, I take a long drive with Stan. The farther...

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“That Love” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #137

Jammed with glasses and bottles, the bar table barely had room for Maureen’s ashtray. The crowd gathered to celebrate Dan’s recent divorce. Some knew him their whole lives. People circulated in loose orbits from table to bar . Many toasts were made to his third ‘post mortem.’ Dan’s friend Gabe held his glass up and spoke. “Cats have nine. You’ve completed three. Dan, time you break the habit and quit while you’re ahead.” Hilarity ensued. Friends urged Dan to speak. Swaying, he said, “Thank you. I hope you’ll attend the next.” Applause...

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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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