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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#156: The Mandela Effect

Nelson Mandela was an enormously influential figure in world history: the first president of a new democratic government, South Africa’s first Black head of state, and a global icon of democracy and activism.

This week, our prompts delve into a lesser-known phenomenon that his legacy also sparked. Despite the iconic leader dying in 2013 at the age of 95, many people worldwide vividly recall news coverage announcing Mandela’s death in the 1980s. This mystery led to the coining of the term “the Mandela Effect”, or a memory that is falsely shared by multiple people.

From famous quotes that were never spoken (Vader never actually said “Luke, I am your father”), to facts we swear have changed over time (many recall being taught there were 52 US states, not 50), there are countless examples of the Mandela Effect out there. This week’s prompts explore this weird world of false memories, alternate universes, and all things strange.

This week's prompts

Write about two characters arguing over how a past event happened.

Sad – 34 stories

Write a story where a character is experiencing parallel realities.

Science Fiction – 65 stories

Write about false news coverage of an important event.

Nonfiction – 17 stories

Start your story with a character or a narrator saying, “Don’t you remember?”

Middle School – 59 stories

Write a story about a pathological liar.

Dark – 37 stories

Stories

“Anatomy of a Conspiracy Theory” by Peggy Gerber

Submitted to Contest #156

It was just supposed to be a joke. Well, I guess the joke’s on me because I am the one sitting in a jail cell waiting to be picked up for my arraignment. They’re keeping me in a holding cell, so it’s private, but the toilet is right out in the open and guards keep walking back and forth. I have a shy bladder and can’t pee if people are watching. I wonder if anyone has ever died from a burst bladder. I really want to google it, but they took my phone. I’ve been charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter and libel against...

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“Girl and Dragon Count the Roses ” by Mollie Rodgers

Submitted to Contest #156

A girl sits in a garden. A dragon sits beside her. GIRL: What shall we do today? DRAGON: Shall we converse? GIRL: We are conversing and have been since we started to converse. DRAGON: Shall we continue to converse? GIRL: Yes, please. And we shall count the roses. DRAGON: One two three GIRL: Four five six DRAGON: Seven GIRL: Eight. Eight roses. DRAGON: Same as yesterday. GIRL: And the day before. DRAGON: And the day before that. How many do you suppose there will be tomorrow? GIRL: We shall have to wait and count them tomorrow. I think they l...

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“The purple room” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #156

People have their whims and quirks. Their seasons of recklessness. Entire communities can fix their minds on an abstract thing, whatever it is; real or imagined, and go mad in pursuit of it. They can be so impressed by a delusion that it becomes a new reality for them. Until their attention is drawn by another folly, and only regains their senses when rivers of blood have been spilled, and harvests of sorrow have been sowed to be reaped by their posterity. Some delusions still thrive far and wide, and perhaps that is why the present, as we k...

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“Parallel Lines” by Samuel Shields

Submitted to Contest #156

When we first found the parallel universe, no one knew exactly what was going to happen. The scientists specified uncertainty. Proving another reality’s existence was one thing, making contact was another. Should we really disturb the universe? We had wanted to try. We could focus on the greater stunning parts, we could focus on the religious outcry, the political crackdown, desperate to silence the name of discovery and exploration, the corporations who saw possibility in monetization, of duping themselves into sharing their wealth. But we ...

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“Those Were The Times” by Laura Eliz

Submitted to Contest #156

TW mention of a fire and losing beloved pets."Don't you remember? We bought this in New York City at the Bryant Park Christmas Market", I said picking up a NY Yankees Christmas ornament up from some rubble off of my kitchen table, as I sifted through things that had not burned in my apartment fire. It had been bad, but, it could have been worse. There were things to salvage, but, things that had been lost. The worst thing was losing 2 of my three kitties, my best friends on four legs. I rubbed at my aquamarine eyes, trying to keep a tear fro...

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“Coffee Shop Vibes” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #156

Randy Florence brought the milk-filled tin pitcher up to the thin steaming wand of the espresso machine and pulled the activating lever. The milk hissed and gurgled as he moved the wand in and out of the ivory liquid until he heard a dull groan. With his free hand, he cued the espresso and listened as it poured into two shot glasses. Once done, he dumped them into a cup and carefully poured in the steamed milk. The foamy white liquid turned a sweet brown as it filled to the top. Randy ca...

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“Reality is an illusion ” by Holly Guy

Submitted to Contest #156

Outside the cracked window, the squirrels shoot up the tree, leaping from one crooked branch to another. Their ginger fur shimmers in the autumn wind as it sweeps them from side to side during their play. I can’t tear my eyes away from the scene. Like a fish out of water, my mouth opens and closes. Opposite the squirrels, a decaying tree. The rotten leaves tumble from its branches, losing the battle against the wind. My eyes hurt as I forget to blink. I strain, and finally, I convince my eyelids to shut and reopen. But the world changes. ...

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“Pants On Fire” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #156

I can’t understand how my situation got out of control, considering how simply it began. It all started when I crawled out of bed this morning and decided to go fishing. I listened to the thunder rumbling from afar and to the raindrops tapping on the roof. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant day for fishing, but a little wet weather wasn’t going to dissuade me. So, as soon as I got dressed, I grabbed my fishing gear, hopped on my bike, and rode to the spillway at Eaton Brook Reservoir.For two hours, I sat there letting the rain beat on my back ...

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“Mother knows best” by Vanja Raduljeskovic

Submitted to Contest #156

She stomped down the stairs, and took a long, hissing breath. The kind that made Jessie’s skin crawl. Her mother was up. She normally didn’t hear her in the morning. That was the silent agreement between the two - Jessie does her best not to wake her sleeping mother at night, while she returns the favor in the morning. A while back, she read in a literary magazine that the hardest thing to do in life is to learn German. Whoever said that never had to go back to live with their mother. “Good morning.” Shannon’s favorite mug imme...

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“The Conversation” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #156

“It hurts.” Good. That’s good. “Hurting is good?” Don’t you think so? “I hadn’t thought about it.” Well, why don’t you take the opportunity to think about it now? “I don’t want to.” And why do you think that is? “I told you. It hurts.” Maybe that feeling is trying to tell you something. “Yes, it is.” Good, this is progress, and you should allow yourself a little time to celebrate that moment. There is a pause in the conversation. Have you celebrated? “Not really, no.” Why is that? “Because it hurts.” Right. ...

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“Never Be a Medium” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #156

Man, I used to love my job! Now, look at me. Would you believe me that I got big bucks just to lie? Of course you wouldn’t, you’re too trusting of other people. That’s your problem. You expect everyone to be honest with you. Well, guess what. That’s exactly how people like me take advantage of people like you. We rely on your naivete and willingness to see the good in people to our advantage. I’m only telling you this now because there’s no point for me to lie any longer. You see, like many people in these neck of t...

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“Venus's Sister” by Kate Forlong

Submitted to Contest #156

As I ascend the steps, the door opens in front of me.No one has a key, not even me. There must always be a security guard waiting at the door to let me in.I walk past him without acknowledgment, as if the door has opened automatically, but know that he watches the departure of my broad back, the lumber of my fat waddle, the breadth of my polyester-clad bottom and my frizz of greying hair, with an amused disdain. My satisfaction is in knowing that I don't have to be young, skinny or attractive. I am indispensable. The rest of them are no...

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“We Caught the House on Fire” by Courtney Moore

Submitted to Contest #156

We caught the house on fire, and he’s smiling.Heat presses against the windows, desperate for an escape. They’re all locked. Every door is shut. There’s no escape. It rushes back toward us in an angry yell. Let me out. Let me out.Paint curls against the walls. Ash sketches the ceiling in soft brushstrokes. Then that, too, begins to curl. The corner I’ve retreated to is shrinking around me. My legs curl to my chest. My head curls to my knees.My shrinking space is invaded by a hulking figure. His hand hovers over mine. Then it clamps on top of...

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“Just like High School” by L. E. Scott

Submitted to Contest #156

“Don’t you remember back before we had to wear these?” Katie pulls at the mask that’s not being worn correctly anyway. She’s got it nestled on her chin. She’ll pull it up if she sees a manager, but not until then. She’s not talking to me. No one does. That doesn’t stop me hearing what they’re saying. I can hear it all. “Not really.” Denise responds forlornly. “It seems like this virus has always been a part of our lives.” “For real. But I know you’re not being serious that you don’t remember.” I didn’t go to high school, but I imagine it’s ...

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“Does this Feel Familiar?” by Emily Pollan

Submitted to Contest #156

TW: This story has dreamcore/weirdcore imagery and ideas of transphobia in it that the character deals with. “Don’t you remember?” One of the hyper-realistic, disembodied mouths on the wall said to me in a cunning, female voice. “No,” I responded without a single thought, focusing on the creaking of the bright pink and yellow swing as I swung back and forth. I’ve been here for a long time, I refuse to remember. “We all know you’re lying,” what sounded like a hundred voices said at once. I gripped the slightly rusted chains of th...

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$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

93

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 29, 2022 EST

Won by Sjan Evardsson 🏆

Title: We/I

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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