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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

“Trust Me” by Jacob Chudnovsky

Submitted to Contest #156

When I walk into Rainbow Records tomorrow, with a fully loaded AR-15 in my bag, know this: I am not doing it out of hate. I am doing it out of love. I love America. America is the land of George Washington and Henry Ford, Ernest Hemingway and John D. Rockefeller, John Wayne and Babe Ruth. Rugged white men who loved hard work, hard drink, and soft women. America is not the land of brown people, and it’s not the land of homosexuals. To be clear, I don’t hate brown people or homosexuals. I never use slurs or other hateful words to descr...

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“Hating Harold” by David Clausen

Submitted to Contest #156

"No... no it was in '63 I'm sure of it," he said. I didn't have the heart to argue with him further. It was in '65 when we got married and I became Mrs. Harold Barksdale. Not in '63. There were a lot of things Harold was forgetting or misremembering lately. Sometimes a date, sometimes a name, but always with the certainty that I was wrong and he was right. The doctors said this would happen as his condition progressed. I guess I thought it would take longer, but part of me is relieved. The disease seems to have sped up it's timetables l...

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“Seeing Red” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #156

Jeremy escorted his parents into his two -story brownstone, allowing them to settle themselves on the black leather couch before addressing them. “I asked you guys here because I want you to understand the rules of my wedding and to remain civil to each other. I…” “Dear,” interrupted his mom, “we’ve been divorced for 6 years. We definitely know how to conduct ourselves by now. Plus, we’re both remarried and very happy - well at least I am.” His dad rolled his eyes. “Mom,” he sighed. “I had...

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“The Unwavering Willow” by Tracey Martin

Submitted to Contest #156

“When I was a little girl, I would often hide away in my wardrobe. I felt safe in there: surrounded by soft knitted sweaters and my collection of buttons. With the doors shut, I would have tea parties under the glow of a hundred tiny stars, each one stickered by me. It smelled like my mother too. I had used her perfume bottle to spray every piece of clothing I owned. It was the perfect hideaway. I could even keep watch from inside. The doors were slatted at just the right angle for me to see a little way across my bedroom floor. But sometime...

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“Way Off Target” by Susan Dalziel

Submitted to Contest #156

Contains swearing. Ice cubes clinked in glasses as toasts were raised to their late friend. There was still a lingering underlying odour of tobacco even though the smoking ban had been in place for over a decade; it had definitely been more than ten years since the upholstery and curtains had last been cleaned. Soft music mingled with hushed conversations, the murmur of other mourners rolled and peeked, occasional flurries of laughter from far corners floating up and evaporating into the ether as the drink loosened up memories and stories ...

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“The Fogged Glass” by A.T. Westbrook

Submitted to Contest #156

[T/W: Domestic abuse, mental health] “Don’t you remember?” Ron’s gaze pleaded from just inches away. The corners of his eyes pinched, his lips tightened in a strained pout. “I know this has been a lot for you and must be so confusing. But that isn’t quite how it happened, is it, dear?” “Well, Pen, what happened? We’re here for you.” Penelope’s father spoke warmly, although she noticed the same pinched eyes and strained mouth had begun to contort his face as well. “Please, Pen, whatever you can remember, really remember,” her mother beg...

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“The Relict Flower” by Dara Thompson

Submitted to Contest #156

“Happy anniversary,” Dean sings, his green eyes glistening with excitement. I groan, rolling my body away from his, yanking all the covers with me as I go. “I said, Happy anniversary.” He chirps again, gripping my shoulders and pulling me back against his firm torso. Quickly he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Now, wake up. We have plans.” I sigh and try to roll away from his grasp. “At six in the morning, Dean?” “No,” he chuckles, “We have plans this afternoon.” I hope Dean can feel the annoyance radiating off of me. Why...

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“Deception Trance” by Sami Peters

Submitted to Contest #156

“Back. Off.” Him. With his dark hair and navy-blue eyes, he was getting on my last nerves. “Would I really make up all that ‘bullshit’ to you out of all people if it weren’t true?” He shot back, narrowing his sapphire eyes at me as his lean figure stood across from me on the indigo roof. The blue in his eyes… oh so blue. Like an ocean. And I was being sucked in. Drowning. I was drowning, becoming lost. I was diving into those eyes to be suspended in the depths of the ocean. Which way was up or down? When did I hit the sand? ...

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“The MacLarsen Incident” by Khalid Hussein

Submitted to Contest #156

Kal was stocking shelves. This was his least favorite part of the job. He enjoyed the customer service element, helping people solve their problems. At an arts and crafts store there was always a parade of characters with questions. The most annoying customers were those who really just wanted him to do their project for them. He would sometimes indulge the pushy old ladies or lazy teenagers, and go beyond his job description by helping them cut foam boards, or even drawing out schematics for their projects. This was not why he had gone to a...

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“The Beast” by Connie Roys

Submitted to Contest #156

I woke with the sunshine streaming through the window. I loved this time of year, late summer. All the flowers in my garden were in bloom. Butterflies and birds flitting about before their final journey to warmer climates. I stretched, threw on a robe and headed out to the back patio stopping only long enough to grab a cup of coffee and the coffee pot. I had put the automatic brewer on so the rich dark aroma could wake me each morning. As I took a seat, I was startled by the shadow that crossed behind me. I turned around to find Fred standin...

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“The Open Door” by Olivia Snead

Submitted to Contest #156

After a short vacation in Jamaica, Kate returned to work. That October morning, she enjoyed the copper lined sandy leaves that shimmered on the trees in the sunlight. She crossed the street from the bus stop, and humming her favorite tune, she walked up the steps. The soft autumn wind ruffled her dark curly hair. She looked at her watch and saw that the train would arrive in five minutes. She stepped in haste on the escalator and almost bumped into an elderly gentleman whose s...

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“Maladapted” by Sara M

Submitted to Contest #156

He pushed her gently against the wall and kissed her. Sunshine streamed in the window; an orange butterfly danced along its frame. Her mind was filled with his heady sandalwood scent and her skin tingled where he held her arms. Enya sighed, first contented by the kiss, then frustrated at being dragged back to the world by a lorry beeping outside. She picked herself up from where she had half-slumped against the wall and sat back down at her desk. He stroked her hair. --- On th...

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“Earth Day” by Save Our Planet Earth

Submitted to Contest #156

Year, 2070 I stared at the ceiling as I lay in bed. Dread and anxiety had my heart pounding against my chest. It was 7:00 am Monday morning and today was the day the truth would finally come out. “What are the people going to say now? Now that proof of our worst fears is overwhelmingly evident. Will they finally demand action? Will there be war over which solutions to implement? Hell, with how bad things got why not go through them all. Any one of these solutions might bring us back from a mass extinction.” I pondered over reactions and nex...

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“The Man Who Would be President...Again” by Larry Kerr

Submitted to Contest #156

"What the hell's going on this morning?" asked Jerry Bland. "Don't they know who they are delaying?" Paul Butler looked up from his cell phone and noticed the big car he and his boss occupied had stopped. He could not see exactly what was going on, but hoped it would be quickly resolved. Jerry Bland had little patience and Butler did not feel like listening to his whining complaints this morning. They hadn't even reached the highway yet. Stuck in the suburbs. Just great. Butler looked around, hoping he might spot a route around the traffic...

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“The Orpheum” by Maxwell MacDonald

Submitted to Contest #156

(story contains salty language) Perfunctory meals. Astronaut food. Bright lights. Loud music. Tables jammed together so close the neighboring conversations sat in the back of their throats.“Why do we torture ourselves?” Davis asked.“Well, what do you want to do?” Kate replied.“Let’s head to the Orpheum.”“Now? I thought Drew said not to until later.”“Drew says a lot of shit.”“Well, this seemed important.”“Yeah, it is. It is. But this,” Davis held up a blanched, undercooked asparagus stem that bent at the wai...

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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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