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#236: Retro

Whether you’re generation Tetris, Tamagotchi, or Tomb Raider, I bet there’s some kind of video game or console that reminds you of your childhood. I hope, too, that we all still know of vinyls, cassette and VHS tapes, and floppy disks, even if they’re past their prime.

I’m not usually very sentimental about technology, but there’s something fascinating about obsolete tech. Something nostalgic and sad and full of mystery and untold narrative. In that spirit, let’s pay a visit to our inner attic, dust off some forgotten hardware, and see where it takes us.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character finding a retro piece of tech they don’t recognize.

Mystery – 33 stories

Write a story about someone finally gaining access into their family’s very old computer.

Mystery – 36 stories

Write a time-travel story where a character from the present finds themselves in the 80s or 90s.

Historical Fiction – 37 stories

Write a story about a grown-up sharing their favorite childhood video game with their child.

Funny – 20 stories

Write about a character who isn’t nostalgic about their past at all, and show readers why.

Angst – 54 stories

Stories

“The Word is 'Vintage'” by Quinn Micheals

Submitted to Contest #236

“Stop leaving me behind.” “Well, you’re going too slow. Keep up if you don’t want to get left behind.” “You just made me die!” “No I didn’t, you died because you’re not good.”In the kitchen I hear everything. Another afternoon of endless bickering and yelling over video games. “Time’s up in ten minutes,” I yell up to them, knowing it’ll land on deaf ears. I wait for a response that doesn’t come. “You hear me?” I yell, this time with a bite in my tone. “But Mom, Jack never lets me be first player,” Grace yells down to me o...

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“The Connection” by HMJ .

Submitted to Contest #236

Thud. Dust filled the air, as dad opened a heavy chest filled with old blankets. “Agh, hack!” I coughed, scrambling out of the way. “Dad, did you really bring me up here to show me old rags?” He laughed. “Bring it up to your mother,” he mused. “I don’t know why she still keeps these, but that’s not why we’re here.” He smiled a boyish mischievous grin, then hurled out old garments and blankets in my direction. I screamed trying to dodge them all, but failed as a particularly big one covered me. It was old and smelly, but somehow I didn’t mind...

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“Old Friend” by Noah Salcedo

Submitted to Contest #236

“Daddy! Daddy! This one!” Its seven in the morning and David is jumping and smiling for his father Greyson to set up the old game system. He choose a game earlier and was promised that he could play it today. Unfortunately , Greyson had to wake up so early on his free day to play with his son. In fact, David’s mother was down the hall in her room still sleeping. Greyson, even though he was half asleep, had gone to the attic and brought his old game system and video games down for his son. David was around ten years old so it surprised ...

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“Her Tech life ” by M. M.

Submitted to Contest #236

THIS STORY CONTAINS CHILD-SEXUAL ABUSE SENSITIVE TOPICChicago, summer of '73: Lorna McKenzie got home late from work that day, a dark cold sky threatened snow, it was late February 2024. She pulled off her heavy coat, hung it up on her coat rack by the doorway and kicked off her boots - her feet were cold, toes numb from walking home ten blocks. As soon as she got into the kitchen she pulled out a pre-made dinner and popped it in the microwave. She pulled out a diet soda, ice and a glass, and sat down at her designer table next to the kitche...

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“The Death of Nostalgia” by John Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #236

I’m not nostalgic about my past. That would be too easy. I’ve been thinking recently. About everything. About how the Determiners came. Their swords of light tearing through the night sky. And while no one in the Frayed Districts can be said to have had it easy these past few years, I’m the last person to be nostalgic over spilled milk. I’ve been thinking a lot about Bena. She was the love of my life, my commanding officer. Colder than a salamander’s belly. But she understood things that no one else did. Things about duty, honor, Transpende...

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“Memories Are Made of This” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #236

If there’s one thing Astea DelMonte loves, it’s casual walks in the woods. The fresh air and freedom clear her head, and the walks also help fulfill her commitment as Chairperson for the town’s neighborhood watch. Her favorite section is a clearing with tall trees and a thick floor of pine needles called Sunspot. Astea has spent many hours in Sunspot lying against a fallen log, listening to the birds chirp as she contemplates how to kill her neighbor’s dog. The sound of bushes and leaves rustling catches Astea’s attention. Somethin...

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“Retro Remorse” by Jordan Tyler

Submitted to Contest #236

(Potentially triggering to those who grew up bullied or in toxic households) My heart skips a beat as I pass the window showcasing the retro, cardboard cutout of my once favorited, blue, little speedster: Sonic the Hedgehog. I was giddy with excitement as if I were once again six years old unwrapping the game’s box for the first time. That is until a sharp, stabbing pain in my side knocked the smile off of my face. My heart stops fluttering and shatters. Like a smoker who recently quit getting a whiff of the smoke trailing off of s...

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“Patch” by Zavier M. Ames

Submitted to Contest #236

The world has claimed victim to another slash-and burn operation in the Amazon Basin. The thick smoke of a variety of cremated remains from beautiful exotic plants rises upon acres and acres of land. Javier has worn a gasmask while clearing the land to prepare it for re-planting. His heavily forested farmland was used for an extensive amount of money by a foreign lumbering company to create exotic furniture for three times the price worldwide. It’s easy to see...

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“Worth a Thousand Words” by Emily Melcher

Submitted to Contest #236

I didn't intend to steal it; I thought I could salvage it for parts. The object wasn't of any familiarity to me, and judging by its condition, this device didn't belong to anyone anymore. If it did, it had been long forgotten. As the sun made its descent below the horizon, the blaring sirens from outside the window gradually died down, and the once-bustling city resumed its hushed state. The view from my window was a sight to behold, with the cityscape bathed in a warm orange glow. The towering skyscrapers, the winding roads, and the flick...

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“A Computer for Practice” by Jake Asbell

Submitted to Contest #236

What would you do if you were born the son of a brilliant scientist? I’ll tell you what I would do, what I am. I’d always be curious. Though I can’t remember much from when I was younger, my father told me I was always a curious kid. While other kids played outside, I observed what was around me. One day, my father was too busy to answer my questions, so he gave me access to his library to look up the answers independently. Looking back, that was probably when I stopped going outside as much. At the time, I thought there was no point in expl...

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“Computers Now and Then” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #236

It was Ralph’s first experience attending a funeral. It was held to honour his grandfather Griff, for whom Ralph had a lot of love and respect. There were a good number of people there. Ralph’s father had whisper suggested to him what he thought the reason for that was. Grandfather Griff was quite rich, and there was going to be a reading of the will immediately after the funeral. Raw greed led to significant attendance of family members, friends and the staff that worked for him in his business. Ralph had planned t...

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“ZimMedved” by J. Westley Baird

Submitted to Contest #236

Contains mature language. ZimMedved “I dunno about this George, shouldn’t we just hire a professional?” “I already told you. I’ve taken it to every tech store this side of the Golden Gate. Silicon Valley just doesn’t care about this stuff anymore. But I know what I'm doing.” “Crash-coursing on YouTube doesn’t make you a professional.” “Listen, Rich,” George huffed, looking down at his younger brother. “If you’re not gonna do anything helpful, then I’ll see you later. But I for one happen to care about what Granny and Gramps left behind.”...

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“Windows in the Past” by JP G

Submitted to Contest #236

Had it been five minutes or an hour? I wasn’t sure how long I had been standing there. The autumn breeze carried a hint of nostalgia as I stood facing the door to my past. I hadn’t visited my grandparents’ house since Grandpa had followed my Grandma to rest two years ago. This was a visit I had been dreading. But out of everyone in the family, I drew the short straw. Now it was time to roll up my sleeves and dig elbows deep through a lifetime of memories to see what needed to be kept and what needed to be sold. I slowly pushed the wo...

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“Finding Equanimity ” by Samantha Barrett

Submitted to Contest #236

The smell assaulted her before she ever reached the top of the stairs- old and musty. The property looked as if it had been deserted for ages but according to the attorney, it had been occupied until three weeks ago when her paternal grandfather died. The smell mixed with her uncertainty and disbelief was making her nauseous. Searching for courage, she stopped at the top of the stairs and turned back toward the driveway leaning on the porch rail. Looking over the front yard and into the field across the street, she saw rolling green...

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“Digital Girl” by Agris Engelis

Submitted to Contest #236

It’s been three years since Scarlet moved away for college. She came back this summer to visit her parents for a month. “Scarlet. Can you clear out the shed, it’s really filled up with a lot of unnecessary rubbish?” Mom has been trying to get Scarlet’s dad to clear the shed since she moved, and he still hadn’t done it. “Sure mom. I do have to meet my friends later today, but I’ll help as much as I can.” After breakfast, Scarlet walked towards the living room where dad was resting. “Don’t even try. He hasn’t moved his ass around the house si...

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$250

Prize money

180

Contest entries

80

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 09, 2024 EST

Won by Jennifer Fremon 🏆

Title: Frozen Lemonade

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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