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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#57: Legacies

Everybody hopes they’ll be remembered. It’s a big part of why writers write, artists paint, and singers sing. It drives some to rise to great heights in politics or business. It’s part of why people have children.

 

But whether you hope to build a legacy through words, kind deeds, grand ambition, or a strong familial line, the truth is, we don’t always know how history will look back on us. All we can do is put our best selves forward, and hope that our integrity and values will resonate long after we’re gone.

 

This week’s prompts invite you to delve into people’s hopes for the future — and the legacies that may or may not be what they dreamed of.

This week's prompts

Write a humorous story about the descendant of someone remembered for an insignificant act.

Funny – 73 stories

Write a story about someone who’s famous for something they never actually did.

Character – 119 stories

Write a story about someone breaking a long family tradition.

Angst – 170 stories

Write a story about someone who travels to the future, and isn’t happy about how they’ve been remembered.

Science Fiction – 131 stories

Write a story that starts with someone writing their will — one they know people won’t like.

Dramatic – 183 stories

Stories

“What's in a Name?” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #57

"So, ah, there's something you should know before we go through with this," said Clyde as he knelt in the soggy grass."Oh god, anything, Clyde! I love you so much!" Jessica cried, mascara streaking down her face. "I can't wait to be Mrs. Packer!""Yeah see that's the thing," he began tentatively. "My name isn't Clyde Packer."Jessica's bloodshot eyes widened and the grin fixed on her face. Her voice shook. "What?"Her mind brimmed with horrible scenarios. Had he been lying to her this whole time? Was Clyde on the run? Living under an assumed na...

8 comments 8
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“The Trees Had All” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #57

The entire house hold of the Kapoor family was buzzing with far and close relatives who made a bee line to visit the the octogenarian Kapoor , who announced to make his “WILL”. Everyone waited to have at least a little slice of his vast estate. They wanted to be in the old man’s memory in case he might forget them which is quite common in that age.  Sons , daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, first cousins, distant cousins, relatives from Mrs. Kapoor’s family , rela...

8 comments 8
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“The Will” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #57

In a large corner office of a law firm sat two men. The client sat so that he could see out the large window to the the city far below. But he didn’t notice the blue sky, the soft white clouds, or the bright sunlight coming in. He had more important things on his mind. He gestured to the lawyer sitting across from him.“You see,” said Gerald. “I told you it was straightforward. I don’t know why you didn’t want to write this in the first place.”“Because” said the lawyer, pointing at Gerald, “you’re going to have a few angry people at your fune...

10 comments 10
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“The Body-Glitter-Loving Apple Fell Like Three Fields Away From the Evil Tree” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #57

Sitting with his legs politely crossed over each other at a three star restaurant two blocks from their apartment, Alex asked Maxwell, “Do you know why I invited you to lunch?”“Because you’re in love with me and you’re going to confess.”“No.”“Because I’m broke?”“Well yes, but actually no. I have news and I think it would be best to break it in a public place.”“I knew it.” Maxwell took a bit of bread and continued with a mouthful of food. “You’re breaking up with me.”“We never dated? We’re roommates.” Confusion spun in Alex’s eyes.Laughing to...

4 comments 4
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“Change of Destination” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #57

   “This time I am putting my foot down,” said Irena. “This year we are having a change of holiday destination. And that’s that.” Her husband Tobias and their children, Jacinta and Joel, ten and eight, looked at her as if she had grown an extra head. They weren’t sure what shocked them most, the words themselves, or the way she spoke them. It wasn’t that Irena was any kind of doormat or shrinking violet (not that you ever actually saw a violet shrink) and anyone who thought otherwise was generally rapi...

1 comment 1
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“Will I, Won’t I?” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #57

Real Estate Deeds - check. Jewellery inventory - check. Bank Documents – check. House photo album - check. List of vehicles - check. Monogrammed stationery - check. Chequebook - check. Ballpoints galore - check. Iced coffee - check. Ritz Crackers - check. Spotify on - check.Being of sound mind… that is my story, and I am sticking to it… I have decided to write this, My Last Will and Testament, which cancels all the others I have written so far.I know, posthumously and humorously, that most of you gathered here are at loggerheads with on...

4 comments 4
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“Sick ” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #57

- this cancer seems to be spread all over his body. The life time that still remains seems to be short.  - How short is it , doctor? - Well, madam, is a question of days, not more than a week. And the widow burst into non- stop convulsing tears, that covered all over her face, hiding her greenish eyes fading in sadness. - My advice is that you have to get things ready, before he leaves – said the assistant to the daughter of the sick man connected to intravenous fluids and heart monitorized. - Yes. We are waiting for the...

1 comment 1
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“The Town Hero” by Daniel Munoz

Submitted to Contest #57

Mandela Effect: an unusual phenomenon where a large group of people remember something differently than how it occurred. Conspiracy theorists believe this is proof of an alternate universe, while many doctors use it as an illustration of how imperfect memory can be sometimes.This was not any day. This was the day. It had been ten years already. Nobody would forget, no matter how much John Davis wanted them to.After all, Franklin was a small town. With less than two thousand people in it, anything relatively unusual would become rumor, a...

4 comments 4
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“The Smiling Devil 3” by David Abu Bonsrah

Submitted to Contest #57

My day was ruined after I almost got stabbed but my year was ruined when David accepted Tina's offer to stay at ours. Angel noticed my change in mood unlike the other members of my family. How in the world was I going to tell my husband that the woman he called his mother wasn't the saint he thought she was. We stared blankly at each other when she moved in the next day and the following week her daughter had also joined. She was Yasmine. A young-looking lady and also David's childhood friend. With their presence, I could tell that things wo...

6 comments 6
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“The Heart of a Serpent” by Natasha Liu

Submitted to Contest #57

A stream of crimson drips trails down my palm, landing into the fire with a sizzle. It’s done, and there’s no going back now. Jax wraps my hand in a bandage. Though the familiar sting of pain is still there, I’ve gotten used to it. Everyone speaks in hushed voices, the fire just bright enough to light up the curiosity in their eyes. I meet their gaze and search for the slightest hint of fear. There’s nothing. Biting my lip, I retreat into the darkness and let it consume me in its chilling embrace. I am a Serpentine now, leader of the un...

11 comments 11
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“Ruth Writes” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #57

You probably haven’t heard of me if you are from anywhere in the world other than Galicia, which is in the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. However, in Galicia I am actually quite well known, even famous. I’m not bragging, but they’ve written some very nice things about me. They have also organized exhibits of my photographs. I definitely feel honored.  However, I am someone who has become famous (albeit decades after I took all the photographs) for something I never actually did. This is what I want to speak with Lavinia...

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“Hairless & Monochrome” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #57

There is a sweet spot between laziness and efficiency. Some call it Zen, some call it Grace, and some accidentally arrive at it through sheer malaise without ever realizing it existed. Dorcas cherished these spaces when she found herself in them, but they were just one more almost great thing that just wasn't quite enough. As she prepares to pen her suicide letter/will she is amused at making one last foray into that sweet spot. Besides, she has nothing to leave to anyone except her unappreciated art and some personal keepsakes that would mo...

1 comment 1
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“Here's Looking at You” by Jane Thomson

Submitted to Contest #57

Burnt or buried? That's what they ask you when you fill out a cheap form will. Like there's only two options, A or B. Burned or buried? Well, Sarah, I'm not religious, as you know. I don't think my skeleton (what's left of it) is going to rise up out of the ground and make its way to Ground Zero for the rapture. And, you know, worms. Shakespeare, now, he LOVED the idea of worms. Food for worms. How now, poor Yorick. Where once her fabled beauty did sit, worms now feast. Blah blah. I, personally, have nothing against worms but they can find t...

6 comments 6
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“The Turnaround” by Onur Yürür

Submitted to Contest #57

Cheers rose up from the small crowd. All in black t-shirts and jeans, six men were sitting in a café right next to the barbershop. They watched the groom walk.  “Ooo, Mr Groom!”  “Hey! Handsome guy!” Soon, one of the cheers evolved into a full sentence: “Look how handsome you are!” “Sure I am!” The groom approved. His entire being smelled orange cologne. And his harsh blue suit was in perfect tune with his freshly trimmed goatee. “You know, you still have time!” Finally, a complex sentence! There were “only three hours”...

3 comments 3
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“It's a Blunder-Full Life” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #57

This is like the kind of second that seems to hover and taunt you and make you think that you’re not going to crash down onto the pavement knees first, and you’re not going to realise that said knees are bleeding, and that the bottle of wine you bought has broken and that it is seeping out through the cloth of your bag and people are going to jump to conclusions.      Yes, this is that kind of moment, except it is not, apart from the odd perception of time. The person concerned is not a hypothetical yo...

3 comments 3
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$50

Prize money

676

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 04, 2020 EST

Won by Iona Cottle 🏆

Title: Et Tu?

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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