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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

“Written out” by Shelby Schwartz

Submitted to Contest #57

“I want people to dance, to laugh, enjoy the life I’ve lived.” “You just told me the other day you don’t enjoy your life.” My friend and lawyer, Jake Smock, says, dropping his pen. “That's true, but they don’t need to know that.” I grin. “We are trying to write your will. We have the opening sentence and those paying for funeral and other expenses. Who you leaving your money and personal property too?” “You in a rush?” “I have other appointments.” “Not until like noon. It’s only ten.” “You checked my schedule?” He lo...

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“Grandma's Safe Haven ” by Skye May

Submitted to Contest #57

"I'm just going to stay up for a while, I have a lot of work to do." I say, as I comb my fingers through my thinning hair, as a cluster of hair falls to the floor. I hang up the phone and silently walk down the hall and turn the corner. Siggy, my dog, is laying on the floor whimpering. "Oh siggy, you've always been by my side. Come, sit with me." As he tries to jump up and sit beside me on the love sofa, he barely makes it. Being 14 years old can really show a dogs age. His hair is shedding just about as much as mine does, these days...

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“Will You Except This Will?” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #57

Sighing, Ryan left the pen hovering over the paper and looked at Molly. “You ready?”Molly smiled, the wrinkles he so dearly treasured stretching. “No one’s going to like this, so let’s just get it over with.”As he began writing, Molly’s hazel eyes looked out the arched window. Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating the beautiful old books of their library. Their grandchildren were running across the red ground in front of their family’s houses, their space suits not able to hide the giggles and smiles. Their rover assistant rolled ove...

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“My Never-Reality” by Yaki Lim

Submitted to Contest #57

"Your selfish life is so goddamn meaningless! The moment you leave this world is the moment this world will be relieved from a burden like you!"My mother's line kept repeating itself in my head, over and over, tainting my thoughts and intentions like oil against water. My eyes trailed down to look at the purple, pink and yellow blotches of skin that hadn't cleared since the last time she bottomed another bottle of alcohol.Ensuring my doorknob was locked, I took out my headphones and allowed myself to escape into the never-reality. I gave mys...

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“Just Like Jesus” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #57

Months have passed, yet the world still did not calm down. And how could it? A miracle had happened, something impossible, something so deeply profound and mysterious that it threw all our understanding of reality out the window. And more importantly, all our understanding of belief and ideology. On May the second, 2020, Jesus Christ had been reborn. Not in the sense of some parent naming their child that way, like naming a kid Facebook or other such idiocies, but the real deal. The man whom many claimed never existed, while others...

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“Our traditions shall carry us through” by Sambulo Kunene

Submitted to Contest #57

"That's it I am moving out. I have had it with this family!" she said crying with bags packed and a cigarette hanging on her mouth."She will be back. You 'll see. I won't let her push us around anymore. This is my house. She knows the rules. She will come back and apologize. She always does." her mom said to her sister."What did she do this time!" asked her sister."She wants to go to college! She knows better! She knows that she is supposed to marry Dennis. What is she fooling around college for. I am sick enough as it is. We don't have mone...

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“The End of a Family Tradition” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #57

The End of a Family Tradition The Conway family had been living summers by the lake for five generations – first camping in tents, and then in the lake-wide population of 12, nearly identical cottages. And everyone with a cottage on the lake was related in some way. There was a culture to the lake that had developed long ago, and was still strong in the 21st century. There was a predictability of activities that had a security to it for family members, at least by the time that they had become the senior generation.&n...

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“The Art” by Patricia Adele

Submitted to Contest #57

There was no crackle of expectant electricity in the air, no ringing of bells or alleluias filling the air. Just the howling of the wind and a chill that turns your nose into a sore looking bullseye on your face. We found the five dollar coupon I had clipped from the paper, put on our blizzard gear, and headed out on our adventure. It was a long walk to take with a five year old but with no car, and the desperate need we felt to pick up our treasure drove us on.On the first leg of our journey we were grateful for the wind push...

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“Is this what I've become?” by Emilie Stokes

Submitted to Contest #57

"You're kidding." He said, looking to the little girl in front of him. "Who do I look like?" "You look like a guy I'm learning about in history, his name was Cleo Thompson." She smiled as she ate on the candy in her hand. He had never seen that brand before, whenever she closed her mouth a light went off inside a second after. Cleo didn't have enough time to ask, maybe later. "And what did he do?" His eyebrows were drawn tight with concern. What had he done to warrant being taught to children? His insides bunched up as his mind started...

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“In a Flash” by Ipshita Majumdar

Submitted to Contest #57

“Escaping again, Zohra?” Sunny Gehlot called out to me as I almost closed the door behind. It was my mother’s memorial service and I was determined not to stay. He wasn’t entirely wrong, this was my last attempt at finding some peace away from the clicks, the microphones and the media ruckus that accompanied my mother, Purvi Mistry. Instead, I swivelled about and thrust the door open, reentering the usually empty house, which teemed with staffers dressed in white. Good children do not talk back.My mother popped up in my head as usual.&n...

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“To Whom it May Concern...” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #57

To Whom It May Concern….. First of all, be aware I know what you all think of me, I do possess a sound mind even though my body has betrayed me, or at least my mind is as sound as it can be. I know most of you never expected me to get this old before I cracked but here we are. If you are here waiting to hear who gets all my riches then you will be sorely saddened to find out there is nobody who will be lucky enough to get all my money even though I am dead. I know you are wondering why so let me tell y...

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“The Cottage” by Danielle Walton

Submitted to Contest #57

In a chilly cottage right beyond a rain cloud sat a somber man inside. This was his home. He had watched his children dance about, and his wife wither away with the same disease he had. The walls thick with past laughter, and joyous occasions. They held his memories. While battling this disease he lost his ability to speak, and eventually became a recluse. Living in his fleeting memory of a cottage newly made, and a simple family of six. He searched for an end to his sentimentality, but nothing came. One could say between his family never vi...

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“The Tale of Monte's Will” by Ren McD

Submitted to Contest #57

“Thanks for helping me to write this will Conrad. I could not have done it without your help,” said Monte excitedly. “It was no trouble at all my friend,” replied Conrad, who had a pleased look on his face. Suddenly a sad countenance gripped him and he continued, “It will be sad to see you go. You have been a good man but I hate to see you suffer like this.” Monte coughed twice before replying, “I wish I could see the expressions on their silly faces when they hear the contents of this will. They are excellent pretenders. The rumors proved t...

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“The Ones He Left Behind” by Robyn J

Submitted to Contest #57

Trigger warning: suicide -Ten days ago- “He’s been writing for hours,” Yasmine whispered to me. “He’ll stop, scribble things out, crumple up the paper and then toss it away. It’s happened even more than when he’s working on an essay. I’m getting worried.” I stared at Rayne as he rammed a hand through his hair and gave a tiny growl of frustration. I’d never seen him like this, even when he was freaking out over his resume in tenth grade. I turned to Yasmine. “Have you tried to talk to him?” Yasmine shuddered. “Yes, and it didn’t go ove...

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“See you hereafter” by Debbie Day

Submitted to Contest #57

There is an unusual activity happening in Dr. Curnow's office. While a copy of his last will and testament lies on the old mahogany desk and he paced around the room looking somewhat distressed while he keeps silently talking to himself. He isn't alone, however. There is a woman, can you see her? Of course not, she's dead and her body lies 6000 miles away. Nevertheless, she is present. When Curnow finally sat down and buried his face in his hands he attempt to converse with the presence. "Nedjem how am I to do this?" He asked as knowing she ...

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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.

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