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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

“The Unsigned Masterpiece” by Ali Anthony Bell

Submitted to Contest #57

Born in 1880 in Long Island, Paul Jerome Barry discovered a passion for painting at an early age. As his parents were rather well to do and open-minded, they let him follow his inclination, and he Studied Fine Arts in 1902 at the Chase School in New York, under two renowned painters of the time, namely William M. Chase and Robert Henri. Robert Henri’s teachings and experience gave him the urge to go to France, where everything was happening at the time. He moved to Paris in 1903, at 23 years of age.Everything was new and wonderful to Paul, P...

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“King of Hearts” by Jaya Avendel

Submitted to Contest #57

The feasting was over and King Leo’s stomach full. He leaned back in his armchair near the hearth where the fire blazed to drive the fall chill out of the vast room. At his side a round table was filled with books and atop the pile sat his golden crown, carelessly discarded. At his other side, at the end of the round carpet between his chair and hers, Queen Helena dimpled at him over her embroidery hoop.Behind the couple, three boys tumbled on the floor, not quite hurting each other but grunting all the same as the rolled between the sofas a...

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“Four Years of Regret” by Atinuke Ibrahim

Submitted to Contest #57

Trigger warning: suicide It’s been four years. Today the 22nd of September marks it four years. I can’t believe it has been this long since they found the body of John, this long since I've gotten more than 3 hrs of sleep, this long that the secret has been kept. Nobody can find out and nobody will. Father always said life doesn’t give you riches when you see an opportunity, grab it. He repeated everyday till his death last year. ‘I’m happy to die knowing my son is successful.’ he said. You can search Jack Payne anywhere ...

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“The Cradle” by Rachel Bacon

Submitted to Contest #57

I didn’t give my daughter a name when she was born. They told me not to. They said it would make it harder. She was born crying. Fighting. Loud and heard. They let me hold her, and she was beautiful. Her eyes looked so much like mine, and I held her so closely. Then they took her away. You see, there’s a cradle in the forest. I saw it once before when I was chosen as the Giver. It was made a beautiful oak wood and it swung so sweetly in the wind. The leaves above it created a gentle shade. I was fourteen when I chosen. They handed me a litt...

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“To Share or Not to Share” by Chris Bent

Submitted to Contest #57

I screwed up. I knew I was at the time, but I just had to. When it comes down sharing something important with someone you care about, you share it before it gets discovered. Some things are easier to explain if you don't hide it first. Let me illustrate. I am a caretaker of a thing. I am not supposed to tell you about the thing or describe it in any way so be patient in my telling, you might figure it out on your own. This thing, which might be an object, has been in my possession all my...

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“To Break The Chain That Binds Me” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #57

“I won’t do it.” This is what Josie had been saying to her parents for the past ten minutes. They were all gathered in the sitting room and discussing Josie’s future. Her father removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his perpetually damp forehead. “You must. It is tradition.” “Well tradition can die for all I care. It may hav...

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“Princess” by Kavita Rawat

Submitted to Contest #57

“Where are they? Had they taken a day off?” The iron grills feel cold against my warm hand. I tried to move my head out through the grills. Finally, I see them. Their body wrapped in a colorful floral saree. A handbag hangs on their left shoulder. They walk on the streets giggling and smiling. “Laila, where are you?” my mother voice echo. “Coming,” I say. “What were you doing?” My mother asks as I sat on the floor beside her. “I will arrive late at night today. I had clients to take,” my mother says taking the l...

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“The Schyler Farm” by Kate Reilly

Submitted to Contest #57

I stare out at the vast acres of farmland, golden sunlight glinting over the fields. Five generations of Schyler owned land. Soon it will be dark, and then the sun will rise, and I will have to tell them what I've decided.I rub my finger absently over the lip of the window, feeling the old wood beneath, the paint long ago flaked off. This house is as old as those tilled fields. And just as unreliable when it comes to steadily providing for a family. But I suppose that is part of the glory, as my grandfather used to say. To work hard and some...

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“THE ABSTINENCE” by Arvind Kashyap

Submitted to Contest #57

ABSTINENCE My mother charged at me when I ran at my best possible speed because if once caught she would have no mercy on me like Taxman. I had to maintain a distance that the bamboo cane she had could not make a contact with me. I could hear her shouting, “Oh devil on the earth! Why did I give you birth? Oh God! When will I attain salvation from the vicious cycle of rebirth, for the acts of this blasphemous son has broken the tradition of the family, that I cannot even disclose without...

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“Travel Time” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #57

As Lindsay stood in the elevator, she was thinking about the Travel Company she was about to visit, again. The last time she was here, they had promised they would send her on a fantastic holiday, somewhere she had never been before. She had not heard from them for over a month, until today. The Manager had called her early, and asked her to come in, as her holiday was ready. The elevator opened and Lindsay walked out into the offices. Something was wrong, this isn’t where she was supposed to be. “Can I help You?” A pretty young woman with...

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“People Of Tomorrow” by Ankita Chaurasia

Submitted to Contest #57

The sun was particularly harsh today but the pickles seemed happy and bubbly, yawning as I opened the lids of their jars to spread them out. Their cheerfulness rubbed off on me too. The secret consignment of mangoes that I had received that morning was also partially responsible for my joy. It had been raining for days on end, a spell that made one wonder if the sun had somehow been extinguished by a gutsy gale. But it had now returned and brought along with it the hope of father's return. He had been gone for a month now. Clearly, t...

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“Foiled Again” by Mar Café

Submitted to Contest #57

Abracadabra adjusted his bowtie. From one of the many hidden pockets of his tuxedo, he pulled a deck of cards. He would pass the time as he waited the way he always did: with a magic trick. He was perched on the edge of the huge stone fountain in Millennium Plaza: a park nestled among the skyscrapers situated at the exact center point of the city. Shuffling the cards in a most ostentatious display, he called out to a group of passing teenagers: "Hey, kids! You want to see a card trick?" The teens approached with caution. It wasn't everyd...

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“Legally Invalid Will” by Sabrina Chen

Submitted to Contest #57

The cheap plastic fountain pen scrawled on the paper. It was a satisfying sound, Ryan thought. Would anyone be able to tell what he was writing if they heard it? He snickered and kept writing. It was funny, really, how liberating it is to know exactly when you'd die, which Ryan has since around seven years old. To think that it's been almost nine years already… "What're you doing?" An obtrusive...

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“Willful Change” by Jen T

Submitted to Contest #57

I, Edward Barnaby, III, a legal adult, being of competent and sound mind, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament… I’ve done some difficult things in my life, but this is the most difficult. I completed my Will a few years back, but with my newfound determination, I am making a few changes. The choices I’ve made concerning my estate are logical and fair but will be shocking. The great thing about my Will’s reading is that I won’t be around to hear it and see the reactions. Ha! Maybe, on my way to Hell, I can stop by the lawy...

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“A Wise Man's Will” by Beulah Lee Harris

Submitted to Contest #57

A Wise Man’s Will – Beulah Lee Harris There was flurry of excitement all over England as ten people received a letter from the same firm of solicitors on the same day. The letter was brief and read: ‘I regret to inform you of the passing of Lord Gilly Elmsford of Hertfordshire. You are requested to attend a meeting at our offices in London at 10h00 on Thursday, 24th July 1921.’ The letter was signed by Geoffrey Stone from Dobson, Stone and Wilkes (Pty) Ltd. Most of the recipients tingled with anticipation and tremble...

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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!

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