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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 Last Word” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #57

I, Keith Kellerman, being of sound mind and body, do bequeath the following items to the persons listed… To my wife, Sandy, whom I shared most of my adult life with, I leave all of the credit card bills and outstanding loans from the massive amount of debt that you compounded over the years. To my son, Jacob, I leave the family station wagon. ...

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“Dying Wish” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #57

“I’m writing my will out Donna.” Veronica sat at her dining room table her arthritic fingers struggling to hold the pen. I placed her spare door key on the table and pulled up a chair alongside her. “Would you like me to help you? Although I guess I’m not supposed to look at what you’re writing.” I said. “No, that’s all right. You can look, so long as you’re not a beneficiary. I’m trying to decide who should inherit half my house. I could offer it to you. I’m not sure what to do with it. I’m certainly not letting my sister Mavis have i...

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“Passing On” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #57

“Most people just like to leave their kids money.” The old man looks up at me, blinking rheumy eyes. “Don’t I know it,” he says. “My father left me a fortune, and look what I did with it.” I arch an eyebrow. “The way I see it, you’ve done a lot of good with what you were given.” I certainly won’t object to his spending preferences. “Oh, too little...

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“Zombie Aardvark Angel of Death” by Matthew Eubanks

Submitted to Contest #57

Margaret Brewster hated hospitals. All the smells and beeping and alarms and every room looking like someone was ready to croak at any moment made her batty. She had driven around three accidents, her car's engine had caught on fire and there was a chemical spill diverting traffic on the way. But she was here. She adjusted her lace gloves and thought about the vial of powder in her pocket. Ethel Brewster was as alert and bright eyed as ever, god damn her. Margaret needed Ethel to sign that will and then she needed her to go to the Lord. She...

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“By His Own Will” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #57

“Get this notarized as soon as possible,” Mr. Garner barked. I scurried up to his desk and gestured for my companions to follow. Mr. Garner looked me up and down as if he couldn’t believe he actually hired a woman as his lawyer. Despite that, we went through the process of notarizing the will. Afterward, I started to read over it. “Sir, are you sure this is what you want to do,” I questioned, and he nodded. “I’m aware that my children will disapprove, . That is of no importance to me. I do what I will. Do you have a problem w...

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“Bapaume III” by NIck Fraser

Submitted to Contest #57

Bapaume III Why he’d gone for the donkeys I don’t know. All of his other ‘business ventures’ had gone tits up so badly I’m surprised he hadn’t thrown in the towel before I was born. The escort agency; the billiard hall (a partnership with Joey Hart – whoever the fuck he was); the sandwich boards; the tram adverts; the American hamburger joint on the Golden Mile…the list seemed endless. Nanna was understandably critical; mum was understandably protective, but when she spoke about him she was sad and probably a little confused. Let’s face it...

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“Charli's Angel” by Elliott Currie Wilde

Submitted to Contest #57

“Charli, take your shoes off” - Yes, Auntie. “Charli, did you take your shoes off?” - Yes, Auntie “Charli, don’t forget, you have to take your shoes off!” - *Sigh….Yes, Auntie. There are two worlds. People think it’s reality and fantasy, but really it’s people who leaves their shoes on after entering a building and those who pause a moment to remove and place them neatly side by ...

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“Gravy” by Nolan Pieper

Submitted to Contest #57

In the midst of the spooky season of Halloween my friend and I were wandering a cemetery on a crisp autumn evening. We roamed the rows and columns of the tombstones protruding from the Earth. The tombstones acted like the last anchors of the dead to the material world; their last grasp to the land of the living as they joined the spiritual realm. The sky was darkening with a dull, yet warming, glow. The leaves swirled through the air with the colors of fall creating a moving mosaic across the cemetery. The light struck the tombstones highlig...

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“The Drake of Drake Avenue” by James Johnson

Submitted to Contest #57

“Lookee there!” a toothless old fisherman yelled to me. “That’s a biggun!” He cackled at his own sarcasm. Anyone could tell that the Perch on the end of my line was no bigger than half a slab of bacon. “Listen ‘ere: I know of a man named Cletus, well, ye can barely call ‘im a man, he’s more of a gorilla!” he let out that low congested cackle once more. “He’s an expert in photography, an’ if ye happen to take a stroll down past ‘is place, he’ll make it look like ye never caught a bigger fish in yer life!” Though I knew this man was obviousl...

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“Scar-faced Grandpa” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #57

“So was grandpa a soldier?” My 10-year old son asked, looking at me inquisitively. “No! Why do you ask?” I said. “He has this big scar near his eye,” he said, as he flipped the photo album. “Oh yes, the scar!” I said, suddenly remembering. “How did he get it?” he asked. “Oh it is a very funny yet sad story!” I said, sitting next to him now on the couch and looking at the picture that made him curious. In the picture, I was happily sitting in the laps of my grandma with my grandpa sitting next to her. The photo quality was not...

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“Strange Beginnings” by Richard Thompson

Submitted to Contest #57

Mr. Butterfly longed for the days before metamorphosis. Back when he and Mrs. Butterfly lived the humdrum caterpillar life. A quiet leaf dinner and an early bedtime.But they were social butterflies now. Either hosting a gathering or fluttering off to one. He didn't care for it, and as Mrs. Butterfly went on and on about that evening's dinner party, Mr. Butterfly snapped.“Enough, Muriel!” Mr. Butterfly screamed. “Enough!”“Aren’t you tired of always fluttering about?! Ever since we’ve been butterflies, it’s been go, go, go with you. How about ...

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“The Fame I Didn't Even Want” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #57

Most people wanted to be famous for their life-changing invention, or beautiful singing abilities. Or even for their popular book series. But I happened to be famous for none of these things. No, the kind of fame I had was one that made people crossed the street to avoid me or hold their children closer when I walked past. You may be wondering, why is that? What could you do to make people uncomfortable or even afraid of you? Well, to answer the question, I did absolutely nothing to deser...

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“Tabula Rasa” by Amy DeMatt

Submitted to Contest #57

My hands were trembling again, I noticed with despair. I wanted to be sitting on the porch, or at Theresa’s party, but instead I was glued to the computer, a large white rectangle before me waiting to be filled with words. It had gotten worse over the past week, and I was now on the equivalent of academic probation. I had been invited to a writer’s retreat, an escape from my tiny hometown of Glastonbury. I was living in a tiny but pleasant little house with a white picket fence and a field of daisies behind it. I should hav...

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“Martha's syndrome” by Nikhil Kurien

Submitted to Contest #57

MARTHA’S SYNDROME A belch from Martha was enough to jolt Suhara from her sleep. Suhara was admitted three weeks back after a fall which had fractured her hip bone and she was slowly recovering from repeated infections after her surgery. Both the ladies had become close by now in between their infections and sorrows. Suhara looked at Martha quite inquisitively as though asking what was that loud belching about. M...

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“The Spider That Caught The Fly” by Khadine A. Dorsett

Submitted to Contest #57

August 21st 2020: The PresentHe pulled out the heavy suitcase from beneath the old coffee table in the attic, immediately covering his nose as he felt the tingles of a sneeze in the making. The room was dusty, as was expected, as his parents had not ventured up there for years. It was a big day. In more ways than one. For the first time since he was admitted, Mason was going to visit his father at the nursing home. The timing too was fitting as the day marked nine years since his sister's passing.A few tugs and some unfastened clasps later, ...

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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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