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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

“ MONUMENTAL NEGLECT” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #57

The year 2020: There was a massive gathering at Lindeck Square that evening where the Chief Minister was to install the statue of former CM Sheela. The area was festooned with flowers with a big banner welcoming the CM. The function which was to start at 6 was delayed by nearly half an hour, and the restive crowd was noisy. After the invocation, the welcome address, and the garlanding, the CM was requested to address the gathering. There was pin drop silence as he started his speech. He said “Friends, I first wish to apologize for being late...

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“The Gifts That Were Taken” by James Alcivar

Submitted to Contest #57

In cold and reckless dreams, I wandered, searching for the old spirit – he who comes in the night. Twisting and turning through fallen branches I came to a grove where a great and resplendent light emanated. This voracious light spoke to me and said, “You have searched for me and your quest is done. At the rising of the sun and the morning prayers echoing through the woods, the birds will sing their song under a gentle brittle rain, so too, like the transient rain will you fall and be buried in the Earth. Worry not, kind soul, just as the r...

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“Seer I” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #57

Julie placed motion detectors in the library and connected them to her grandfather’s computer. Then she took a pair of VR goggles and a piece of Latex out of her briefcase.“This is a prototype of the VRAI Seer I, grandpa.” “That piece looks like a shower cap.” “It is, but a shower cap with modifications. We wanted it to be easy and comfortable to wear. Sit down in your armchair and I’ll put it on for you. I thought you should be the first person not in ArkTech’s R&D to try it out.” “Because I own the company?” “And because you’re...

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“The Mysterious Mr. Lee” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #57

They Mysterious Mr. Lee Suzanne Marsh Professor Kent McMaster glanced around the classroom. He sighed, he was lecturing on General Robert E. Lee today. He had done a great deal of research for this lecture. He thought how statues were being desecrated, torn down, schools renamed. General Lee appeared to be a main target, of the unrest that plagued the country in 2020. “Today's topic is General Robert Edward Lee, CSA, a man of his time. Lee, was first and foremost a Virginian, who chose his state over the United States. I want to give you...

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“Unimaginable Satisfaction” by UJJWAL DUTTA

Submitted to Contest #57

Nishikanta has a very happy family. He has three sons and two daughters. All are married and they too are leading more or less happy families. Nishikanta has amassed a lot of wealth through his industry and sheer intelligence. He was born with an aptitude on how to amass wealth. He still contributes a lot to the expansion of the monetary and landed property of the joint family. He still works very hard from morning to evening. He is too contented with his own domestic life and the way things are going on. His sons and their daughters in law ...

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“The Last Word” by K.M. Hotzel

Submitted to Contest #57

The flames in the fireplace flickered, throwing dancing shadows on the wall. The wood crackled and, for a moment, she lost herself in the flames, mesmerized and wondering about the future. A grim sense of foreboding sent a shiver through her body. Great Aunt Tilly stretched in her writing chair, yawning. It had been a long and rather revealing day. Her gaze drifted to the window. The storm howled outside and rattled the frame. Small bits of debris clicked and clacked against the glass in a spellbinding melody underscored by the sound ...

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“A Will for the Apocalypse” by Calvin Belton

Submitted to Contest #57

The Last Will and Testament: Before we move any further, I should inform you that if there’s anything else you wish to complete, go do so immediately. You won’t have much time left. Taste every breathe, scream all the air out and bring it back in again, feel whatever life you can before it’s drained out of you. Try to reach a piece of peace. Tell others the truths you've been secreting.I am not sure of the exact timing of it all- or even the exact cause of it.&nb...

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“THE END, a beautiful beginning ” by Manya Seth

Submitted to Contest #57

“Life is unpredictable” We can only live in the present, we don’t know what the future has planned for us. Most people like to stay prepared for the consequences of their future. Old Henry was one of such people. He was an eighty-five-year-old man who had just gone through a kidney transplant and was very well aware that he did not have a lot of time left. One fine day he decided to sit down and write down his will, divide all his properties and other virtues amongst his four children. Henry was a very affluent man he owned quite a fe...

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“I Will” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #57

“I, Reginald Aloysius Witherset the Fourth, being of sound mind and body, blah, blah, blah. You know all the legal mumbo-jumbo.” Reginald gave Norman, his attorney, an impatient stare. “Yes, Reginald, I do. Unless you want something in the preamble of your Last Will & Testament to change, it will match the last eleven wills I have drawn up for you. Do you want to skip ahead to the part where you tell me who gets what?” “Fine. I have nothing to change in the main preamble. Just the assignment of inheritance.” Norman flipped to the a...

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“What belongs to me, belongs to thee” by Elliott Currie Wilde

Submitted to Contest #57

Lucas sat at his desk, pen in hand. These were the last two mementos of his 13-year marriage she had left him. Everything else had been stripped to bare stone. Except the rank smell. That could not be cleansed from the room – chilled rock, ocean salt, fish and blood. This space was more an enclosure for a wild animal. It had never been a home, not the sort you return to gratefully and open the front door to be greeted warmly, with the smells and sounds of love and family. For all he brought her, for all he gave her, she returned it with...

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“Fetch: The Will” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #57

The Will I Sixty-three-year-old Gerry Clifford’s family took him home from Candlelight Ridge Care Center for an afternoon visit. Gerry’s children, thirty-three-year-old Daniel and thirty-two-year-old Amber fawned over their father. Amber attempted to trigger her father’s memories by showing him a photo album, and Daniel presented a book of articles he’d compiled about Gerry’s years performing with his band, Mainline, and the many friends he’d made along the way. “This article’s about Henry Kalmar, Da,” Daniel said. “You remember Henry, righ...

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“Foresight” by Sandhya Kashyap

Submitted to Contest #57

"Are you sure Mrs Iyer, as your concerned person, let me suggest you that it's not appropriate to put your all eggs in one basket" Mrs Iyer's financial advisor urged her to be careful by surrender her entire will on one's name. "Mr Shetty, do as I said," Mrs Iyers seems so determined on call as she makes up her mind already, her face was pale like a tired lioness who rested her case and gave up upon hunting. All she wants is to 'Rest in peace.' In her dream The night is getting darker. "We should rush otherwise we'll miss the event". ...

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“Value of friendship” by Dishu V

Submitted to Contest #57

Chapter 1-My friends and corrivals One day, my friends invited me for a house party. There were some people who were my friends, and some who were my corrivals.It was a bang of celebration and the house was beaming with energy. Craig, my friend, was the host of this house party. My foes were vociferous ,however what I liked about the whole was that I was successful on masking my identity.Whails,Sofia,Ryuga,Mr Mime and Pidgeotto are definitely not my favorite people.Ginka,Madoka,Masumune,Subasa and Youi these people are my...

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“The Small Silver Cup” by Ann Rapp

Submitted to Contest #57

Cleaning up around the house was not how I normally spent my Sunday mornings, but I’d been hard at it since seven thirty to make the back garden and our new pool look good. And it did. Look good, I mean. “Lookin’ good, Will,” said Dad admiring the patio and pool area. “Not that you’re trying to impress anyone, of course!” “Well, maybe, just a bit, but I like Lara a lot, she’s special.” Dad smiled and nodded as though he wrote the book about young love. My Dad is in construction. He built our house and then put a swimming pool in the back...

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“Hiccup Man” by Elaine Standridge

Submitted to Contest #57

Hiccup Man There was once a boy named Henry Upman. Henry loved to spend time with his Uncle Larry on his farm. Uncle Larry had many different animals. He had a chicken named Cynthia, a goat named Sue, and an old cow named Moss. Henry liked all of the animals, but his favorite was a grumpy old stubborn mule named Barney, which his uncle just called ole’ barn mule. Henry really liked that Barney was happy to see him when he brought him carrots. He was mostly grumpy when he had to share his food with Sue, or when the hens came pecking around h...

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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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