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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

“Not exactly stolen” by Chitra Gopi

Submitted to Contest #57

Gumon got high on the new found glitter. All famous people shook hands and talked literature to him. Women with heady perfumes surrounded him and his already dizzy head started floating. His fingers ached, signing autographs. A remotest corner of his heart or brain, he could not make out which one, kept hissing,”Hey cheapo! You don’t belong here. What if you are caught?” “You have done a great job for a first timer, Mr. Rae,” Someone who sounded important addressed him. Gumon turned back to see a man around sixty years of age, tall and by...

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“Abraham Lincoln & Grandma’s Grandpa” by Cain Adomnain

Submitted to Contest #57

“My grandma’s grandpa lived in Danville, Illinois. He was a farmer. Grandpa Jeptha was a good friend of President Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln lived in Springfield, Illinois. He was a lawyer. When President Lincoln had trials in Danville, he stayed in the home of Grandpa Jeptha. They played games and talked. They were great friends. Grandpa Jeptha was very sad when President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.” -- Timothy Colfax, Mrs. Slater’s Class, Grade 3 May 14, 1852 County Courthouse, Vermilion County, Illinois Th...

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“Raising the bar” by Sunshine Oconnor

Submitted to Contest #57

Without warning the responsibility of planning the next family reunion, an event I dreaded more than anything in the world, fell on me. Immediately my palms began to sweat and I was sure the pounding in my head could be heard three blocks over. Falling into my chair, I listened as a distant aunt explained who did it before and had to hand it over to someone else who died and how she contacted all of the elders in the family and they agreed that it was time for me to take it over. Listening to her explain what went into every detail of planni...

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“leave me” by Amber Hartung

Submitted to Contest #57

“do you ever feeling like floating away?” “what do you mean?” “I mean like leaving and diving into abyss” I looked into his eyes. The pools of green blue were no where to be found. It was as if they had been replaced by rage and confusion. “don’t ever say that again” “say what my mind. I am sorry I was let you into my deepest and vastest parts, I am sorry I want someone to talk to. Because you know what I am tired of drowning in my thoughts. I am sorry that they suffocate me. Sorry I was just trying to breath. I was just trying for once not...

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“Genesis” by Genesis Auli

Submitted to Contest #57

"Give it up. Eventually you will fold under my weight." Great. He's back. Just what I needed on this already stressful night. I roll over from where I had been trying to rest my eyes. On the small coffee table a couple feet from where I lay, a mound of white powder sits. It's been waiting for me to accept it. I will not. I am Genesis. I am the new Beginning. A demon is talking to me. I will now break the chains, the pattern of my dying family. For far too long, this same demon has nabbed hold of my relatives and has claimed them as his sl...

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“Broken Pieces” by Kristin Rothell

Submitted to Contest #57

He stared at the mirror in front of him, his mind struggling to come to terms with what he saw. The reflection stood tall, his black hair stylistically tousled, setting off his emerald green eyes framed with dark lashes. The tuxedo fit him to perfection, ordered and sized months ago. It had arrived just that morning in the hands of a personal delivery service, tipped well and thanked profusely. The crisp white shirt, a stark contrast to the pitch black tux, had not a speck of dirt on it and he had been told in no uncertain terms to keep it t...

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“It's Only Tradition ” by H. R. Robin

Submitted to Contest #57

Claire sat on the edge of her bed, stone-faced. With her mouth in a tight line and her eyes as cold and as dry as steel, she looked straight ahead at her doorknob. She willed it to be still, to never move and leave her quiet and unmoving on this bed until the end of time. The dress felt like a heavy drape on her body and the vail, like cobwebs on her hair. At this very moment, Claire hated everything and everyone.Though she wished until every muscle ached and stared until her eyes throbbed, that's traitor of a doorknob still turned and with ...

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“Passing The Torch” by Chris Stone

Submitted to Contest #57

“Walter, can you check the oven?”. “I’ll be there in just a second”. Each year on the 23rd of January the Delaney family would gather for a holiday that was a unique tradition to their own family name. Rumour had it that it was started by their great, great uncle Samuel in an attempt to make amends for botching the family Christmas that year when he had burned the tree down by carelessly ashing one of his thick Puerto Rican cigars near the dried up old pine they had brought in from the local forest. Whether this is actual fact ...

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“Shrine” by Mashi B

Submitted to Contest #57

They say parents make up all kinds of rules, just to keep their children safe. Don’t climb on the couch, don’t walk around with your muddy shoes on, close the closet door tight shut before going to bed… Normal stuff really, as if you or I needed to be reminded that. Some families, however, go as far as calling their rules “traditions”. See, breaking a rule is easy. You’ll get punished for it with your mother’s cooking being placed on the table louder than usual, or your father’s disappointed gaze, maybe auntie will tell you to clean the atti...

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“OFF TO WORK” by Henry Briggs

Submitted to Contest #57

“Reuben, Reuben! Are you paying attention?” Georgios asks while tugging on my garment. I stop my horse and wipe my forehead. I answer, “Yes, I’m well. I’m just a little tired from all of the traveling.” Georgios knows that I am lying. Of course, he does. We have been friends for seven years. Georgios speeds up his horse to block my horse from walking and looks me in the face. He says, “I know it’s none of my business, but you have to snap out of it! We are about to see the general soon. You don’t want him thinking you are an ungrateful Jew. ...

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“Breaking the legacy” by Erick Mokamba

Submitted to Contest #57

A drop of ink can make a million think, but for me, a cooking challenge was worth my thought. Garet is the name my mother gave me, which if turned way round meant Great. Am the only boy among my five other siblings. Born from a family of soldiers, it was imminent when I would graduate; I had to join the defense forces; I with no objection to it until a certain Friday.That day was rather odd to me than other days. I walked down to the grocery to pick up lettuce leaves to prepare a hamburger, which was a challenge I took from the tv. Aft...

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“Freedom Not for the Self” by Adam Sahlfed

Submitted to Contest #57

As the clock strikes four, i am awoken to the sound of countless clattering clocks. It does not matter if i count them for they always change, in number and location. As my day cannot begin with out there silence i most find each one and silence it, never getting to have a full nights sleep is put towards the silencing of these Heathenistic contraptions. With the silencing of the last beast my doors are thrown open as my families butlers and maids usher me to my next task. For that is really what my life is, not one of joy or pleasure, no. I...

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“The Secret File” by Iorkegh Donatus

Submitted to Contest #57

Breathless! my body stretched on a couch in a ward at the intensive care unit of Madonna Hospital, Makurdi."Ten minutes he will be up", the doctor said. I was brought in by a do-gooder, with cold feet and a broken arm. I passed out. So I am told.My ordeal is related to the event of yesterday, of my discovery of the important documents in my late uncle’s file. Every member of the family is curious about my uncle’s land, all eyes rolling out for a share of his wealth and fortune accrued from a tough journey from a local craftsman to a Director...

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“Mentanoia” by Samje 2314

Submitted to Contest #57

The most beautiful thing of life is its unpredictiveness.But sometimes some strange symbol from the universe tells us the actual future, same thing happened with 12 years old Archi. Teenage,the most important lessons of life are being taught by this age. Like some normal day Archi went to her school. Suddenly a boy Suchit carrying his bag with lots of books in it fell down,Archi saw him,she felt something strange in her stomach,that little girl didn't knew that the starange thing were actually the butterflies of excitement.Archi have heard a...

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“A BLANK CANVAS” by Sarah F.

Submitted to Contest #57

Today was mom’s day. I stared in fascination at her hair. Where there had only been streaks before; her head was now a mass of orange mane. They curled beautifully around her sharp jawline, making the orange tinge on her cheeks more prominent. Dad walked in, stopping right behind her. He curled a strand of her hair around his index finger. “Looks beautiful, honey. Are the kids getting theirs done too?” She looked unsurely at me. What did she think I would do? Dye my hair white because they named me Whit? It was bad enough I didn’t fit, but...

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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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