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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

“I've lived too long” by Christina Hall

Submitted to Contest #57

William Enderby sat alone, hunched over his patio table as he watched the shadows from the willow trees dance to the tune of the wind. It reminded him of the days when his body could sway so lithely, back when he would hold Maggie tightly under the stars and twirl themselves silly to a rhythm only they heard. Maggie was gone now and the only dancing done in his yard was by these flowing trees. Whether the willows danced on any given day, or drooped or wept, depended on the mind of the viewer. These days, he was the only one looking...

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“Ballad of Red Bear” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #57

The wind whips through the air, tugging at my coat and scarf. The drizzling rain seeks my exposed flesh, chilling me to the bone. I should go back to my car but I promised Grandpa I would come see the statue, the monument praising our ancestor. It is a condition he had added to his will. He left me a letter, with instruction to read it only when I stood before Great great Grandpa Harry. So here I am shivering and flustered.The monument is life size but it’s still massive, Grandpa Harry was a bear of a man. At si...

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“I Thank You” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #57

Dr. Arthur Ainsworth sat at his bedroom desk, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and patted his brow. In front of him lay seven pieces of blank parchment.Arthur cleared his throat and picked up his quill.“To… Mrs. Remington,” he muttered as he scribbled on the first piece of parchment. “I thank you… for always seeing… the best in me.”Arthur gripped the quill until his knuckles were white. He vividly remembered sobbing in her classroom after confusing a simple addition problem.“You stupid boy,” snarled Mrs. Remington. “You will achieve not...

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“Breaking with Tradition” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #57

I bit my lip and broke my pencil in half.After all, it's one thing to be called dumb by the bullies in school, but it's another to feel dumb around your father. I can speak and write just fine. It's just that Pa doesn't like it when I use “ain't”.“Because it isn't good English,” he said, standing behind me, and looking down at the essay I was writing. He shook his head and sighed. I watched as he knelt and picked up the pencil halves. “And please don't take it out on your pencils. That's the fourth one that you've broken today. I don't have ...

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“You've got the wrong girl. 🙅” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #57

"Lola Plix, will you please come to the front office?" I look up. Me? I didn't do anything. Why am I getting sent to the office? I stand slowly, picking up my bag. I glance at my best friend, Max, who shrugs his shoulders. Ms. Dinna, the geography teacher is gesturing to the door. and I realize I haven't moved. "See you later." I mutter to Max, who nods. I walk through the door, towards the office. Okay, my name is Lola Plix. I'm in seventh grade. I look boring, even though Max says I don't. I have long black hair, and light skin. My round...

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“Rashe's Betrayal” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #57

Life bustled and beauty bloomed in the forest. Harmony was bountiful, abundance plenty. Small critters chased under the feet of bigger beasts, and the latter munched on lush, green grass. The warm spring sun shone through the leaves, announcing yet another fine day. Blandyew hummed in satisfaction. All was well. In his 621 years of life, the Treant Blandyew saw much. True, his experiences couldn’t compare to the forest elders, but he did witness both nature’s wrath and her love. And this day certainly reminded him of love. “Grow tall, little...

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“The Banana” by Regina Perry

Submitted to Contest #57

Dogs were useless, Alyssa thought gloomily, rubbing the dirt off her palms. Try as she might, she couldn’t get Frankie, the neighbours’ border collie, to chew even one corner of her homework. Usually, the neighbours complained that they couldn’t get Frankie to stop chewing things, but Frankie just wasn’t going for it this time. Alyssa had tried everything; waving it under Frankie’s nose, trying to pry his mouth open and stuff it in, rolling it up and throwing it for him to fetch, even wrapping it around his favourite chew toy. Frankie just t...

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“I Know What Really Happened ” by 💛🧡Lizzie Parker🌻🍊

Submitted to Contest #57

I walked off the stage, my head spinning. It had happened again. I confuse Maddie for a fan in the crowd and my knees go weak, I fall down and a massive headache thunders in my head. This was the fifth time since The Letter. I don’t open fanmail, it gets sent to a P.O box. The Letter was sent directly to my house. Only five words. “I know what actually happened”. I threw up when I read it. One year ago Maddie and I were walking home from school. We crossed a bridge and heard a call for help. There was a kid ho...

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“The Snake Among Men” by AISHWARYA MURALIDHAR

Submitted to Contest #57

“ The Nuclear Plant has accidentally released a large amount of Radioactive energy. However , the energy has been released in the form of a strong beam and is estimated to have hit right in the middle of the uninhabited forest, no effects and deaths have been reported. The experts suggest that, as all the energy has been shot out in the form of a beam, only a limited area is affected but the effect is extreme.” Announced the news reporter of a local news channel as a part of the breaking news.Sameer, a man in his late twenties, was walk...

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“Never Have I Ever” by Taryn Holmes

Submitted to Contest #57

“Never have I ever...broken a bone.” A chorus of groans and complaints filled the air of Caroline’s bedroom as I giggled. Holding my hand upright, I still had four out of five fingers raised. All the rest of the girls were down to their final few. Penny glared at me from across the circle as she put down her last finger, the cast over her left arm glowing white in the dim light. “Lauren, you always win this game!” I grinned. “What can I say? I’m just so much more careful than all you crazy people.” Caroline rolled her eyes, “It’s...

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“mine + collected letters 4 proj.... GreatgrandpaRodge (.docx) ” by Dustin Softman

Submitted to Contest #57

Dear Students of Brickberk high; Brickberk Family; The Goan community; and Friends, Associates and Enthusiasts of Dr Rodge Brickberk, I am writing to ask for your help in compiling memories, reflections and insights into the life of my great grandfather Dr Rodge Brickberk. As some of you may be aware, I have recently entered into my last year at Brickberk high, and I have been asked by the student body, in association with our local newspaper, to write a piece on the legacy of Dr Brickberk. The Stone Sun (our local paper for thos...

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“Spitball In My Veins” by Lola S.

Submitted to Contest #57

Ever wonder why you get that funky feeling someone’s watching you but you can’t pinpoint from where? It’s because they are, and welcome to my life…I sit at a café to sip on my latte, or run into Bugsy’s food mart to grab a couple of items for dinner or even breathe while making my way to my truck from who cares where and poof! The feeling erupts like a mini spitball into my veins and I just know it…someone is watching, critiquing and waiting for me to do anything noteworthy so it can be whispered about in dingy corners of way too out of the ...

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“Alas, The True Story Of The Most Famous Microphone Bomb Ever” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #57

Although they are inarguably one of the most popular bands in the world today, in 1994 the Slack Magnets were playing their first string of shows in small venues scattered in and around Milwaukee, usually as an opening band for other relatively unknown indie and punk rock groups. Legend had always held these shows were sloppy and erratic, as the members were 'primarily drinking partners who formed a band when we ran out of things to talk about' - according to guitarist and vocalist Eric Borders. It may have taken them a few years to get thei...

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“Their Last Words Were Safety First” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #57

"Knock knock, big man!" the large voice emanated from the little woman who had suddenly appeared in the bathroom with him a split second ago.Because he had spent a considerable amount of his life pondering the imponderable, President Hathaway was prepared for a scenario roughly approximating the one he now found himself in. He was not going to say 'who are you?' or 'how did you get in here' or threaten to yell for the secret service guards stationed within earshot. There are certain things that you just surrender to immediately, because it i...

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“Game ” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #57

In the beginning of history, when the earth had no owners or value, God and the devil walked without destination or care in the vastness of the universe. And now? The devil asked God, the one who scratched his hair in the sun with comets that flew according to the movements of his breathing. - I'm already bored, God said, making the stars tinkle in his eyes. - Shall we play a game with these marbles ?, asked the devil pointing to the planets of the second dimension with his incandescent arms. - Make up something bette...

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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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