Set your story at an antique roadshow.

Posted in Dramatic on Mar 31, 2023

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✍️ 26 stories

“Just My Type” by Marisa Billions

Submitted to Contest #192

“Mom- let’s go into the antique road show over there!” Hunter grabbed his mother’s wrist and dragged her down the street to the warehouse where a mass of antique shop owners and dealers were tucked away just off the main drag of Old Town. “Why?” Stella dragged herself behind them. It was their Sunday ritual- lunch and whatever after for just the two of them. Hunter loved antique shops and thrifting and estate sales. Stella was often just pulled along. She enjoyed the time with him, so it didn’t really matter to her. Hunter earned a d...

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“The Divine Intervention of the Molly Maguires” by KT George

Submitted to Contest #192

For three months out of the year, antiques and art lovers all over the United States gather to share their beloved treasures at designated roadshow locations. The hunters and gathers, the collectors, and even the hoarders come together in one place to seek out the advice of experts and estimators to see if the stuff they have is worth any money. Sometimes they earn a history lesson while also learning they’ve got an unexpected fortune on their hands. Most times, those lessons fall on deaf ears because they’ve learned what many already suspec...

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“Bobsy's Treasure” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #192

Larry, so help me God, if you come near me right now, I am going to scream so loud, it’ll shatter every window in this godless convention center. I am so mad. I am so mad I could eat salami, and you know how I feel about salami. I could take one of those big rolls of salami and tear into it like a magpie. That’s how mad I am. I don’t even know what a magpie is. I’ve lost all my knowledge in this moment of my rage and fury. I am nothing but anger at this point, Larry. Nothing but irritation. Imagine me taking Bobsy’s treasure here and t...

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“Afloat” by Payton Lundgren

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #192

As the brakes squeal and the truck comes to a stop, the hot summer air creeps its way through the open window. Despite the early hour, the sun still beats down on us, forcing me to squint and turn my head towards the inside of the truck. My mother sits behind the wheel rummaging through her bag, looking for the key to the padlock she insists on adding to the back of the truck. Between us sits the family photos we’d taken out of their frames, since “every penny counts,” and on top of the pile sits a picture of my father, smiling with the same...

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“He Said, She Said” by Mister X

Submitted to Contest #192

"Is this where we line up?”“Wee line up? Are you referring to people experiencing short stature?”“No, no. I want to know if this is where we line up. As in us. As in people.”“Yes. Individuals are lining up here for appraisals.”“I can’t wait to see if my old stuff is worth anything.”“You mean your mature stuff.”“No, I didn’t bring anything naughty. Why would I do that?”“I don’t mean mature as in alternative morality. Mature is how people today refer to things that are no longer new.”“Right. Old. No longer new means old.”“We don’t say old anym...

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“Grace Finds A Grandma Moses” by Edward J. McCoul

Submitted to Contest #192

“Grace Finds A Grandma Moses” Grace loved nothing more than browsing antique shows in her free time. She enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, the possibility of discovering hidden treasures, and the satisfaction of haggling for a good deal. One sunny afternoon, she came across an antique roadside show and decided to stop by. As she was walking around, something caught her eye – a beautiful painting of a rural scene. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was signed by none other than Grandma Moses. Grace was familiar with the artist’s name, and ...

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“A Byzantine Trade” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #192

Being in a traveling antique roadshow, one learns to keep a close eye on the competition. Especially the Greens, they organize this roadshow, but have been against me from the beginning.Across the aisle, a young man looks disappointed with whatever Isaac had to offer him, and heads my way. There’s a good chance Isaac—not as educated as I—might not have discerned the cultural nuance of the historical antiquity the young man is trying to sell.When he approaches, he shyly avoids my gaze yet looks hopeful. “My grandfather says this is valuable.”...

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“Model Train” by Fraser Green

Submitted to Contest #192

I don’t see the point of buying old things. When do you ever want an antique television? I’ve never found exhilaration over banging the top of the set to make it work and, when it does, having to stand up to change the channel. That’s an inconvenience. Ben seemed to think there was something addictive about these expired relics of history. My niece too, so this is why I’m here. She loves old shit. And I love her, so I guess that works. Ben is also cute, and I’m still keen to fuck him. I’m slightly concerned that his home is filled with furni...

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“The Tea Set” by Kaya Monn

Submitted to Contest #192

On the day the stranger arrived, Doug and Darryl sat outside on their rocking chairs in silence. It was a mild, cloudless day, and after decades of running an antique shop, there was no need for conversation. They sat outside together, and that was enough. As they sat, a small, red car pulled up. The sun cast a glare on the windshield, making it impossible to see the driver. It rolled to a stop in their gravel parking lot, the stones crunching beneath its tires. The door opened, and a stranger stepped out. From their clothes and the way ...

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“Haunted Doll” by Jack Gorzo

Submitted to Contest #192

Antiques roadshows are not all they’re cracked up to be. It isn’t always a man in a nice suit telling you that a shattered watch you found in your late grandfather’s attic is actually worth $10,000. My experience was mostly standing awkwardly in a crowded convention center trying to find someone who would talk to me. I even bought a classy black dress for the occasion, hoping that it would somehow help my chances of leaving with a nice pay day. My arms were wrapped around a small cardboard box, holding what I hoped to be my jackpot. &n...

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“Dunwitty's Proof ” by Daniel Dundin

Submitted to Contest #192

On May 14th at Valley Forge they found a finger. The severed digit was wrapped in antique, handmade Belgian lace, and closed in a Georgian rosewood sewing box. (Appraisal, $8,500 - $10,000.) The police thought it was a deeply depraved prank until June 5th at the Alamo when they found a human ear. It was sealed in a faded airmail envelope with a love note from World War I. The note read, “I miss the sound of your voice.” The envelope and ear were inside an ostrich leather, monogrammed briefcase belonging to J. Edgar Hoover. (Appraisal, $...

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“The Antiques Roadshow of a Lifetime” by S B

Submitted to Contest #192

As I walked through the bustling crowd at the antique roadshow, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. I had always been a fan of the television show, but nothing could have prepared me for the real-life excitement of attending a roadshow in person. My husband and I had been collecting antiques for years, and we had brought a variety of pieces with us to the event. From a vintage camera to a set of antique silverware, we were eager to see if our treasures were worth something significant. As we made our way through the aisles of vendors an...

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“Seek and Ye Shall Find” by Rene Raque

Submitted to Contest #192

The rain hitting the windshield, and the gloomy sky on the horizon, seem to add even more negativity to the day. Why was it so hard to move aging family members? Not just the sheer number of personal belongings collected over decades, but the vice like grip on said possessions. I wish my aunt would just donate all of it. That drama isn’t enough to bring me down though. I’m on my way to make some big money at the antique roadshow. Well, at least I feel like I can. I have no idea what some of these old family heirlooms are, but they look somet...

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“True Treasure” by Nona Yobis

Submitted to Contest #192

Alyssa clutched her leather satchel close as she stood frozen in the sea of faces. There had to be thousands of people inside the convention center, with just as many standing outside, waiting to be let in. It was more than the entire town population. Where did they all come from, and how did so many people have family antiques to show off? She began to feel as though maybe she shouldn’t have come, and that her piece was not worthy of the famous national television program. When leaving the house that morning, she had felt much more con...

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“Golden Ticket” by Mazie Maris

Submitted to Contest #192

**This story contains profanity**I hate this place. It smells like moth balls and old people, and I can’t believe I have to spend another Saturday of my 13-year-old life sitting here watching people get all worked about paintings with cracks in them. Seriously, I’ve lost sleep wondering how my life got me here.This time we’re at the convention center in Boston, a mere five hours from home, which I guess is better than last weekend in Indianapolis which required sleeping in our car in a Wal-Mart parking lot for two days in a row. Because heav...

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Set your story at an antique roadshow.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 26 stories

“Just My Type” by Marisa Billions

“The Divine Intervention of the Molly Maguires” by KT George

“Bobsy's Treasure” by Story Time

“Afloat” by Payton Lundgren

“He Said, She Said” by Mister X

“Grace Finds A Grandma Moses” by Edward J. McCoul

“A Byzantine Trade” by Scott Christenson

“Model Train” by Fraser Green

“The Tea Set” by Kaya Monn

“Haunted Doll” by Jack Gorzo

“Dunwitty's Proof ” by Daniel Dundin

“The Antiques Roadshow of a Lifetime” by S B

“Seek and Ye Shall Find” by Rene Raque

“True Treasure” by Nona Yobis

“Golden Ticket” by Mazie Maris

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone finding a treasure in an unexpected place.

Write a story about someone trying to reinvent themselves after spending a long time in a rut.

Write about someone stuck in an endless cycle who finally manages to break free.

Write about someone rediscovering something old they thought they’d lost.

Contest #192

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

249

Contest entries

144

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: