Write a story starring an octogenarian who’s more than meets the eye.

Posted in Fiction on Aug 11, 2023

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✍️ 68 stories

“Donuts Do Not Die” by Mary Bendickson

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #211

Donuts Do Not DieThe crotchety old guy settled back down in his over-sized crusty stuffed arm chair pushing the ottoman slightly to the side for now. He jarred another cigarette out of its pack and picked it out with his teeth, flipped his Bic to light it and clicked to a 24-four-hour news station on the large box TV balanced on top of the flickering gas fake fireplace used to heat the enclosed porch. The cold chill still rattled the three walls of windows he peered through watching for them.He knew they were coming. The waning sun was sneak...

85 comments 85

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“Warren and Peace” by Derrick M Domican

Submitted to Contest #211

TW: Suggestion of child abduction/murder.“Darling, I’m home! Sorry, I took so long. I picked up some veal steaks for dinner and had a wander around that flea market in town. You’ll never guess what I found…”Sitting in an armchair, close to the fire, working on a blanket she was crocheting for her granddaughter’s pending new arrival, Bethany Peace sighed, dropping her needles into her lap as her husband’s breathless words raced down the hall.“Let me guess, dear,” she called back, removing her spectacles and pinching her nose. “Something musty...

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“Life by Numbers” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #211

Arthur narrowed his eyes and studied his moustache in the bathroom mirror; a cut-throat razor in one hand and trimming scissors in the other, poised and ready for battle. He’d maintained a pencil-thin moustache throughout his career in the Welsh Guards; from humble squaddie to regimental sergeant major; it was his trademark. Today it looked immaculate, as always, perched three-eighths of an inch below his nose and stretched across his upper lip like a fox moth caterpillar with rigor mortis.#There was no doubt Arthur was a strict di...

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“Storm in a Teacup” by Hana Lang

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #211

From a one-room cabin in the cliffs overlooking the port of Pettra, an old woman watched through a spyglass as a messenger boy raced down the stairs to the docks, letter in hand. She wore her hair short, the ends curling at her temples instead of the long braid traditional to wives and widows. The only ornamentation she donned was a compass hanging on a fine golden chain around her neck. Though her age was clear from the deep lines on her face, wrinkles drawn by a lifetime under the sun, she stood straight and tall. Her only concession ...

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“Christmas in July” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #211

Althea woke up and remembered it was Christmas. She pushed off the blankets that were feeling exceedingly heavier with each passing morning, and placed her feet down on the warm, wooden floors. “Warm floors,” she said to herself, “I’ll never get over warm floors.” When she was a little girl, there were things promised from the future and things that couldn’t even be imagined. Althea was still waiting on the things promised, but the unimaginable had arrived time and again, and each time, she couldn’t believe how much energy people expen...

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“Tortoise Approved” by Olivia Lake

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #211

I always imagined that, by the time I was thirty-five, I’d be married with kids and living in the suburbs. I could see it so clearly: on a cloudless summer day, my husband would be working on his honey-do list with a tool belt strapped snugly around his waist. I’d be wearing a floppy sun hat while planting flowers in my garden, and the kids would be running around in the backyard, laughing as they kicked a soccer ball. It was a dream that was so vivid, I could feel the sun on my back, smell the freshly cut grass, hear the thump of the soccer...

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“Forgive Me” by Chris Belton

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #211

Forgive Me. “I’m sorry, pet… but we need to get a move on.” Imelda attempted a smile, flinching through clenched teeth, trying not to resist Shirley’s determined effort to wield the rough towel at speed over her fragile skin. “There we are, pet. Now let’s get you dressed and into your chair before they send a search party.” Imelda loved the sound of Shirley’s home cooked voice. It reminded her of her grandmother’s kitchen; the aroma of cinnamon laced apple cake straight from the oven in a world not yet defiled. Ablutions over, Im...

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“Cafe Veritas” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #211

Grandma Bobbie’s unassuming old, wrinkled hands squeezed Amelia’s hand once, then twice to bring her back to reality. Amelia’s attention turned back to the small woman across from her at the Café table. “Thanks for coming to see me at work, Grandma.” One of Amelia’s legs bobbed rapidly over her crossed legs. An attractive old lady, short and thin, with pink cheeks and light brown eyes, Grandma Bobbie had an easy smile and a gentle manner. “Oh I love to see you Amelia, no matter where it is! And I haven't ...

11 comments 11

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“The Wandering Path” by Anna W

Submitted to Contest #211

Content warning: grief, loss, death, child death It was dark and humid, and she couldn’t see very far past the dim light of the fire. A circle of tree stumps sat around the fire. Lydia entered the circle, surprised at being the first to arrive at her post, and chose a seat at random. The warmth of the fire was comforting, but added to the sheen of sweat that gathered on her forehead. Her feet ached. She had been walking for miles. It always feels like miles, she thought to herself. She flipped her long, dark braid to her other sh...

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“My Purple Gang Fiasco” by Bruce Friedman

Submitted to Contest #211

“Welcome to my cigar store,” I said as the stout, older man entered. “I’m glad you dropped in today. Not much business these days or customers to chat with. Cigar smoking is much less popular than in the old days. I just turned 80 and I’m looking to sell the shop but I’m not optimistic that I can find a suitable buyer. My store's been a landmark on the block for more than seventy years. But I’m rambling, just like the old man that I am. How can I help you?”“Well,” the customer responded. “I’m interested in trying one of your Cuban cigars. I ...

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“Amelia’s Party” by Ela Mikh

Submitted to Contest #211

The peacefulness of a perfect Sunday morning was rippled by the sounds of the large tracks driving through the sleepy community. The revving motors passed tree-lined streets waking up the neighbors and leaving a cloud of unpleasant dust behind the heavy cars. The trucks didn’t calm down until they reached the cul-de-sac at the end of the main street and got lost behind the massive gates. “Another sucker,” sighed a few onlookers who cared enough to drag themselves toward the windows to see what all the commotion was about. Some started ...

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“Sister Bernadette's Reverse Exorcisms” by DR Forge

Submitted to Contest #211

Sister Bernadette was not particularly brave or strong like a bear, despite her namesake. She was, however, clever like a fox, which served her much better in a place where power marked you as prey worse than any weakness ever could. She flexed her stiff hands around the polished wooden handles of her armchair, considering when the right time was to make her move. Her back was straight and her gaze steady, the very picture of poise and grace. Inside, however, she trembled like a leaf clinging to a branch in a thunderstorm. “Can you...

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“You Can't Judge a...” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #211

You Can’t Judge a… He had been at the Happy Valley Seniors Retreat for slightly less than two months now, but still very few of the people there, young staff or aged inhabitants, had ever heard him speak. And those that had wouldn’t call it conversational speech, but only a little more than a grunt in response to a question or comment. He never initiated a vocal interaction. Sometimes people, and not just those who did not know his ‘real’ name of George, called him by the name of ‘Stones’ whenever they gossiped about him. O...

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“The Album of Eventual Memories” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #211

As a reporter, what you call a coincidence, I recognize as an anonymous tip in want of a headline, and the persistent appearance of the eighty-something bohemian-looking Madame Lieberman in the background of all of the photos for my most groundbreaking stories of the last year demanded an explanation. Covering the news can be a bit like chasing after the wind, there’s just so much of it that it can be a real chore to distinguish the choice gusts from the beastly drafts, and when you do happen upon a first-rate breeze it’s absolute murde...

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“To Kill a Dog” by Sophia Gavasheli

Submitted to Contest #211

Kidnapping your neighbor’s dog in the middle of the night when you suffered from arthritic knees was probably not a good idea, but Brian was doing it anyway. The muggy air clung to his skin like a wet bathing suit as he stood couched in the shadows of his house, cloth sack in hand. He’d already purchased some chloroform; all he had to do was kidnap Fifi like Paris kidnapping Helen of Troy. He would stuff Fifi into a sack, and voila, all his problems would disappear. Brian couldn't help grinning at the thought of a world without Fifi. ...

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Write a story starring an octogenarian who’s more than meets the eye.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 68 stories

“Donuts Do Not Die” by Mary Bendickson

“Warren and Peace” by Derrick M Domican

“Life by Numbers” by Howard Halsall

“Storm in a Teacup” by Hana Lang

“Christmas in July” by Story Time

“Tortoise Approved” by Olivia Lake

“Forgive Me” by Chris Belton

“Cafe Veritas” by Marty B

“The Wandering Path” by Anna W

“My Purple Gang Fiasco” by Bruce Friedman

“Amelia’s Party” by Ela Mikh

“Sister Bernadette's Reverse Exorcisms” by DR Forge

“You Can't Judge a...” by John Steckley

“The Album of Eventual Memories” by Jonathan Page

“To Kill a Dog” by Sophia Gavasheli

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.

Write a story involving a friendship with an adorable animal.

Set or begin your story in a room lit by the flickering flames of the fireplace.

End your story with two characters reconciling.

Contest #211

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

308

Contest entries

108

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: