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

“How Not to Guard a Library” by Mary Anderson

Submitted to Contest #211

Elusive. Be pragmatic. Be calm. Stop the screaming in your head. Not here. Yes, here. YES, HERE! Convince yourself. The manuscript is here. Somewhere here since Edison had brought her to this part of the stacks. Elusive manuscript.“I am too old for this,” Maizy said to the library cat. She let go of her walker and stretched her arms up past her white hair towards the ceiling. Dressed in old blue jeans and a t-shirt announcing that cats rule, she was fastidiously made up and had red painted nails that complemented her lip color.Edison yawned ...

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“Sanderson's Cat Tale” by Cheryl Kemp

Submitted to Contest #211

A loud slam against the front door startled the old man from his nap. He had drifted off in front of the crackling fireplace to the steady, lulling staccato of the rain on the tile roof. A second sharp bang roused him completely. His bushy silver brows pulled into a deep scowl as he shifted and slowly lowered his warm, stocking feet to the cold stone floor with a grimace. He heard frenzied scratching now and quickened his shambling pace. “Alright! Alright!” His long, gna...

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“Hannibal Lecter” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #211

SEXUAL CONTENT AND DEATHBen and Sue lived in the same neighbourhood. A sexually active straight woman, Sue wanted to get Ben into bed. He looked like a good sex partner to her—sexy and handsome. When she knew she'd see him in the complex for a tennis match or one-on-one basketball game, she wore a Brazilian bikini beside the pool to make sure Ben noticed her. She threw herself at him. At the same time, she entertained other men. She had pent-up sexual tension and needed to vent. Ben was unresponsive to her bait. He was irritating her. The me...

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“The Disappearing Beach Guy” by Marc Rothstein

Submitted to Contest #211

It's been decided that I'll be separated from Dianne, my wife of forty-five years. She'll still be just one floor below me in the independent living section of Horizons, our retirement community, but I'm moving to the Memory Lane section. They said I'm beginning to wander the halls at night, something I'm not sure I do. But Dianne told me they're right, so I'll give it a try. Andrea, my favorite nurse's aide, walked me to my new room. On the outside of my door hung this cool diorama introducing me to my new neighbors. Dianne's impressive han...

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“The Precious Love of Margaret and Bill” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #211

Margaret Reed had a secret. A secret that she wanted to share, but couldn’t; no one would believe her. It started about six months ago, right on her and Bill’s anniversary.Ted and his wife Claudette had come to visit and say happy anniversary, but it felt dutiful. They stayed and chatted about the weather and Ted’s work and how Chad was doing in school; the same kind of conversation that they’d had since Margaret moved into the nursing home. After they left, Margaret sat alone in her room, waiting for dinner. She’d tried watching TV but...

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“Finding Orlando” by Melissa Maize

Submitted to Contest #211

At some point in Patti’s life, her eyebrows disappeared. She used to have them, there was photographic evidence. They were perfectly ordinary, nothing like the thick, robust tufts of hair that rested above Richard’s eyes. Her husband seemed to be acquiring more body hair as he aged. It now appeared in his nostrils and ears, although none of this seemed to faze him. Patti felt slightly embarrassed each morning, penciling in her eyebrows like lines in a children’s drawing. She knew she should be thankful, that things could be much worse, but...

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“Sunny View Guest Home” by Teresa Kubo

Submitted to Contest #211

This story was inspired by a photo taken in 1953 in front of the “Sunny View Guest Home” in Helena, Montana. It can be seen on the web at http://www.helenahistory.org/sunnyview.htm. How could he! Ruth was furious. She had told him specifically that she did not want to be included in the “happy group photo.” The other residents of the Sunny View Guest Home might be happy to pander to Mr. Jonathan Dumas, the tall, striking owner, by allowing their likenesses to be used to sell the lie that was Sunny View, but Ruth had standards. She sat apa...

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“Count Massey” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #211

The fire at the Cascade Arms in Roseland was a five alarm blaze that reduced the place to rubble. I was working the swing shift at Advocate Trinity Hospital when the ambulances brought in a half dozen of the residents suffering from smoke inhalation. The neighborhood around Cascade Arms is predominantly black and poor. Known to most folks as Section Eight Housing. I don’t live far from there and I am all of those things, too. During my senior year, I became part of a special program where I receive training as a medical a...

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“Echo of Darkness: The Secret Within Beatrice Cunningham.” by Brandon Hunt

Submitted to Contest #211

In the peaceful town of Willowbrook, nestled between rolling hills and meandering streams, life flowed at a leisurely pace. The townspeople knew each other by name, and the scent of freshly baked pastries often wafted through the streets. It was a place where time seemed to stand still, and everyone felt safe within the embrace of the community. One crisp autumn morning, the tranquility of Willowbrook was disrupted by an unexpected visitor at the local police station. The officers exchanged puzzled glances as a petite, white-haired woman w...

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“Pick A Card” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #211

“Pick a card,” her classmate said while passing her the jar. She smiled at the older woman then realized with a start that they were probably close in age. In fact, she was most likely the elder of the two. She felt all eyes upon her as she held the smooth jar, giving it a quick shake. She had a sudden memory of her father’s voice. “Pick a card.” As if it were yesterday and not fifty years prior, she recalled sitting in the kitchen playing rummy while eating her mother’s sugar cookies. Before cell phones becam...

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“King of Coffee” by Anthony Carello

Submitted to Contest #211

Benjamin Duval slowly opened his eyes, as the early morning light shone through the cracks in his blinds. He turned and looked out the window. Still early, probably not even past six am… Well, I might as well get up and start my day. Slowly Benjamin grabbed the sheets and took them off of him, careful not to disturb his still sleeping wife, Marie. His joints making quite the ruckus as they usually did in the morning. Pop. Crack. Benjamin checked on Marie to see if the noise had woken her. He let out a sharp breath in relief w...

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“The Smoker on the Balcony” by Claudia Comini Goicoechea

Submitted to Contest #211

She waved at the little girls as they crossed the street. She always stood there, leaning on the balcony's green banister, with a cigarette between her fingers waiting for them to come back from school. Sometimes they would go and spend some time with her before getting on with their homework and extracurricular activities. Sometimes they wouldn't. But seeing their face lighten up as they looked around and found her balcony, among the rest, felt like enough. She would smoke her cigarette, sometimes two. She would look at the street, ...

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“Willoughby's March” by David Ader

Submitted to Contest #211

Willoughby clutched into the soggy ground trying to get lower. Around him bullets popped into the mud, splashing him. Thousands of them hundreds of thousands? How many men did they have? He was soaked from it all. There was a boom off to the left. Artillery. The boom just went on as if a whole line of cannons were firing in turn. He dug further praying the shells would pass over head. Then there was that smell, that sharp stench of burning Sulphur, acrid smoke, men so frightened they soiled themselves. “Mister Willoughby!” He t...

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“Shirley's Re-Re-Reawakening” by Poppy LaC.

Submitted to Contest #211

Shirley pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, “Now you kids don’t get hurt now!” She’d watch her grandchildren run off into the park. She would open her hardcover version of Red, White, And Royal Blue, plopping onto the wooden bench. “Banana…” The toddler next to her would mumble. “Yes sweetie-pie?” She’d say in a baby-voice, playing with his hands slightly. The baby would go to bite at her hand softly, then drooling on his stroller. “Oh you are so sweet Micah!” “Banana…” Shirley would lean in, then feeling a light tap on her shoulde...

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“A Thai Encounter ” by Sofia Nesta

Submitted to Contest #211

Walking down the streets of New York was young Thomas of Manhattan: green top hat on his head, red flowers in hand. Walking with a purpose, he redirected himself to the local bus stop just a few blocks from his abode. He was tired: drained of his words and hollow due to lack of sleep. His nights spent fantasizing about a distant world where he felt understood and where he himself could truly understand others. People themselves had always had a mysterious side that Thomas never seemed to fully understand, but he was hoping that today ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 68 stories

“How Not to Guard a Library” by Mary Anderson

“Sanderson's Cat Tale” by Cheryl Kemp

“Hannibal Lecter” by Lily Finch

“The Disappearing Beach Guy” by Marc Rothstein

“The Precious Love of Margaret and Bill” by C. Charles

“Finding Orlando” by Melissa Maize

“Sunny View Guest Home” by Teresa Kubo

“Count Massey” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Echo of Darkness: The Secret Within Beatrice Cunningham.” by Brandon Hunt

“Pick A Card” by Hannah Lynn

“King of Coffee” by Anthony Carello

“The Smoker on the Balcony” by Claudia Comini Goicoechea

“Willoughby's March” by David Ader

“Shirley's Re-Re-Reawakening” by Poppy LaC.

“A Thai Encounter ” by Sofia Nesta

🌟 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

107

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: