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

Posted in Fiction on Aug 11, 2023

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 68 stories

“"Help Wanted"” by Patricia Childs

Submitted to Contest #211

Other than the aides and the occasional insurance representative, Mr Lucy, the occupant of room #042, had no visitors. No one ever saw him at mealtimes. He didn’t seem to eat at all. He received no mail, flowers, or balloons. He didn’t hang a wreath on his door during the holidays or a heart on Valentine’s or even a flag in July. His door was devoid of dents, nicks, tape residue, or any kind of imperfection. The doorframe always gleamed as if freshly painted, which it wasn’t because nothing in Briarwood Assisted Living and Nursing C...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Stranger of cafe” by Rebecca Maric

Submitted to Contest #211

There was a Cafe owner of a small wry man and would look at each customer suiciosly and grumble,not many customers would line-up there as his prices were dodgy until an o.der woman and her support walked over she wanted a simple salad sandwich but the price shocki ngly high complained to him and her support and she suggested. Cdona,d's would be worthwhile. As he then seen at a midnight Cafe with several young males all sitting around an all night Cafe.having large amounts of coffee,they all thenwentvdrug raiding AT A NEARBY HOUSE.and grabbin...

2 comments 2

Read story

“By Your Side” by Maggie Holman

Submitted to Contest #211

Just before Michael had arrived at his Gran’s for his usual summer holiday, his Mum had told him that Gran had a lodger and that he was to be very polite to her. Michael had never met a ‘lodger’ before and he was intrigued. “Would you take Kath’s tea tray for me?” said Dora, just after he arrived, “and be careful on the stairs.”“OK,” said Michael, jumping at the chance to meet the mysterious lady.He picked up the small tray. It wasn’t particularly heavy, but everything on it – the lace doily, the china cup and saucer, the engraved silve...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Mikhail Orlov ” by Gabriella Schubert

Submitted to Contest #211

Upon 21st avenue, along the many houses, right at the end, situated a bustling tiny café. Regardless of it being in a forgettable corner in town, it sits beaming with people from opening time till the sunset over 21st avenue. It was deemed a local attraction with everyone passing the information of this hidden, miniature café onto newcomers and visitors of the area. Of course the staff had their regular customers; Mrs. Thompson, the soccer club boys, a businessman with a top hat. The most memorable customer was Mikhail Orlov. He was a man in...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Elegance and Enigma: Brenda's Unconventional Love Story” by Carol Boeth

Submitted to Contest #211

Brenda had always been a woman who defied expectations. Her entrance into the Golden Haven Senior Residence was no exception. At 82, she was a vision of timeless beauty, with a body that could rival those half her age. But it wasn't just her physical appearance that turned heads; it was the aura of mystery and confidence that surrounded her. Brenda was like a chameleon, seamlessly transitioning from classic elegance to rebellious biker chic. She could slip into a tailored suit one day and don leather jackets and boots the next, her style c...

1 comment 1

Read story

“ The Devil's Daughter” by Erica Dorsey

Submitted to Contest #211

“Mouse! It’s your turn to check on Mama and Papa!” Mouse’s brother yelled as he chased their cousins' kids around the lake. “You know how Papa is!” That, Mouse thought, was the understatement of the century. Mouse Hasley left her family raising hell around the small lake on her great-grandparents' property. She gave up on keeping track of the horde in the first hour because…. As everyone who knew them always said….. The Hasley family had a bit of the devil in ‘em. They were good people…. But man could they raise hell when they got together...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Old Justice/New World” by Danyelle Mustafa

Submitted to Contest #211

“Grands! Hi! It's Cody, here to take you to the doctor. Ready?” Cody rushes into his grandma’s house yelling to her and talking on the phone. Slamming the door, he continues his phone conversation. “Yeah, Saturday night is perfect. I have a way to get into the library and no one will be even thinking about the place but us. We will have plenty of time to get rid of what doesn’t deserve to be there with no interference. They will never know what happened… cameras? Why would a library have cameras? Who do you think is stealing books, stupid?&n...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Dance of a Paintbrush” by Allison Cho

Submitted to Contest #211

Jay Beckerman is an eccentric yet boring man. He drinks peptic as a beverage, and from some point in his life, it became the only liquid he drank besides water. Boxes of green little bottles are piled up at the side of the room like an old accolade. Above the boxes, there is a picture of a woman sitting on a stair with gloomy eyes like the green glistening on the glass bottles, yet she is smiling. There is another picture of her on the back side of a tiny postcard on the table. Same smile, but she has red eyes this time. All of th...

0 comments 0

Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Begin your story with a librarian searching for something.

Fiction – 70 stories

Write a story involving a friendship with an adorable animal.

Fluff – 50 stories

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

Fiction – 71 stories

End your story with two characters reconciling.

Adults – 49 stories

Contest #211

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Cozy Corner

$250

Prize money

308

Contest entries

107

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 18, 2023 EST

Won by Kenz Ross 🏆

Title: Do Flamethrowers Belong In The Library?

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 68 stories

“"Help Wanted"” by Patricia Childs

“Stranger of cafe” by Rebecca Maric

“By Your Side” by Maggie Holman

“Mikhail Orlov ” by Gabriella Schubert

“Elegance and Enigma: Brenda's Unconventional Love Story” by Carol Boeth

“ The Devil's Daughter” by Erica Dorsey

“Old Justice/New World” by Danyelle Mustafa

“Dance of a Paintbrush” by Allison Cho

🌟 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: