Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Posted in Historical Fiction on Sep 9, 2022

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✍️ 40 stories

“In the Neighborhood” by Beth Elliott

Submitted to Contest #163

I’m back in my old neighborhood. I drove all night to get here, close to ten hours. I parked my car on the side of the road across from my old house and stepped out. I haven’t breathed the air of my childhood in almost ten years. It is crisp and green in my nose, transporting me to autumn at age six, and age ten, and age fifteen; a lifetime of falls. Now I stand on the sidewalk, the sidewalk I rode my bike on countless times, countless years ago. I feel the ghost of my younger self speed by. She ruffles my skin and hair in her passing breeze...

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“The Monster Beneath Downtown Memorial ” by J Stephens

Submitted to Contest #163

Thirteen-year-old Dora Veras arrived home from the second day of school with what she considered a most interesting assignment. With the September 11th holiday a week away, her history teacher requested each student interview their parents and if possible, a few co-workers, regarding their whereabouts and activities on September 11, 2001. Mr. Johnston enthusiastically explained in class, “This was tragically our generation’s JFK assassination. I guarantee they’ll immediately have a significant story to tell!” The Veras family li...

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“Just another Manic Monday” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #163

The U.S. Bank Tower building in Los Angeles suddenly collapsed on a Monday morning at 10:30am. Cheryl was walking to the printer - for another mundane task as a clerk - when it happened. The only thing she could remember before the collapse was a loud noise and all she could think was, “Earthquake!” before she blacked out. When Cheryl came to and tried to move, she discovered her leg was pinned under rubble. Her head throbbed and she put her hand to her forehead, where she felt a huge bruise. Her clothes were utterly cov...

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“The Bold and the Bashful (or Time Fortunate)” by R. H. Phillips

Submitted to Contest #163

Time travel isn’t supposed to be possible. Hell, it’s not even probable. In fact it’s damn near the most improbable thing you’re expecting to hear about, especially given my situation. I’ve been in some tight jams before. But this? This one really takes the cake. Hell, this one takes the cake, the whole cake and nothing but the cake. If I was a gambler then I would comfortably tell you to put your money on my happy ass having extreme difficulties figuring out how to get out of this one. There I was: shirt untucked, pants down…did I mention I...

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“HE WAS ALL DRESSED IN WHITE” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #163

HE WAS ALL DRESSED IN WHITE That May afternoon Peter, who was not yet five years old, was stamping ( struggling), rather impatiently in the arms of aunt Clelia, who was so keen to take him, his beloved little nephew, to see the Holy Father up close. She, aunt Clelia, and Peter, in her arms, were near enough to the metal barrier that separated the crowd of people tightly pressed in the square from the way where the car carrying the Pope would pass, but they were not close the barrier like the people who were i...

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“The Flag” by C P

Submitted to Contest #163

It was the night of 8th August 1942. Bombay was tense. Streets were deserted and an eerie gloom descended over the city. At 9 PM, on any other day, Rajitha would be playing on the street with Bhano, her classmate and neighbor, while waiting for her father who worked in a garment factory. She was waiting that day too, not on the street though, but inside her house, a single room tenement, and with a fear of uncertainty. Rajitha’s mother, Kashibai, was making rotis for her. Usually, the rotis she made were perfectly round and fluffy....

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“Hunter's Heaven” by Laurence Klinger

Submitted to Contest #163

HUNTER’S HEAVEN There’s a dog with two legs called Faith that walks like a man. I didn’t believe it when Sara told me, but who knows? Crazy shit happens all the time. She’s the one who also told me about the manure pile that burnt for months, the naked man who bit a cop, and the Valentine balloon that caused a power outage in thousands of homes and businesses. All true stories, she assured me. “So you believe in miracles,” I said. “One should,” Sara said. “Don’t you?” I said, “No, I don’t. It’s just crazy shit, that’s all.” “What a...

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“ULTIMATE SHARE” by Day Parker

Submitted to Contest #163

ULTIMATE SHARE By Day Parker 10-year old Jonathan walked solemnly by his father’s side. They were going to see and hear the man called Jesus. His message was so different than what Jonathan was being taught at school. He did not hear about the kingdom of God or about eternal life at school. Only sacrifices and feasts. This man’s message was all about the kingdom of God, eternal life and how God did not want sacrifices. He wanted faith in Jesus and trust in Him. Yet he was a Jew, and was schooled just ...

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“A Flash of Change” by Courtney Smith

Submitted to Contest #163

A Flash of Change By Courtney L. Smith Sweat saturated the eyes of Michael Beauregard as his calloused hands grasped the thorny balls of cotton waiting to caress his palms with lacerations and torment. However, he knew his back would have a fresh set of scars to accompany the many that had already healed if he stopped or slowed his pace. Occasionally, a smaller, darker set of arms working as vigorously would graze his own before he felt their marital embrace during the night. Martha’s scarred hands we...

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“Who is at the Door, Mitchell? ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #163

Mitchell O’Malley was reading one of his school books when a dark man came knocking at our front door. “Who is at the door, Mitchell?” His mother, Patsy, called to him from the back room where she was sitting at her table darning torn clothing. She always said Mitchell was pretty rough on his school clothing, but Mitchell would say, “When you are as rambunctious as I am, you tend to wear them out from the inside. That’s what my daddy always said, but my daddy is gone, you know. He told me what rambunctious is and believe me, tha...

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Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“In the Neighborhood” by Beth Elliott

“The Monster Beneath Downtown Memorial ” by J Stephens

“Just another Manic Monday” by ER Castaneda

“The Bold and the Bashful (or Time Fortunate)” by R. H. Phillips

“HE WAS ALL DRESSED IN WHITE” by Mara Masolini

“The Flag” by C P

“Hunter's Heaven” by Laurence Klinger

“ULTIMATE SHARE” by Day Parker

“A Flash of Change” by Courtney Smith

“Who is at the Door, Mitchell? ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Write about a character who risks everything to pursue their heart’s desires.

Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Write a story in which someone says “You'll never be content.”

Contest #163

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

126

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: