Write about an elderly character who was part of a historic movement years ago.

Posted in Historical Fiction on May 19, 2021

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✍️ 134 stories

“The Donnellys of Lucan” by Ruth Donnelly

Submitted to Contest #80

I was introduced to the Donnelly family of Lucan, Ontario by my cousin, Richard Coulbeck. He showed me two books about this family entitled " The Black Donnellys" and Vengeance of the Black Donnellys. They were poorly written by a Thomas P. Kelley, visioning only one side of the feud that occurred back in the nineteenth century. It was a feud between neighbours of Irish background and the majority of the Irish people who emigrated from Ireland back in the nineteenth century settled mostly in the Middlesex County of the Province of Ontario...

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“Uncle George, A Veteran” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #80

Uncle George, a Veteran October 1999 Here comes someone. Wonder who it is? Probably wants something. No one ever comes by unless they want something. I don’t know that car. Who is that? Oh, okay. That’s Steven, my sister’s grandson. Who’s that with him? Don’t know that guy. Hello, Steven. What brings you way up here? Who’s your friend? Hello, Barry. Nice to meet you too. What’s that? You’re a journalist? You mean a reporter, right? That’s what I thought. H...

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“I Remember Coretta ” by Debi Hull

Submitted to Contest #80

Harbor Island, Hillsborough County Florida - Early Spring, 1991 In 1991, I was a young mother of two, raising my children alone for the most part, and I was selected by the local child welfare agency to attend one of the most important seminars of our time. Coretta Scott King, and her daughter Yolanda were in Tampa teaching child abuse investigators about the necessity for special investigations of rigor and heightened awareness of children of color d...

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“Finding Purpose” by Makena M.

Submitted to Contest #80

He stands with the quiet dignity of his seventy-five years, eyes glazed with unshed tears as his son’s F-5 fighter jet screeches across the clear blue skies of this small village. Within the fleeting seconds in which all eyes are glued upwards, hands covering the ears, the jet is done “saluting” him and is cruising northwards back to the air base. For this family's Independence Day in June, 2001, this is a double celebration of the national holiday as well as the family heroes, Muhia and his son Captain Kamiti of the Kenya Air Force. Ha...

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“Ties that Bind” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #80

“Welcome to Day Spring Nursing Home- Where we are family.”Last night's snowfall blankets the ground, ‘ Snow,’ I mumbled under my breath, trampling across the walkway toward the building, ‘ Home” I chuckle, reading the sign above the door. ‘Yeah, welcome home,’ the glass doors opening-up to the smell of stale air .’ And the buzzing of bells echoing through the already crowded hallways. ‘Busy little bees.’ I mused, unzipping my jacket, mentally preparing for another day of work. It’s a sense of urgency that shifts my mind into gear, ...

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“Memories of the Movement” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #80

Melanie is a college student studying about the civil rights movement. She is doing a living history project about the civil rights movement, and Melanie needs a person who has lived through the struggle, a living witness to the civil rights movement. Melanie knows just the right person to help her. Melanie's neighbor Tilly Jackson was a leading figure in the civil rights movement. Tilly is just the person Melanie needs for her project. One day after class Melanie goes to Tilly and asks her if she can help her with a living history project...

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“Progress” by Matthew Rowe

Submitted to Contest #80

A thick blume of smoke left the old man’s wrinkled face, and he once again took a long drag from the long cigar that hung from his mouth, too old to care about his deteriorating lungs. A myriad of newspaper clippings and word photographs filled the walls. He coughed hard. A weak, wrinkled hand beat his chest as he cleared his throat before he spoke “it never felt like we were making history you know?” his eyes fell before bouncing left and right. He shuddered. It saddened me how weak he seemed, I almost spoke to break the silence as thick as...

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“The Legacy” by Jessica Mills

Submitted to Contest #80

In the morning Ruby sits near the window in her rocking chair observing the world outside with a knitted blanket stretching the length of her body. The rocking chair has been in her family for over a hundred and fifty years. She had hoped that one of her daughters would have taken it for their homes but both declined, saying it was not their decorative style. Ruby knows that it will be donated to charity or thrown in a dumpster when she dies, like much of the memorabilia from her life. The idea of this should make her sad, but she realizes t...

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“"WOLFGANG'S KEEPER"” by Michael Hightower

Submitted to Contest #80

It was 2003, on a balmy afternoon in Clarke City, Arizona. All the kids were playing and riding their bikes around the culdesac and Romelis Townsend, a firefighter for over 15 years, was flying his new drone around the neighborhood, saying hello to all the neighbors within earshot. He has lived at 1302 Spandler street for the last 18 years and there has never been an incident............until today. He knows everyone on his street and is well-known around these parts. There"s Mrs. Franklin tending to her prize-winning tomato garden, and Mr. ...

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“Claudia Jones” by Martin Cambridge

Submitted to Contest #80

"Happy birthday, Claudia." "Thank you, Karl. It's sweet of you to remember, let's see, how old would I be now ?" "Well, Claudia, you were born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in 1915 so you would be..." "It hardly matters, Karl. Lets try to work out how long I have been lying here, next to you, my hero, as was my wish, in London's Highgate Cemetery." "Not as long as me. You know what my monument says, Karl Marx, 1818 - ...

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“Rebel” by Marija Brincat

Submitted to Contest #80

She sits quietly on a bench, reading a book. She is one of those rare people who are happy in their own skin. Rare to find in general, but even rarer here, where people tend to cling ever more tightly to human contact. Most of the residents at this care home come here because they need some form of supervision, but also because of loneliness. Only the other day, one rather sprightly gentleman said to me, ‘As long as my wife was around, it made sense to be at home but now....’ He didn’t need to continue. The hunger for companionship, for a he...

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“Cruel experience ” by Ganiyat Bakare

Submitted to Contest #80

*Trigger warning - violence*The frosty drizzles from the gloomy clouds has deprived the night of it's warm, cozy mood and the rain friendly insects have gathered in large numbers in the air.It's inadvisable to move at night especially if one is to take the highways. Nik should have waited till tomorrow, but he has missed his dad so much he loaded his luggage moments after he completed his exams. They ordered him to sit on a spongy grass beside a composed Grandma and he wonders what causes the composure; acceptance of faith or incognizan...

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“The Deal” by ALBERT UGO GIFT

Submitted to Contest #80

Our grandfather is not known for story telling he is just a man that likes given order and never expected to take one from any. Anyways that was the unique thing grandpa is always ready for war as he put on a warring outlook at any point in time. One night he decided to tell us a story not just because he feels like but because occasion demands for such. Grandpa began his story like this" History doesn't have to repeat itself what is cooking now has been cooked some years ago and the dish wasn't palatable at all and the aroma riched all walk...

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“The Wedge Blade” by Ali Anthony Bell

Submitted to Contest #80

“Hello, you’ve reached the Manning residence, we’re not available at the moment. Please leave a message and we’ll call you back.” It's a low husky voice on the answer phone, but it's not the voice of anyone in the old remote Texas farmhouse, it's only to dissuade thieves.“Hello Ms. Manning, Anthony Bannister from NPR, I was wondering if you could help me. Your son Ali Anthony gave me your name…”“Hello Mr. Bannister, yes, I’m here. He wrote me and told me you might call. I don’t quite understand what you want.”“It’s like this: I published a r...

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“A Hundred Years of Notable Events” by Moira Christensen

Submitted to Contest #80

A Hundred Years of Notable EventsThe candles had been blown out, the main event, the singing of the birthday song was over, and she was glad that part of the day was done. Reaching that milestone of 100 years of age was a tremendous effort, they all had said, but she did not think it was, a big to-do over nothing. She did not feel that old, although her bones were creaking a lot lately, maybe they were feeling their age after all.The reporters were there in force, asking her questions about her life, and what she had seen in her 10...

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Write about an elderly character who was part of a historic movement years ago.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 134 stories

“The Donnellys of Lucan” by Ruth Donnelly

“Uncle George, A Veteran” by Gary Crawford

“I Remember Coretta ” by Debi Hull

“Finding Purpose” by Makena M.

“Ties that Bind” by Carol Keefer

“Memories of the Movement” by Melinda Madrigal

“Progress” by Matthew Rowe

“The Legacy” by Jessica Mills

“"WOLFGANG'S KEEPER"” by Michael Hightower

“Claudia Jones” by Martin Cambridge

“Rebel” by Marija Brincat

“Cruel experience ” by Ganiyat Bakare

“The Deal” by ALBERT UGO GIFT

“The Wedge Blade” by Ali Anthony Bell

“A Hundred Years of Notable Events” by Moira Christensen

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who never planned to make history but is now about to deliver a speech in front of millions.

Write about a child witnessing a major historical event.

Start your story with someone entering a museum, and end it with them settling down to join a sit-in.

Start your story with a major news event breaking — one that will change the world forever.

Contest #80

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

672

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: