Write a story about an object that has been around for centuries or passed down generations.

Posted in Kids on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 46 stories

“Blawan” by Katharine Widdows

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #154

The raised bands and gold leaf of the worn spines, stood to attention in rows of mismatched heights and colours, on antique, wooden shelving. Coloured headbands, only visible if you peered over the spines, protected ancient text blocks, bound by dextrous hands generations ago. Delicate pages concealed within, played host to a plethora of type-set prints, pen and ink lettering, and hand painted illuminations. Every wall, floor to ceiling, in the L-shaped shop, displayed its share of literary beauty.Bethan breathed in the beloved leather and d...

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“The Curse of Pentewere's Amulet” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #154

Richard ‘Dickie’ Ramsbottom fumbled with his box of matches in the dark tomb. Frustrated, he repeatedly struck a match against the side of its box, trying to get it to spark. After a few unsuccessful attempts, it finally flared into life. “AT LAST!” He gleefully exclaimed, as the match took light. Applying the flame to an improvised torch of kerosene-soaked rags wrapped around a pic-axe handle, illuminating light filled the chamber, revealing its ancient mysteries. “Behold, Carruthers,” he jubilantly shouted. “The tomb of Ramses III!” Enfiel...

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“The Boots” by L. E. Scott

Submitted to Contest #154

The sun was shining bright outside, but Sangue’s parlor was shut off from it. Priceless antiques that would fade in the sunlight were stored in here. There was the vase that had once belonged to Louis the XVI. It was rare in that it had escaped the revolution unscathed. Sangue was particularly proud of it, but even it wasn’t the ultimate piece in his collection.Esmerelda Alvarez was coming to tea. Sangue asked his cook to prepare something particularly tasty for the occasion. He was hoping to show off his collection. This was one of the rare...

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“My Grandmother’s Apron ” by T W

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #154

I hate my grandmother’s apron. I know that’s an odd thought to have on the day of my mother's funeral, but I do. I hate it. Eventually I force my gaze away from it and find myself in the back hallway. Hundreds of photos crammed into dollar store frames, hung clumsily on the wall. This array of photos represents her life from start to finish. I find myself staring particularly long at one of myself. I was nineteen, long brown hair and fire behind my eyes. I thought I was going to be a singer. The photo was taken ...

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“The Inheritance” by Frances Hogg Lochow

Submitted to Contest #154

“For his grandson, Eric, I will translate,” said the white-haired lawyer.Eric felt embarrassed. Why was this old guy rubbing his face in it? Was it his fault that his mother died when he was a baby, so he had never learned to speak Chinese?Mr. Po settled his spectacles on his nose and looked at the document in his hand. “Chen Wang provides to Ling-Yu, his eldest daughter, the jade horse.” Everyone clapped as an assistant handed a statuette of a galloping green horse to the lady sitting across from Eric. Then another aunt received an ivory ne...

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“Winds of Time” by Zoë Page

Submitted to Contest #154

Time has changed me. Time has been my friend. Time has aged me. Time has rejuvenated me. Time will never end, and neither will I.I start off fluffy and stout, hardly visible as an individual amongst the mass of fuzz that sticks out at odd angles from the rest of our nesting place. Our nesting place, a little yellowish bird, does little except wobble around consuming most things in its path. After time, the yellow starts to fade, and I’m one of the first of us to turn brown. Our nesting place grows bigger and plumper and starts to become incr...

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“The Diamond's Curse” by Bree Adly

Submitted to Contest #154

[Very VERY loosely based on an old tale, mostly fiction.] The Diamond's Curse I'm not nearly as dangerous as the humans believe me to be. Well, not usually. Humans are fools for mysteries and conspiracies, I have learned. I've spent many years near them and I know they'll believe anything. Just like lambs, they will follow any keeper they first lay eyes on. Humans are very easily manipulated. A sad but important truth. You might know me, or know of me. My early history was long and arduous. A long story for another time, perhaps....

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“Heikel” by Cindy Calder

Submitted to Contest #154

I don’t really know why I gravitated to the old, dilapidated trunk in the antique store that afternoon while wandering amidst the many vendors’ galleries, but I did. I was compelled and drawn to the old piece of furniture for reasons unbeknownst to me. I remember running my fingers over it, feeling the raised ridges of peeling paint before I lifted the faded, damaged lid. From what I could see at the time, it held an assortment of old clothing, costume jewelry, books, and other such items. It was an intriguing assortment of unknown treasures...

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“Excalibur” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #154

“To many-towered Camelot” - Alfred Lord Tennyson “The Lady of Shalott” The hilt gleamed golden as it rested against the darkness of the throne. Its pommel was shaped like that of a lion, proud mane and proud gaze. The quillons were engraved with vines, the hilt wrapped in worn, red-brown leather. The blade gleamed silver, sharp and almost glowing with an unnatural brilliance. Engraved into the center of the blade was a single word: Excalibur. A man sat upon the throne; lithe, athletic body, eb...

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“THE TIN BOX” by Francesca Zanoni

Submitted to Contest #154

Aaron was in the attic, his granny’s attic. I don’t know what it is with attics and children but they are constantly seduced by its dust, its chaos, its smell of old memories. Because that is what grannies’ attics are: living memories of past lives that still talk to us from beneath layers of dust. Indeed, children are able to infuse dust with new life, through the touch of their hand, driven by their wild imagination. Toys were so different back then, games were different: simple and slow, in the open air regardless of the weather. The roc...

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“Son of A Beach” by Susan Dalziel

Submitted to Contest #154

I am inexplicably powerful. And I am one of so many, there are not stars in the night sky can outnumber us. Sometimes, one of us ends up in your pocket. Other times we get dropped but we move around anyway, cradled by the great forces. And after countless centuries, I have become the most beautiful form of myself I could ever have dreamt of becoming. I'm how I always hoped I would be. I am smooth, polished, sleek, potent. Funny how ageing gives me the properties that the land herd lose with the passage of time. Maybe, if I could condense the...

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“The Things We Do For Love” by SJ Latrice

Submitted to Contest #154

You are a statue of She of the Burning Clouds and you are being blasphemed against. This declaration had come nearly every day since the wedding was announced. You had heard it all before, but today seemed to be one of the worst. Before you stood two women, brides draped in layers of white embroidered blue silks, facing one another with looks of pure, unfiltered love. They were unphased by the raucous chanting outside your gray brick edifice. The protestors had shown up the evening before and stood just outside the small parking lo...

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“Land, Oh!” by Gianluca Angelucci

Submitted to Contest #154

There is nothing interesting to be said about John, but one thing is for sure, he owned a small boat. He was a bland and plain man with a quiet temperament, some gray hair sprinkled on his head, and he dearly loved sailing with his boat. It was an old grungy sail, with a grumpy attitude and more patches than original pieces. It was called L’Groo, a faded legacy of a kids’ game lost in time. Despite her rugged personality and rough aspect, you could see John move about her with sweet understanding, caressing the timber, holding her helm and r...

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“The Coin” by Finn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #154

My father was thirty when I watched him through the crack in our barn door talking to my grandfather. I was nine, and had recently taken up snooping as a casual hobby. I’d been caught a couple of times, nothing particularly awful, mostly listening in on my parents arguing about money late at night or overhearing my sister’s conversations on the cellphones. Nothing terrible enough to warrant more than a slap on the wrist from my parents, and nothing I learned was awful enough to make me regret it. Catching my dad and grandfather happened by a...

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“Old Oak Tree ” by Lancia Stewart

Submitted to Contest #154

Old Oak Tree By: Lancia Stewart“I love it, Bill!” My wife squealed with excitement as I unraveled the red silk blindfold from around her deep brown eyes. It was her dream home.As I hugged her tight and I watch our next generation of two girls and two boys run around the yard filled with an array of green vegetation and spring flowers which were at the peak of blooming. The vibrant pinks, reds, and purple flowers gave the house an artistic look. It was like we were standing still in an art exhibit, looking at a Realism Style portrait with ast...

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Write a story about an object that has been around for centuries or passed down generations.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 46 stories

“Blawan” by Katharine Widdows

“The Curse of Pentewere's Amulet” by Chris Campbell

“The Boots” by L. E. Scott

“My Grandmother’s Apron ” by T W

“The Inheritance” by Frances Hogg Lochow

“Winds of Time” by Zoë Page

“The Diamond's Curse” by Bree Adly

“Heikel” by Cindy Calder

“Excalibur” by Crystal Lewis

“THE TIN BOX” by Francesca Zanoni

“Son of A Beach” by Susan Dalziel

“The Things We Do For Love” by SJ Latrice

“Land, Oh!” by Gianluca Angelucci

“The Coin” by Finn Williamson

“Old Oak Tree ” by Lancia Stewart

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone saying, “We’re running out of time.”

Write a story about someone who feels increasingly irrelevant.

Write a story — romantic or not — about two characters who can’t find the right timing.

Write a story featuring an element of time-travel or anachronism.

Contest #154

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

112

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: