Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Posted in Thanksgiving on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 58 stories

“Fireworks Day” by Kasia Pawlak

Submitted to Contest #98

Gas stations smelled terrible. Maybe it was just me, or maybe it was just the select few gas stations that I frequented. Either way, I felt justified in how much I hated the smell. Every time I stepped near one, I was rather criminally assaulted by the pungent odor of petrol mixed in with the two-month-old eggs in the broken refrigerators that lived in the back of the store. They were, by no means, pleasant visits on my part. Unfortunately, I was on a mission. My dear aunt, one Sally Ellis, had tasked me with running out and returning with,...

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“Fred the Bear” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #98

“Grandma, tell me the story about Allegra and the bear,” the little voice whined. Mollie still felt hot, and her face was blotchy red. Just a virus, the doctor said. Nothing to do but treat the symptoms and wait it out. Her parents had to work, so that meant Grandma time whenever she couldn't go to school. I sighed and tried to get comfortable on the bed beside her. “Again? You’ve heard this story so often that you could probably tell it to me. Allegra was my best friend at boarding school.”"It's my favorite story," Mollie s...

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“Samhain's confusion ” by Shalini Dewage

Submitted to Contest #98

A raging fire burned in front of me, it's heat radiating in all directions, warming all who gathered around it, even in the cool autumn air. The flames danced merrily, glowing red, orange, yellow and blue against the deep Prussian blue of the evening sky."So why do we do this again ?" I asked, confused as to why two walnuts were thrust into my hands."Because it's a family tradition. And now you're finally old enough to partake in it." My mother answered simply, shrugging her shoulders.Half of her face was covered in shadows while the other w...

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“Varying Horizons” by Paige Ross

Submitted to Contest #98

As dusk settled into night the stars flickered to life, one by one, over the softly stirring ocean. Casual conversation amongst the family died down to whispers, almost as if the darkness was soaking up their voices. Standing up, the oldest of the group smiled and announced, "Time to begin." His bones creaked loudly, but the lines around his excited eyes spoke far louder. His family took the hint, and the whole of them drifted down the sanded hill to the place where the tide crept up to kiss the land. They lined up beside each other, the...

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“The tale of the cheese” by Aleena Alibhai

Submitted to Contest #98

June 23rd was not by any means a special day, to everyone but the McKneely’s. They would spend the day hiking through the woods to a specific spot in which they would burry a large wheel of cheese. It was important that they did this every year because… “It all started in the seventeen hundreds, on a dark night. The only sound to be heard were the quiet thunders in the distance, and the only light to be seen was the flashing lightning overhead. Great, great, great uncle Gulliver was in a deep sleep when all of a sudden-” Donna stopped...

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“Spit Take” by Abigail Jarcho

Submitted to Contest #98

“Abracadabra!” “Woosh!” “No, not like that, like this.” Lacey Saris spit on the ground, and, then, a foot above her head, she heard her mom twist the key in the lock. “See?” Lacey said as the door swung open. “What you were doing wasn’t real magic.” “Lacey —” said her mother warningly, but, rather than hurt, Lacey’s friends were now quiet with awe. “You do have a magic door,” whispered Ellie. Robert nodded, his eyes wide. “I told you,” Lacey smiled furtively and led the way in across the threshold, head held high. — — — — ...

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“Aganga Chibuike” by Okey Boy

Submitted to Contest #98

Chibuike Aganga was what one could rightly describe as a comfortable man. He had a good job as a photographer at one of the best modelling companies in Lagos; he was in his late twenties; had, generally, a good health; and not the least, he was dating an angel in human form - Oma. Oma meant good things in Igbo language; but the full name was Adaoma - a good daughter or damsel. A fitting description for the beauty that held his heart in vice-like grip. He had first met her two months into his current job. That was in February. She had co...

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“The Rug” by Shaina Nicolaisen

Submitted to Contest #98

The flame shimmied in the kerosene lamp in hand as he stepped delicately along the floorboards, hoping not a sound would be made. Trying to get back into bed before anyone could see him; before anyone would know he’d been out that night. A moan called out from the wood below, “Shit!” he stumbled and nearly fell over a particularly thick rug. Other than the sweat dripping down his temple he was frozen; waiting. After a moment, just as he thought he could proceed again he heard footsteps from the very stairs he was headed towards. There appear...

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“History of the Tree” by Xavier Tan

Submitted to Contest #98

Phew, that was really hot and tiring! Never underestimate the weight of wood, or the heat of the fire. Even after so many years, I still get exhausted. What did you think of that ritual? It's a family tradition—we've been doing it since forever. It only happens once a year, so I guess you got lucky to see it, as a guest. It is quite beautiful and all. Do you want to know the origin story of this tradition? I can tell you what I've heard from my grandparents when I was young.They told me that this tree represents our family—and it's true, it'...

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“The scam” by Sarosh Jafari

Submitted to Contest #98

****The tradition is real.. the story is not!!**** Soham woke up this morning to complete chaos. Nasrin, his mother, was running around the house, dusting. packing and frustrating simultaneously. She was also yelling at someone for never helping her and for making a mess Soham couldn't see. He stood there with half-opened eyes and messy hair trying to get a hold of what was going on.Arham, his brother was dragging a suitcase out of his room. He was dressed up in the most decent and sober clothes Soham had seen him throughout...

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“Family names” by Shiraz Rahim

Submitted to Contest #98

“Ranasinghege Gamalathge Weerasinghge Mudiyanselage Jayawardanege Herathge Punchinilamege Wickramasinghege Senanayakege Bandaranayakege Podisingho” was their family name. These names have been in existence from the days that the British ruled, and traditionally mentioned with pomp and pageantry in the annals of this little Island country in the Southern Indian Ocean. Sirisena, the lanky gentlemen, was the father. He had this walking stick made from Teak, with an engraved artwork of a lion along with eyes embedded with tiny blue sapphires...

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“La Lune” by Sylvia Luna

Submitted to Contest #98

The Moon, it’s a planet and the Earth has just one. Other planets have several moons, Mars has two little moons. I wonder what that’s like? I can see in my imagination’s eye, Martians sitting on their verandas, sipping whatever it is that Martians drink. I envision a filmy grey smoke dancing above their cups filled with blue liquid, and they would be looking up into the sky at their twin moons wondering about the inhabitants on other planets. On the planets of Jupiter and Saturn who have dozens of moons, it must be a magical night, especiall...

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“Lord's Day” by George Puscuta

Submitted to Contest #98

B: ‘Jared, wait a second!’ J: ‘What’s wrong, Betty?’ B: ‘What if they don’t like me?’ J: ‘Come on, Betty! We’ve been through this already, why wouldn’t they like you?’ B: ‘I don’t know! I’m scared!’ J: ‘You’re being silly, right now. They’ll love you! And if they don’t, well, I’ll disown them!’ B: ‘You’re just being foolish now, Jared!’ J: ‘I’m not! I will! I swear!’ B: ‘I’m sure you will! Let’s go, ring that damn bell before I get a chance to faint.’ J: ‘I’m serious, you know?! I’ll do it and then we’ll run away somewhere far away, they’ll ...

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Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 58 stories

“Fireworks Day” by Kasia Pawlak

“Fred the Bear” by Bettina Karpathian

“Samhain's confusion ” by Shalini Dewage

“Varying Horizons” by Paige Ross

“The tale of the cheese” by Aleena Alibhai

“Spit Take” by Abigail Jarcho

“Aganga Chibuike” by Okey Boy

“The Rug” by Shaina Nicolaisen

“History of the Tree” by Xavier Tan

“The scam” by Sarosh Jafari

“Family names” by Shiraz Rahim

“La Lune” by Sylvia Luna

“Lord's Day” by George Puscuta

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.

Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.

Set your story on (or in) a winding river.

Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.

Contest #98

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

751

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: