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#163 Leo Tolstoy

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9th, 1828 — so happy birthday, Leo! In his novels, Tolstoy explored the intricacies and contradictions of ordinary people, as well as examining the nature of power, history, and society as a whole. In his later years, he renounced his aristocratic lifestyle to focus on a more spiritual path, promoting the idea of nonviolent resistance. 


This week’s prompts pay homage to one of history's greatest writers and most interesting thinkers.

This week's prompts

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

– 36 stories

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

– 39 stories

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

– 19 stories

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

– 86 stories

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

– 51 stories

Stories

Where the Fairies Live

Weekly Contest #163

Carmen was fresh into 3rd grade, with no care in the world. One day she would be learning about how to write in cursive and the next on how to play four square. Everyday after school she would call her grandfather and tell him about everything that happened. He was her best friend. She would mark off the days on calendar to when she got to see him next. When the days would finally hit the big red circle, she would get ready to go see him. Every time she would wear her favorite bow and pink shoes. Her pink shoes were a gift from him, so every...

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Detour

Weekly Contest #163

I was eighteen, a senior in high school, looking forward to graduating and going to college when I was forced to make a decision. My life, at that point, was an open road with endless possibilities. All I had to do was set the destination, put my foot on the pedal, and go. What I didn’t expect was the detour that lie ahead.At eighteen it’s hard to comprehend how fragile the human body is. And it’s especially hard when you see someone who is both authority figure and nurturer, suddenly fall ill for no apparent reason. That’s what happened to ...

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Department of Eternal Afterlife Direction, better known as DEAD©

Weekly Contest #163

My eyes fluttered open, the sweet sound of birds chirping outside my window. My vision focused, my bedroom around me became clear from the fuzziness of slumber. I smelled coffee, and sleepily rose from my bed, tossing my comforter aside and swinging my legs over, my feet softly kissing the cold hardwood floor. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms up over my head, then lazily stood up. I shuffled to the kitchen, when to my surprise I stumbled upon a hooded figure. A black cloak and hood were shrouding this being, so from where I was sta...

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Ordinarily Extraordinary

Weekly Contest #163

           “You’ll never be content,” are the words that resonated inside his head every time he thought of his father.            Rick grew up in a dysfunctional home. His mother was a lieutenant in the United States Army, and his father was the manager of a bank. Both parents were extremely structured and disciplined, but Rick seemed to deviate from the path of order. He rarely saw his parents because of their careers, so he was ra...

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A Girl in Pieces

Weekly Contest #163

This story may be triggering to those who have experienced self-harm or mental health issues. Read with caution. Thank you. When I look at myself in the mirror I see a sad little girl, cut into pieces, and pasted back together with Elmer’s glue. I carved all my desires and wishes and wants out of myself and threw them out like trash. I see, and have always seen, wasted potential. I could have been beautiful, I could have been confident, I could have been whole and unbroken, and remained that way my entire life. But he...

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Boots the Cat

Weekly Contest #163

Boots the Cat  “A few years ago I was living with someone, but she died a few weeks back. Stacy was her name. And Stacy had a cat named Boots. I never liked that cat, but once Stacy was gone, guess who was in charge of Boots?  “Me. It was me.  “I met Stacy because when I moved to New York City, I really needed a roommate. Everyone needs one to afford living. Everyone normal, anyway. We lived together for two years and said almost nothing to each other the entire time; It was perfect. But when Stacy got a cat, I was pretty...

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A Quiet Night

Weekly Contest #163

Quiet nights like this were pretty rare in this part of town. No sirens, no parties, no loud neighbors. For once Mike’s apartment was as tranquil as a Buddhist temple. He couldn’t wait to fall asleep, The bed, under all its blankets looked warm, and comfy in contrast to the icy chill of his bedroom. Perfect. But the peaceful night was interrupted with a bang. Complete terror overtook Mike. He had locked his bedroom door, and stood so quiet that the only sound he made was the uncontrollable thump of his heart beating. Somehow through the ruc...

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The beginning of it All

Weekly Contest #163

As I get dressed for this big family dinner, I can feel my heart beating a million miles a minute. I can remember the last time we were all together, the chaotic scene of leaving my husband and packing his things while my family was in town was an embarrassment I never wanted to relive. I knew they all wanted to know what was going on since the last they saw me, I left for Texas so quickly and I hadn't talked to them too much. Months later I am faced with this nervous feeling and big news to tell. This morning all my senses we...

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Lawfully, Your Teacher

Weekly Contest #163

"I am dropping out of school," Julie said abruptly during their family dinner. Her parents stared at her in utter silence, and she suddenly felt awkward sitting across from them. Seeming to leave a trance, her mother dropped her fork and stared at her in disbelief. Her father started carefully, "Sweetheart, what do you mean?" She was home for the summer and planned to stay until she figured things out. Julie hated law school. It was a mistake. She was eager to start, but after spending a year with little sleep and learning all the mater...

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Daddy Deadest

Weekly Contest #163

“I guess I will be the first to say it then… I’m glad he is dead!”, I proclaimed as I looked around the table. Sour faced looked back at me, not shocked just annoyed. Everyone was thinking it, but it was in poor taste to say such a thing just twenty-four hours after your father’s untimely death. Grandma’s hand trembled as she attempted to stab her food with the fork in her hand. It was not her fault that her son had grown up to be a horrid husband, deplorable father and all around dreadful human being. However, she bared that burden as...

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Mushroom Surprise

Weekly Contest #163

The density in the air seems to compress the room and everyone in it. No one uttered so much as a sound since Jessica began cooking the dinner that now sat before them—Succulent and juicy chicken marsala drowning in salty, sweet brown marsala sauce and an abundance of mushrooms. The serving platter continues to steam, wafting the dish's flavors, tickling the senses around the dinner table. Though there weren’t many of them, this was bound to be a dinner, never to be forgotten. CLINK—Jessica clinks her wine glass with Melissa’s. The prolon...

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The Wrong Supper

Weekly Contest #163

“Fuck it. I got sumthin to say,” I said, and caught my old granny nearly faint in the corner of my eye. I imagined Judas having the same reaction sitting at the table with Mary and the disciples right after the crucifix. “This shit’s been on my mind for a while, and I thought everyone should know…” **** **** **** Paid, smiling actors sitting around magazine modeled table with overexposed lighting and a tiny logo at the bottom of festive commercials made my head numb. It reminded me of the shittiest half of the year. That...

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Are You All Over the Meadow?

Weekly Contest #163

Teddy was out of sorts. This afternoon’s visit with his cousins was not living up to expectations. Ruby, at six, was a year older and bossy. He no longer liked her silly game. Ruby had made it up and insisted they play it all afternoon. It seemed to Teddy to consist of nothing more than running about and never getting anywhere. He stood at the top of the lawn, which sloped in a smooth sweep of spongy turf to the road below, making angry dents in the soil with his toe. Ruby was calling out the signature line again.‘Are you all over the meadow...

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Man in The Mourning

Weekly Contest #163

Disclaimer: sorry if any facts are not historically accurate. I tried by best to research to support the story and apologize if anything is incorrect! Joan let a sigh escape her lips, swiping the brush gently across the door with a soft swishing sound. A dominant red “X” now glared back at her – the symbol that implied her father’s sickness. She placed the bucket of paint down that horribly resembled watery blood, and ducked swiftly inside, pulling the heavyweight door closed behind her. She knew quite well that she may have just been out...

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Asher's unnormal, normal day

Weekly Contest #163

Asher tugged on the reins of his donkey, giving his animal the needed encouragement to continue the descent through the loose stones, broken twigs, and other debris on the floor of the Mount as he headed to the southern gates of the city. He understood his donkey’s reluctance; normally they traveled this during daylight hours, but the urgency of his errand and the necessity of his cargo drove him to travel through the night. A messenger arrived after dinner from the city’s shops he supplied, their stock of pigeons was dangerously l...

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