500 Words 2023: read a finalist's story from the 8 - 11 category

<500 Words< Finalists< 8-11

This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2023.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

How My Gran Became a Millionaire by Inez W.

I'm walking to Gran and Grandad's house, which I do every Friday, when my phone buzzes. I see amessage from Gran saying she's lost her false teeth. I roll my eyes - this isn't the first time Gran's losther falsies. Once, I found them in Auntie's pillow case! I rush back and unlock the old, blue door. Asfar as I'm concerned Gran and Grandad have lived here their whole lives and they aren't exactlyyoung.I slip off my shoes and head for the living room. Gran is always there when I get back, usually tryingnot to weep in front of The Repair Shop. Grandad won't be home for another hour, so it's my job tofind her false teeth. Gran's wrinkled face welcomes me: "Hello Pumpkim" she says. Pumpkin is allshe's ever called me. "Dib you geb my meshage?". You can always tell when Gran has lost her teethbecause she sounds like she's got a golf ball in her mouth. "Yes Gran" I reply, "C'mon, let's go andfind them."This is not an easy task. We tip the house upside down, search top to bottom, head to toe, wall towall, ceiling to floor. There's not a sign of Gran's teeth anywhere. Her dentures are gone. It's as if ahard-up orthodontist has broken in, taken Gran's false teeth from her mouth and scarpered.Eventually, we give up and Gran sends Grandad a voicemail. I leave her to do that while I fix her acup of tea with a couple of those nice ginger biscuits Mum buys when she's feeling flush.That's when it happens. I go upstairs and am about to hand Gran the saucer when I look down at herphone. She isn't on Messages like I thought she would be. Oh no, she's on Spotify. It takes a while tocompute but Gran has somehow put her voicemail on Spotify! I chuckle to myself and reach for herphone and I'm just about to delete the 'song' when I see the amount of times it has already beenstreamed. Within 30 seconds it's been shared 200 times! I click on the file and listen to it. It's athree-second recording of Gran saying: "Honey, have you seen my dentures?"And it doesn't stop there. The number keeps rising. And rising. First 500, then 600, 1000! I'mastonished. Now 2000, 2500, 3000! I even get a text from by best friend: 'Did you hear that old ladyon Spotify? It's blown up online!' By dinnertime, it's the most downloaded track in the app and TaylorSwift wants to sample it on her next release.The next day, I'm sitting in the BBC studios as Gran's being interviewed. Apparently, money ispouring into her account. From then on, Gran's voice is known all over the world.And that's how she became a millionaire.And don't worry, we found Gran's teeth in her knicker drawer.

Need more inspiration?