October Nano Prep 2025

Oct 4 Contest Round Protagonist Background Story

The funeral was over, and Nolan Navarro, a nearly six foot tall 300 pound 21-year-old, attended the wake with his other relatives. His Aunt Carmen was the executor of the estate. She informed Nolan of some good news.

“Nolan, when your grandmother died, she left a will stating you get $250,000 in cash. What do you plan on doing with that money?”

“I’ll get an apartment by myself and use the money to go to college. I’ve always wanted to get a degree in kinesiology. Maybe that will help me get into shape! I can live off about $20,000 a year, if I’m careful.”

The wake was on a Saturday, and the following Monday, Nolan went to the bank with the check to open a bank account and deposit it. A police officer approached him.

“Did you steal a check from someone?” the police officer asked Nolan.

“No, my grandmother passed away and she bequeathed this to me.” Nolan held the check up so the officer could see it. “The funeral was on Saturday, and I’m taking the check to the bank today to deposit it.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” the officer asked.

“My Aunt Carmen is the executor of my grandmother’s estate, you can call her yourself.”

Nolan pulled out his cell phone and scrolled down until his Aunt Carmen’s number was visible. Nolan couldn’t help noticing that the officer was white, so he assumed the person targeting him was white, also. It might be difficult to get the officer to see past his personal prejudices and see Nolan as a victim, instead of seeing him as a predator.

The officer called the number and spoke to Nolan’s Aunt Carmen, and less than a minute later, he terminated the call.

“You’re all good,” said the officer. “Your Uncle Manny was friends with some people I knew in college, and everything your Aunt said checked out.”

As the officer turned to leave, Nolan asked him one more question.

“Officer, who was accusing me of stealing this money?”

“A ballet instructor named Glenn Tana.”

Nolan tried to remember where he heard that name before. Then, like a light bulb turning on in his head, he recalled that at the gym where he trained, there was a ballet instructor working out there sometimes. Nolan made a vow to himself to be careful around Glenn from now on.

The End

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