Joseph Ellis

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2024

Stories (9)

9 Stories

196 karma pts

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“Cassandra Under Glass” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #249

Near a city on the coast, at the outskirts of that city, at a crossroads by a small town, in a tavern without a name, on a shabby, straight-backed stool at the far left end of the bar, sat a tall, slender man in a lavender suit.“How much for a Jack and Coke?” The man asked the portly bartender. His tone had a fake-innocent quality to it, like he’d never ordered such a drink, or perhaps any drink, ever in his life.“Five bucks.”“What if, in lieu of those few, petty, dollars, I showed you something? Something guaranteed to impress and amaze. So...

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“The Eyes of Cortés” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #247

The following journal was found in a repository room of the British Museum, translated from the original Spanish into English by the scholar Maxwell Soverington in the 18th century. The document was misplaced in a file where it remained missing until 1981. The translation is presented here, with section breaks added to distinguish separate, non-dated entries. It is unknown how this text made it to England. 13 September, in the year of our lord 1519It is on this date that Diego and I, along with a few others, received the grace of Hernán Cort...

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“The Bat Folk of Betelgeuse” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #245

Across the galaxy, some six-hundred and forty light years from our own blue planet, sits a small, rust-and-green world as populous and strange as our own. As we zoom in on this planet, we pass through its red-tinted atmosphere, to a range of gray mountains surrounding a steaming, green swamp. Notice how many creatures fill the sky. A great host of birds, many of them as smart as you and I, coast from one mountaintop city to another. They have built a civilization comparable to our classical era, though if you go by their social media, f...

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“Einstein's Nightmare” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #243

A family takes a trip to a park on the first day of spring: dirt trails, a candy-colored play area, the laughter of children, high sun peeking through tall oak trees. The mother had visited this park before, many years ago, but had forgotten. As she watches her children climb the yellow jungle gym, scale the wooden mockup pirate ship, giggle as they swing on the swing set, she is reminded of that earlier trip, and that memory pulls her into the past. Now this mother watches other children playing on that very same pirate ship decades before....

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“The Last Family Trip” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #241

I draw a line down the middle of the notebook page. I aim for precision, but the line swerves in my unsteady hand. On the top left I write “Dad”, cross it out, write “Father.” At the top right I put “Mother.” Soon enough I’ll place my own name under one of the columns, take my position on one side of that crooked barrier. Because last week mom called the four of us into the kitchen. She was sitting at the table, a table older than me with dark stains so deep in the white plastic they’re part of it now. Dad was there too, pacing around, looki...

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“I Am Not Spam” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #239

I humbly request you not click away. Please don’t scroll past. Don’t close the window or shut down the app you’re using. If you’re reading this (and you are) then you’re in luck. Give me five minutes to make my case, ten if you’re a slow reader. I’m not an advertisement. I’m not selling anything. I will not ask for your credit card number. I’m offering you an opportunity to be part of a grand experiment. You get a chance...

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“Engaged in Riddles” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #237

Alice felt a twinge of suspicion from the start. Their big London trip finally came, and Michael insisted on spending the first full day on activities from her wish list. That meant afternoon tea at Twinings, How You Like It at The Globe Theatre, then pints and people-watching at a two hundred-year-old pub. Michael put on a good face throughout: eye contact, bright smile, consistent enthusiasm, plus supreme politeness with the servers and ushers. He must have tipped every street performer they passed, even the living statue. But Alice knew h...

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“Facades, Canopies, Arcades” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #235

A Google search, a subway right to the exurbs, and a walk through a mall parking lot led Amanda to the start of The Possum Trail. She wanted a new route for her morning jogs, to “change things up”, and the sign featuring a cartoon possum with pitch-black eyes promised something different. The trail was several miles long, paralleled a highway, and was mostly straight, with the occasional branching path. I...

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“Reflections at the Last Chance Saloon” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #233

The saloon entrance bears the image of a steer's skull facing outward, defiant, its horns splayed to the high hinges. Yet the doors part with barely a push. I scoff at the cheap construction. The white noise of mass conversation envelops me. People crowd the tables, but the bar is open. I claim the 2nd stool from the left. The bartender glides into my field of view: “What’s your poison?” h...

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Author bio

Aspiring novelist. Lover of puzzles and games, but not competition. Cat enjoyer. Amateur practicing his craft, and marveling at how many solid writers there are in this community.