L.B. Goldman

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

Stories (7)

7 Stories

141 karma pts

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“Upstairs” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #250

In the shadows, that’s where they hide. At least in the daytime, that is. When the sun’s out, they cower under the shade of elm trees, under beds, and in closets—and they stay there. When the sun goes down, however, they come out of the shadows.No, that isn’t right. They come out at night, that is true, but they don’t come out of the shadows. Rather, the shadows spread. At night, everything is immersed in shadow. At night the world belongs to them. A shark won't attack if you’re on land, but one foot in the ocean and you’re fair game. B...

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“Thing” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #247

The Charlottes live in a quaint farmhouse with peeling white paint. They are surrounded by grassy fields and forest, their only neighbors a married couple around their age (Mr. and Mrs. Hermann) living just across the street—although just across the street is at the end of a snaking dirt driveway a little over a mile long, and subsequently another similarly lengthy driveway.The vast fields are ideal for crops, as implied by a barn with nothing but a well and a bit of storage inside and an empty chicken coop built alongside the farmhouse, but...

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“The Most Dreadful Thing” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #246

Esmerelda Lopez stares at the hand holding her own as it leads her onto the playground. Any onlookers would identify the look as one of amazement and elation.The day is a nice one, pleasantly warm with an occasional breeze that hints at the cool fall to come yet doesn’t warrant long-sleeves. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue mapped with puffy clouds. The sun is shining but not blazing like it was just yesterday; Virginia is experiencing its between-seasons-season where the weather can’t quite decide whether it wants to tan by the swimming...

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“In Tents” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #244

Sometime late in the night Mal wakes up. She doesn’t need to pee and she isn’t thirsty. Her pillow is wet with drool; she wipes the cheek that’s been resting on it. It is too dark to see anything, but she can hear John’s steady, sleepful breathing.She checks her phone for the time, blinking sleepily at the bright light that emanates from the screen. Just past three in the morning. Brilliant. She lies down, turns away from John, and unlocks her phone. Just a bit of mindless scrolling before she goes back to sleep. Her phone opens automat...

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“In Tents” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #244

Sometime late in the night Mal wakes up. She doesn’t need to pee and she isn’t thirsty. Her pillow is wet with drool; she wipes the cheek that’s been resting on it. It is too dark to see anything, but she can hear John’s steady, sleepful breathing.She checks her phone for the time, blinking sleepily at the bright light that emanates from the screen. Just past three in the morning. Brilliant. She lies down, turns away from John, and unlocks her phone. Just a bit of mindless scrolling before she goes back to sleep. Her phone opens automat...

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“The Knife” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #241

Avery approaches with a kitchen knife in her right hand, wielded like a sword. Kate’s back is turned to her; she is browsing through the contents of the refrigerator. In one hand is a jar of strawberry jelly, in the other is a jar of strawberry jelly. Why two? Kate briefly wonders before plunging the knife into Kate’s back. Avery doesn’t drop the knife after she’s done this. For some reason it doesn’t occur to her that she should. Instead she remains very still, staring at the incision (which is much deeper than she imagined it would be...

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“The Kitchen Sink” by L.B. Goldman

Submitted to Contest #239

I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. I’ve been here for a long time. Too long; I struggle to remember how many days it has been. I’m not the only one here. Some came before me, others came after, but only a few have gotten out. Even then, they soon enough returned, and I’ve come to expect that we never will escape. We’re making our rounds, not being set free.This is an awful place. She knows it, too; she rarely visits except to sentence another prisoner, or tease one of us that she finds temporary use for. That might be what d...

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Author bio

Bless you.