A. M. Conger

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023

Stories (6)

6 Stories

143 karma pts

?

“Running Through the Tape” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #235

Jill was angry. Angry that she had to take PTO during the biggest deal of her career. Angry that she had to use said PTO to fly home instead of going on vacation. Angry that she wasn’t going to be running in the marathon she’d been training for (EIGHT STICKING MONTHS), and angry that her dad had had a stroke. Fuming and with a clenched jaw, she stared at a framed picture on the mantel of her childhood home. It was a candid photo of her and her dad running in their first marathon. They were covered in sweat, mud, and smiles as her mom thrus...

Read story

“Ally or Adversary?” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #230

I could not bear to look at her. Not again. I knew she was there, in front of me, waiting to be seen, but I could not bring myself to do it. “Why?” she asked me, like she always did. Slouching, I stared down through my dark, stringy tresses. I don’t know why. “I think you do know,” she returned. “You just don’t want to face it. Do you?” Continuing to hide, I shrugged to acknowledge her question, her presence, and her concern, but I could not, would not, make eye contact. Her judgment weighed down on my skull, boring into my brain. Sh...

Read story

“Handful” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #221

Queen of my tiny mountain, I stood on top of a grassy knoll, surveying my surroundings while a howling wind carried a low wailing sound to me from afar. The wind, slowing momentarily, allowed for the soulful cry to be heard more distinctly, and I could almost recognize it. Was it a bird, a person, a song? The overcast sky and low hanging fog covered most of what I saw, but spots of pastoral green and tips of evergreens popped through from time to time. Turning in the direction of the sound and looking down into the mist, I descended as i...

Read story

“Eternal Flame” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #211

The flickering flames in the fireplace were unable to provide the light and warmth I desired. Sitting on the overstuffed and overused sofa with an unopened book to my left and steaming Earl Grey to my right, I stared into the weak fire. Matteo made the best fires, bright enough to read by and hot enough to warm your soul. His fires were perfect. Perfect amount of fuel and air, perfect amount of tending to and nurturing of. Unfortunately, this fire was not one of Matteo's. This fire was dim and cold, impotent and weak. Not only could I not ...

Read story

““Thoughts My Only Companions”” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #209

“Shotgun,” said Eddy while looking down on Stu. “Don’t be a jerk. I was here first,” said Stu. “So? I was here last. Get out.” “That’s not fair.” “Don’t care.” “Come on guys,” said Ivan from the backseat. “You know your nattering makes Fred uneasy.” “Yeah, Stu, ‘your nattering makes Fred uneasy’,” Eddy mocked while gesturing for Stu to get in the back. Stu slid in next to Ivan while Eddy wiggled, gleefully into the passenger seat. Fred, a middle-aged man sitting in an outdated car, sighed loudly and put the car in drive. Rolling out of the d...

Read story

““Pretty; Not Smart”” by A. M. Conger

Submitted to Contest #208

I was born April 5th, 1971, I think. Akin to Barbie, I was “well-proportioned with blue eyes and a blank look.” Like my mother, I was “a fair-haired girl with a vacant stare.” This was my beginning, at least that is what I was told. On the rare occasion that my father spoke to me, I was informed that my mother “must have screwed around” because I looked nothing like him, and “it’s a good thing you’re cute because you sure are dumb.” My memories of him were an empty spot in the bed each morning, a dirty breakfast dish in the sink, and a roy...

Read story

Author bio

A neurodivergent writer; mother of many; wife to one. #writer #writingcommunity #asd