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Adam Schwartz

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2021

Stories (13)

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36 Followers

4 Following

13 Stories

340 karma pts

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The Truth About Dares

Submitted to Contest #94

“I double-dog dare you.” Travis slid the picked-over remnants of our nachos aside and opened a small brown jewelry box. The gemstone inside glimmered in the dim light. Other people around us had noticed the box and possibly my tension. Conversation stopped along the length of the bar as we became the center of attention. I slapped my hand over the felt lid, firmly closing the clamshell. “What are you, twelve?” I hissed. “Put that away already!” “Is it the ring?” he asked with a ghost of a smile. “It was my g...

12 likes

Diagnostics

Submitted to Contest #93

A red indicator light caught my eye, jarring me to sudden alertness. It hadn’t been on the last time I had scanned that array. I leaned across the padded armrest of the captain’s chair to flick it a couple of times with my fingernail. No luck. My go-to method for spaceship repair had failed. “Talk to me, Hal. What’s going on?” I called up towards the ceiling. “The oxygen sensor in holding tank 4BZ-9 is registering a malfunction, Doctor,” answered the ship’s computer in a toneless voice. “May I rem...

10 likes

Still in the Dark

Shortlisted for Contest #92 ⭐️

TW: substance abuse August 12, 2021 My Dearest Samantha, As a great American (Mike Tyson) once said, “Everybody’s got a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.” As I write this, the sun just sank below the horizon. I’m sitting at the kitchen table of the lakehouse, working by the light of a half dozen assorted scented candles I found in the pantry. I suspect they’ve been there since you were a toddler. The smell is, well, it’s certainly something. I only arrived a few minutes ago after hi...

35 likes

Overdue

Submitted to Contest #91

The Oak Brook Public Library was shaped like a UFO. Or maybe one of those tiny shortbread butter cookies that Potbelly Sandwich Shop puts around the straws on milkshakes. Either way, the undulating curves of the building hid me from the lightly trafficked road out front, and the darkness of night concealed me from anyone looking through the nearby fields. Despite my rush, my hands fumbled with the ring of keys. I couldn’t pick out the one that opened the main door in the darkness, and I dropped the whole jumble...

10 likes

Two Birds With One Stone

Submitted to Contest #90

The sign read PRIVATE PROPERTY -- NO TRESPASSING in red letters atop a six-foot-tall pole. As Gino walked past, he slapped it loudly with one hand and then clutched his eye, moaning and staggering to the side as though he’d run face-first into it. The half dozen 11-year-olds trailing behind him in their orange vests and khaki scout uniforms surged forward, making sounds of concern. “You okay, Uncle Gino?” asked his nephew, Mark. Gino let his hand fall to his side with a sly grin. The kids laughed ruefully and walked on, following him...

6 likes

A Heartfelt Eulogy Before We Are All Ritually Sacrificed and Consumed

Submitted to Contest #89

Classmates, cultists, and tentacled monstrosities lend me your ears. Boy, that’s not the way I ever thought I’d start a speech. Now that I’ve said it, I’m beginning to wonder if those creatures even have ears. Does a squid have ears? So far, I’ve only seen a few enormous tentacles emerge from the crater lake sporting suckers the size of car tires. Ugh, I’m rambling. Nerves, you know? I’m better with time to rehearse in front of a mirror. I’d like to start by thanking the cultists for giving me a c...

7 likes

Imposter Syndrome

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, a doppelganger was challenged to a contest by a boy. The boy was young as far as humans go and angry as only a small child can be. He had committed some minor human offense and been sent to his bedroom as punishment. The doppelganger waited the requisite five minutes before opening the boy’s door and letting itself inside. Seating itself gently on the rocketship bedsheets, it placed a slender, manicured hand on the child’s head. The doppelganger stroked the boy’s hair for a moment, then allow...

13 likes

The Emperor's New Training Wheels

Submitted to Contest #87

Birmingham Bikes, the most trusted bicycle for children ages 3-9 years old, is ready to revolutionize the process of learning how to ride. Our cutting-edge Invisible Training Wheels (patent pending) are ready for prime time after years of research and safety testing. All the safety features of standard training wheels but made of space-age transparent plexiglass composite. No need to be ashamed if you’re not quite comfortable on two wheels yet. Fake it ‘til you make it with Birmingham Bikes! #InvisibleTrainingWheels #BBikes Sticks and Ston...

15 likes

Bunny Troubles

Submitted to Contest #86

A long swath of white fur was draped across Sarah’s chair when she arrived at the zoo’s animal health clinic for work. Puzzled, she lifted it gingerly to discover a pink nose with whiskers and a pair of comically large eyes. Long satin ears flopped down the back. The rest of the veterinary staff watched her, unsuccessfully trying to hide their grins. “What the hell is this?” demanded Sarah. Rod, the zoo director, took two slow steps towards her, crouching a bit. He held both arms out to his sides, palms ...

11 likes

Extracurriculars

Submitted to Contest #85

My guidance counselor, Mr. Hopkirk, had a talent for telling students devastating news in the nicest of ways. We huddled together in his tiny box of an office. He avoided meeting my anxious eyes as he methodically jogged the pages of my application together against his desk into a neat rectangle. “This is all fine, Marcus. Very well written.” He hesitated, still not looking up. “Your extracurriculars are weak, though. I just don’t see your spark.” I frowned and opened my mouth, but he kept talking ...

10 likes

The Kissing Booth

Submitted to Contest #84

The kissing booth loomed in the shadows at the back of the warehouse, a Pepto-Bismol pink eyesore covered in cherry red hearts and comically oversized lips. Eddie maneuvered his way towards it through a jumble of jutting metal struts and black rubber cables. He held an inventory list loosely in one hand, frowning in thought, as he climbed over and through the disassembled rides. Cardboard boxes filled with costumes, prizes, and decorations were stacked haphazardly along the concrete walls. He surveyed the bone...

22 likes

A Fish Story

Shortlisted for Contest #83 ⭐️

In my experience, talking fish can be real assholes. My daughter, Maggie, and I had been in St. Thomas for three days. I’d finally had enough sitting around the hotel pool, sipping ridiculously-colored drinks with tiny paper umbrellas. I figured there must be a decent fishing hole around here someplace. My daughter barely looked up from the paperback she was reading poolside in one of the chaise lounge chairs. “Really, Dad? Creature of habit much?” I shrugged, squinting against the sun’s glare off the turquoise water. I felt like a ...

37 likes

Robocaller

Submitted to Contest #82

RT-1 crossed the sunlit lobby, his steps regular as a metronome. He halted in front of the white marble reception desk, standing perfectly at attention. The slender blonde receptionist looked up from painting her fingernails a vivid pink and gave him a perfunctory smile. “May I help you?” “I am RT-1. I seek employment with your organization.” “Artie Won? Hmm,” the receptionist glanced down at her computer and frowned, a slight wrinkle crossing her brow. “I don’t see an appointment on the calendar, but this place ha...

14 likes