Bernie Rhodes

“Roseline's Escape” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #197

There was only one small window but it was tented, and I couldn’t see through it. There were no clocks, so I lost all sense of time. I struggled to remember what happened. A man who called himself Max came in and warned me not to attempt an escape. He kept calling me Roseline. There was nothing in the small and confined room that could be used as a tool to break out. I found nothing to use as a weapon, and could never overpower him, for he seemed too strong. His appearance repulsed me. He was morbidly overweight, and he stank ...

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“Dad's Dream” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #196

       Dad wanted to get back to his origins. He was burned out and sick of his sales management job, which he had held since 1949 when my parents were married. Dad was tired of constant travel all over the state, conducting meetings and listening to the route salespeople make excuses for their lack of productivity. He was feed-up with the greasy restaurant food, lumpy hotel beds, and depressed over the isolation.  It had been fifteen years, and he was ready for a change. He fantasized about havin...

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“The Bizarre Case of Randolph Berger” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #195

 Randolph was possessed with delusions of grandeur since he was a young teen when a voice in his head promised he was destined for greatness. The voice vows to speak to Randolph periodically but he must be patient until the time is right to receive prominence. Then he would begin basking in the joys of his rightful place in the world and be superior to all humans.  He was currently in a mental institution as he had been most of his adult life. He was sometimes placed in a padded cell and wore a straightjacket when suffering on...

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“Downward Spiral” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #194

Cora was faced with the harsh reality of living permanently on the streets.  Her life and her chance to return to normalcy were long gone. To make her plight even worse, Cora had discovered cocaine. At first, she resisted it but was told it would help her forget all her troubles. Contrary to a girl who set out to trample underfoot everyone to prevail, Cora’s confidence was virtually zero level.  She spent the night at a rescue mission the night before but was awakened at 5:00 am. She checked in the day before, which included...

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“Claude Drewitt's Police Award” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #193

    Claude Drewitt was finally living his lifelong dream as a police officer. His father, Johnathon Drewitt, was the town’s beloved, longtime Chief of Police.  The locals highly regarded Chief Drewitt for his fairness and astute knowledge of the law. Claude always wanted to be just like his father and follow him dutifully in his footsteps. Claude failed the police officer's test, but the instructors fudged the score so Claude could pass. Claude also was unable to meet the standards and procedures of the police a...

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“George's New Life” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #192

    George stared at the pink slip his foreman handed him and each crew member, stating they would be laid off at the end of the day. George was forty-six years old and had worked at a rock quarry in Stone City since he was sixteen. The quarry would be closing permanently. He dreaded going home to tell his wife, Edith, a temperamental woman.      At the end of their final shift, some of his coworkers met at the Hairy Goat Saloon. George hesitated to join them, but he didn’t particularly want ...

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“Miss Pruitt and Broken Dreams” by Bernie Rhodes

    Miss Pruitt was a math teacher at the local high school and wasn’t focused as she once was. Recently, she would sit at her desk and daydream while her students busily worked on their classroom assignments.  In the afternoons, she walked through the same hallway as she had almost every school day for the past forty years. Moving with a limp due to arthritis, she frequently reminisced about her favorite students throughout the years and wondered about their whereabouts. They're probably living full lives ...

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“Tassia's Shame” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #190

     “Speak now!” Rick shouted at his daughter, Tassia.     “Rick, don’t!” Jane pleaded in an effort for Rick to soften his temperament.     “I’ll handle this, Jane!”     “Nothing happened, ok!” Tassia shouted.     “You’re nothing but trash; you know that?  Sit down!” Rick demanded.      “Rick, don’t say that!” Jane insisted.     “He just followed me home...

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“Karina's Witch” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #189

        It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Dad called home for he knew mom would be worried about the weather and she was thrilled to hear his voice. “How has your week been, honey?” Dad asked.    “Oh, Sylvester, I’m so worried about you driving on those icy roads!    “Relax, I’m fine and I’ll be home later tonight.”   “Thank God! I must tell you I’m concerned about Karina. She had another crying fit.”  &n...

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“Valentina” by Bernie Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #188

                              Valentina                               Jack Bernard Rhodes    The bedroom door creaked open, and I was once again overwhelmed by terror. I was about five years old when my sister, Valentina, wo...

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