Bettina Karpathian

“Sisters” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #103

The girls hustled off to the pub to celebrate Ruth’s engagement, more giddy than usual for a Friday afternoon. There was much laughter as Ruth waved her hand like an orchestra conductor and they pretended to be dazzled by her ring. They happily discussed wedding plans and listened to Ruth’s description of the little flat that her fiancé Jim was painting and decorating. Jim was a very ordinary young man, and the ring a modest design of diamond chips, but even the girls who secretly thought they could do a lot better envied Ruth’s opportunity ...

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“Reflections” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #101

Kevin, full of beer-fueled bravado, had decided they should explore the abandoned cottage he had spotted from the trail.     “Urban exploration, that’s what they call it,” he said. “There are guys who make a living filming this kind of stuff and putting it on YouTube.”Moira tried to talk him out of it. They had been longer in the pub for lunch than they planned, and she had no wish to be hiking in the dark. The hiking trail wound through high, brooding hills and dusk came early at this time of year. She had also noti...

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“Snapped” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #100

  As anyone could tell from the raucous laughter, the mimosas had been flowing freely at the ladies’ monthly Sunday potluck brunch. Bella broke off in the middle of the punchline of her joke about the bishop and the pole dancer as the doorbell rang.      “That must be Phyllis,” said Lucille, the hostess. “I was beginning to worry. She’s never late.”   Sure enough, when she opened the door, Phyllis was standing there clutching her signature quiche. She was trembling and seemed in danger o...

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“A New Day Dawns” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #99

    Susanna opened her eyes slowly and gazed around. The sky was beginning to glow with morning light, silhouetting the large trees outside her bedroom window. Birds were stirring and chirping with the promise of a lovely summer day. Her heart lifted for a happy moment before plunging as she remembered. She was in that awfully expensive prison they called a retirement community. She got out of bed carefully as her legs were still not entirely trustworthy. At that moment, her front doorbell rang. She pulled on her robe and...

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“Fred the Bear” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #98

“Grandma, tell me the story about Allegra and the bear,” the little voice whined. Mollie still felt hot, and her face was blotchy red. Just a virus, the doctor said. Nothing to do but treat the symptoms and wait it out. Her parents had to work, so that meant Grandma time whenever she couldn't go to school. I sighed and tried to get comfortable on the bed beside her.   “Again? You’ve heard this story so often that you could probably tell it to me. Allegra was my best friend at boarding school.”"It's my favorite story," Mollie s...

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“A Window on Life” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #97

   Since Sadie had not gone out in the two weeks since Harold’s funeral, she had almost forgotten what whole people looked like. From their basement flat, the former servants’ quarters of a once elegant Edwardian townhouse, she could see only legs from the knee down passing the window. She had never paid attention to how low and gloomy the flat was when Harold was alive. He was gregarious and funny, and they had always been going somewhere and doing something, even if it was just a short walk in the park. Then he had dropped d...

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“Next Time” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #89

Stella was almost ready. She gave her eyelashes a last little flick with the mascara wand, cursing under her breath as she missed and almost poked herself in the eye. A tear trickled down her cheek through a runnel of mascara and foundation. Blinking and dabbing at her eye, she jumped as she heard a little giggle behind her.    “You look funny, mommy. One eye looks like a raccoon.”     “Ceci, what are you doing? You’re supposed to be in bed. Linda will be here any moment now to read you a story.”C...

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“Pixie Led” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #87

    You probably haven’t thought of pixies since you saw pictures of cute little creatures in pointed hats and shoes dancing around a ring of toadstools in your childhood story book. That's how we've been illustrated on cereal boxes, cookie boxes and all kinds of tacky souvenirs and posters for years. It’s very annoying to see the way we’re depicted in popular culture. Humans are not the only one who get tired of being stereotyped. Allow me to explain. We are but one of many types of supernatural beings from the fami...

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“Echoes From The Past” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #85

     Sara looked around the ivy-draped walls, between the fallen floor joists and up at the clouds which scudded across the sky where the roof had been. A small sapling protruded from the chimney, waving gently in the breeze. Clumps of ferns and other weeds poked out of crevices in the walls where the plaster was gone. Small fireplaces in the upper levels of the walls looked like cavities in a tooth. She picked her way cautiously towards the ornate marble fireplace, the only recognizable object left in this large roo...

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“The Kelpie” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #83

    Eileen dropped her suitcase at her feet and surveyed the hotel lobby in surprise. It was a modest, moderately priced family hotel. It had a very ordinary bar and dining room with a small patio. There was a nice view of the loch and the looming hills beyond and the castle ruins were picturesque, but that did not account for the number of people milling around in the lobby. She stood up on tiptoe, peering over shoulders, trying without success to attract the attention of the flustered receptionist who, with her eyes glu...

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“The Kelpie” by Bettina Karpathian

    Eileen dropped her suitcase at her feet and surveyed the hotel lobby in surprise. It was a modest, moderately priced family hotel. It had a very ordinary bar and dining room with a small patio. There was a nice view of the loch and the looming hills beyond and the castle ruins were picturesque, but that did not account for the number of people milling around in the lobby. She stood up on tiptoe, peering over shoulders, trying without success to attract the attention of the flustered receptionist who, with her eyes glu...

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“Starting Over” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #81

Rosalind still didn’t know why she had agreed to come on this date. Date seemed a ridiculous word to use at the age of sixty, but she didn’t know what else to call it. She found herself in a trendy, hipster restaurant, serving organic, locally sourced food. The wait staff were friendly but young enough to be her grandchildren and heavy on tattoos and piercings. Rosalind was glad to be seated in a booth. She’d brought a book in case this Steve didn’t show up. Sipping a glass of wine, she looked around. To her relief, no one was paying an...

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“Flying High” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #80

I settled back contentedly in my deck chair in the shade of the umbrella. The children capered about, chasing a lurking seagull which was eyeing the picnic basket.“Oma, can we go in the water?” said Hannah.“Ask your Mutti,” I said. “It is up to her.”“She’s a mom, not a Mutti,” said Bobby, giggling. “That’s a funny word. Mootie, mootie, pootie!”Hannah, with all the wisdom of her ten years, rolled her eyes at her little brother.“You are so stupid, Bobby,” she said. “Just a silly baby.”“Am not,” he said, on the verge of tears. “Aren’t I not, Om...

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“Home Is Where The Heart Is” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #76

“Hi, honey, I’m home. Where are you?”     “Out here on the back porch. Bring a glass if you want some wine.”     “You’re out there with the bottle already?”     “What do you mean by that? It’s after five and I’m of legal drinking age.”     “Okay, okay, no need to be snarky. Let me put my briefcase down and change and I’ll be there. Did you know the stove is on? Is that sauce supposed to be boiling like that?”    “Damn. I forgot it. Let me see. It h...

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“Try To Remember” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #75

I wake up with a start to a rattling noise. Blinking, I see a tea trolley in front of me and a young woman handing me a cup. I look around the room. It looks like any sitting room, with overstuffed armchairs, little side tables and a cabinet full of knick-knacks in one corner, but it’s hot and there’s a smell of disinfectant. There are a couple of elderly gents sitting in the other chairs, one doing a crossword in the newspaper and the other muttering irritably at the talking head on the television. I don’t know them. Anxious now, I put the ...

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