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Bonnie Clarkson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2020

Stories (36)

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62 Followers

24 Following

36 Stories

661 karma pts

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Relief from Grief

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #105

***This is a sequel to Making a Connection***       Leigh entered Father’s house and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. While holding Tony’s hand, she said, “I’ve brought Tony for you to begin to watch this afternoon like you asked.”            Half squatting, the grandfather tried to give Tony a hug, who turned his body away from him.            Father stood straight. “I thought he knew me. Mos...

10 likes

The Sign of Jonah

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #103

SETTING: Inside the temple in a spacious area, vendors sell sacrificial animals. The arguments with customers are barely heard over the cooing of doves, bleating of lambs, and mooing of cows. The smell greets anyone entering. JESUS walks in, looks around and watches, then develops a scowl on his face. He walks out, then returns with a scourge made of thick leather strips. The ends of the of the foot long strips had been tied into hard knots. He grimaces as he walks to the nearest vendor who exchanges currencies. He raises his arm to beat ...

12 likes

Jesus' Legacy

Bonnie Clarkson

           Jesus confidently strode to the raised platform in the sanctuary of the synagogue while the congregation watched his every step. This Sabbath, he had told his friends and neighbors, would begin his ministry. No one turned their head from him. His appearance was nothing special. He stood five foot ten inches with black, neatly manicured beard and hair but with a prominent Roman nose. The gathering of people sensed his evaluation of them as his gaze fell on each of them.  &...

3 likes

God's Nudge

Bonnie Clarkson

Kaylee, the auburn hair, freckle-faced, sixteen-year-old, drove herself to work for her first job ever, in a nursing home. The dark brown tiled floor of the dining room forced squeaks from her shoes. The blond wood wainscoting gave it class while the wallpaper emitted a home-like atmosphere by using large, window-like patterns filled with wild birds at a bird feeder. Her job would be working in the kitchen as a dietary aide. She passed between tables into the kitchen. Countertop, dishwasher equipment, and utensils gleamed of stainless stee...

6 likes

Light on a Path

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #92

Brian and Keith, sixteen-year-old friends, camped without adults for the first time. In the mid-afternoon, Keith drove his car to arrive at a clearing for their campsite. Camping for the last six years, the boys felt confident in their ability to find firewood and prepare a campfire. Keith and Brian each wore an old tee-shirt and blue jean shorts. To cool off, Keith pulled his shoulder-length brown hair into a short ponytail. He busied himself shifting his load of firewood, practicing showing off muscles with his tattoo. Brian prepared ...

18 likes

The Library Book

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #91

      Jacob, a sophomore in college, used his hand to lead his eyes to a good horror book in that section of the library. Surely, he could locate one he had not read. His hand came to an empty spot. A little closer examination showed a book squeezed nearly to the back of the shelf. With a little effort, the black book came loose. Amazed to see the title of Holy Bible in gold letters, his curiosity made him wonder why it is in the horror section. The banned book should not be in the library at all. Being an autho...

23 likes

The Decision

Bonnie Clarkson

      “I’m having a baby!” said the mother offering her hands to Kaylin who walked in after school. When she heard her mother, the fourteen-year-old bent slightly forward and grabbed her mother’s hands.            “We are?!” said Kaylin. “I’ll have a baby brother or sister like I always wanted!”            The two danced around together on the living room floor, their long hair swaying side to side. &nbs...

9 likes

The Unforeseen Prank

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #87

“Have you got it, Howard?” “Yeah, here it is.” The slightly overweight boy answered. He gave George, his fraternal brother, a book dust cover. It is only natural to find a book jacket in a library, but it is unusual for a junior high boy to have one with the title. “Counselling Parents”. George, quicker and thinner than his brother, grabbed the dust cover and put it around the book he held, then on the shelf.              “I saw her come in the library. We have to hurry,” said H...

14 likes

The Winning Arrangement

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #86

           Weather cooperated with Richard’s plans for attending the state fair. No rain. Lots of sunshine, but not too hot. The people wore clothing colorful enough to be an entry of a florist’s design. He believed walking the fairgrounds to be more pleasurable than an ocean cruise.            Richard, thirty-years-old and with brown hair, looked at his map. He noticed the university’s home and garden landscaping display on the map...

14 likes

To Endure Suffering

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #84

           Zinnia answered the cell phone, only to hear Jan, her supervisor, on the other end. With eyes half shut and an unsteady slump, she breathed slowly.            “The new nurse quit when she realized what wearing the PPE was like. We need you in the ICU.”  Zinnia did not dare go back to bed. She straightened up and opened her eyes fully. “Yes, I’ll be there.”   After dressing in the white nurse’s uniform, Zinnia...

14 likes

The Old and the New

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #82

Sharon invited her grandson Kyle and his son, Jayden, into the house. Jayden immediately sat on the couch and started playing his favorite video game.            “I brought Jayden for your visitation time. Are you sure you can get along with him? He is easily bored.”            “I’ve raised boys. I should know.” The great-grandmother looked fondly at Jayden. “He was a cute baby, and he is cute now.”      &n...

17 likes

MCP-5

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #82

      Captain Nick Lasiter rubbed his eyes, yawned, and gave up designing his computer chip for now. He stood to stretch. After two years working on the Microchip Prototype 5 – MCP-5 for short – he believed he would finish in three weeks. His job consisted of integrating into the chip all the different departments’ components and designing a computer-body interface. Maybe a promotion would be in store for him. Surely, his work would give him national recognition.        &n...

14 likes

One Day Spat

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #81

Katrina wore an emerald green dress and her signature four inch high heels. Her shoulder length wavy, strawberry-blonde dyed hair had just a touch of gray. Looking at her no one would believe she was a seventy-year-old grandmother. Her husband, Russell Driscoll, had salt and pepper hair. His rugged build and moustache reminded her of Tom Selleck.           Russell and Katrina sat together while listening to the preacher. He explained the concepts of forgiveness, Jesus’ peace that passes ...

15 likes

Relocation and the Big Lie

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #80

During rousing John Philip Sousa music, the TV screen interrupted the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration with “Special Report” in the largest blue font possible on a red background. Soon the screen switched to the news anchorman in a dark blue suit with a red, white, and blue striped tie. At the news desk, he stared straight at the camera while speaking.            “I am Jaden Kelley, your news anchorman here at KXXY station. We interrupt the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration to...

9 likes

The Spirit of the Father

Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #79

The sound of the circular saw filled the room. The 32-year-old man stopped to enjoy the smell of the fresh sawdust and lumber. The father exuded good health with an athletic form and not an ounce overweight. On the floor beside the father, Sandy—a red-headed six-years-old—searched for something to go with his wooden blocks. What he found was a board mounted on legs. He placed it beside his blocks. With a mallet, he pounded the circular block in the round hole and the square block in the square hole. Daddy, pleased at what he considered a ...

13 likes