Brian Janko

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2021

Stories (6)

6 Stories

113 karma pts

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“A Resolution of Two Species” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #126

Generally, keeping one’s New Year’s resolution is a good idea. But sometimes other factors intervene.As the New Year was near, Arthur relaxed watching TV, to see the ball dropping in Times Square at midnight. At 11:35 p.m., he fell asleep. At first, it was a very light sleep, for at one point he opened his eyes just long enough to glimpse the Times Square count down and the ball starting to drop. But he fell back asleep before the drop had finished.Later, “Auld Lang Syne” droning over and over in his mind, he awakened, groggy, naked, on a co...

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“The Better Clock” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #125

Rick woke up, ready to get to class, but saw that his clock had stopped. The batteries had died.He found some spare batteries but had to fight the clock’s battery compartment door to get it open. He chided himself for not spending the extra five dollars for the other clock that had a plug-in cord. “Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap,” he told himself.After he got the battery door open, he still had to fidget to remove the old batteries and put in the new ones. His mind wandered and he thought, “Maybe the clock is fine and the re...

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“Head Issues” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #115

Mortimer Schmeed was tremendously nervous. He was holding his smartphone, turning it over and over in his hand, moving his fingers up and down its edges. He felt it vibrate. “OK, Sally,” he said. The phone responded, in her typical half-woman, half-robot voice, “Please don’t handle me this way in public.” Morty stopped his fiddling, looking blankly at the phone. Finally, he said, “Oh, sorry.” Fortunately, the receptionist broke the tension of the moment, calling out to Morty’s phone, “The doctor will see you now.” Sally, ...

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“Ruby's Partners” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #114

Ruby never thought she would love dancing, but she was going to the dance studios, nightclubs, and restaurants more and more. She was going out three or four times a week now. The dancing was Latin and very physical. That was no problem because she worked out and was in good shape. But moving her body to the music while counting the beats and working with a partner — all this was new to her, and she sometimes felt inadequate. Ruby wanted to meet someone, too, but thinking about that made her sad because her relationships always seemed t...

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“Lucid Infidelity” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #113

Mary pored over the catalog of extension courses offered by the nearby community college. Eddie watched her passively. However, he told her that he was going to feel foolish being the old guy in the class. “First off,” Mary said, “We’re not old. Forty is not that old. In fact, a lot of different people take these classes. That’s what they are for.” She partly closed the catalog so she could push the cover up to his nose while she pointed at the words “continuing education.” “See? It says continuing. There will be all sorts of people con...

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“Lying In The Rain” by Brian Janko

Submitted to Contest #112

Climate change is real! Alan would never have believed it! It's been raining more and more lately. But the drops were not made only of water - rather, they were filled with lies! Lies like "you look great in that dress," "no, you don't look fat," "great haircut!" and "no, I don't think you're stupid." Lies like that.Alan was talking to Shelby. The rain had not started in full yet, it was just a drop here or there. Alan loved Shelby’s face, her pale complexion, a couple of freckles, slightly reddish hair, often pulled back with a braid. He wa...

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