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Caleb Goehring

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2020

Stories (5)

Comments

Library

6 Followers

3 Following

5 Stories

119 karma pts

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A Strange Thing

Submitted to Contest #130

It’s a strange thing to be asked to investigate a killing when you’ve never investigated anything before. Where to start? Search the scene? Talk to family? Neither of these were viable options. Darren Cohen washed up onto the river bank, carried by winding, rushing water, potentially coming to rest miles from the scene. As for family, he had none. I was his only employee. He said he came to Cliffton five years ago to build a new life after the war. A skilled mechanic in the military was an asset to a small town that had just begun to expand,...

10 likes

Unfinished Business

Submitted to Contest #77

Eight inches of snow are on their way, and I finally have the excuse I need. I watch through the office window as Mr. Peterson gets up from his desk, grabs his coat, turns off the light, and closes the door behind him. He realizes that I’m still here. “Going home soon, Matt?” he asks. “Yeah.” I heave a sigh and look at my screen. “I just have a few more things to take care of.” “You know that there’s a blizzard coming, right?” Mr. Peterson points out the window where heavy snowflakes are already falling. “Yes, sir. I just don’t want ...

3 likes

Honest Dave

Submitted to Contest #76

Dave felt like a giddy kid trying out a new toy. And also like someone coming out of the dressing room to ask “does this fit?” At the same time, he felt like he had found the lost key to a locked room. He wiped layers of dust off of his latest find. Geez, this was from eight years ago, when I first started out. No wonder it didn’t work, he thought. He lugged the contraption out of the storage closet and dumped it on the table. He held back a sneeze. “HD-7, scan,” Dave said. “SCANNING,” answered the little robotic being on the tab...

8 likes

Crossing the Grapple

Submitted to Contest #75

Most people call me “thief” or “crook,” and say that I’m “devious” or “underhanded.” But I think that something like “benefactor” or “protector” would be more appropriate. I’ve prevented (or at least delayed) three wars, paved the way for brand new lives, and maintained an incredibly valuable piece of architecture. The war part sounds outrageous, but the truth is that I am the gatekeeper between two great nations: Graepjoos and Appeljus. The mighty Grapple River divides these lands, and I faithfully guard the only logical (or conve...

4 likes

Knockout New Year

Shortlisted for Contest #74 ⭐️

We haven’t discussed this before, but I’m about 75 percent sure she’ll say yes. I grip the velvet box with clammy hands. “Ten!” On TV, thousands in New York start the countdown. I’m reminded of the last two times I held this box. I try not to, but your brain inevitably connects things against your will. The first time was at my first girlfriend’s favorite restaurant. It was in fact her favorite, she said, but not the sort of place you propose in. Up until that day I thought Chili’s was pretty nice. She left me with th...

29 likes