Catherine Stevens

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2020

Stories (38)

38 Stories

1821 karma pts

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“Divided we Fell” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #54

I feel like Lot fleeing the city of Sodom. The big difference is I didn’t turn into a pillar of salt when I turned back to view the city. The fires can be seen for miles and we are only about 50 miles away, but it seems more like a thousand.******************************************************** Our state was fortunate, we had a 12 hour warning, but the states on the coasts didn’t.  Maine to Florida fell right away, they were the first targets. Within hours they hit the west coast. We’ve heard nothing from...

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“A Repentant Heart” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #54

The screen lights up on his 65” plasma TV as he hops on his old ratty couch. Everything around him is falling apart and rotting with age, except the new TV. Huberus refuses to look at his dismal surroundings and focuses on the screen; a new series is starting today. A drop of dirty sludge lands on his cheek from the hole in the ceiling.“Ugh!” he snarls and drags the couch out from under the hole.Satisfied that he’ll now be dry, He crawls up unto the couch and finds a comfortable spot between the poking coils. Now finally ...

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“Consequences” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #53

The fires from outside light up the cave we hide in. It’s the only place that the heat is bearable. The earth has changed so much in the last five years. I hadn’t noticed the world changing till after the mass disappearances. Perhaps if I hadn’t been so self involved I would have but, I cared for no one besides myself. I cut anyone who dared to tell me I was doing wrong from my life that included my family. I think of them now, wondering if they’re still alive. If I can believe the W.H.O, they estimate over thre...

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“Poor is just a matter of perception” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #53

Ozarks, 1929.Watermelon juice runs down my chin blending with the sweat that is pouring off of me. It is really hot today but I don’t mind. I try to eat all my frozen treat before it melts in the summer heat. Watermelon popsickles are one of my favorite things; I only get them on special occasions and today is one of those days. Mrs. Ford came to our little rural church to invite all the mountain children to her house for a summer party. Mrs. Ford doesn’t go to our church but she said she was doing God's work by giving to...

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“He's Alive” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #52

He’s dead, nothing will bring him back. The world has now changed and it will never be the same. Because, he won’t be in it. The birds sing but I refuse to hear them, the wind blows but I refuse to feel it, the scent of the funeral bouquets float on the breeze but I refuse to smell them. But I do see! I make myself see the simple wooden casket in front of me. He loved the smell and feel of natural sanded wood, he said the grains and colors told the story of life. He doesn’t have that anymore, life, it was cruelly stolen f...

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“Blizzard Blessings” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #52

Shock rumbles through her mind, she pictures the explosion of an atomic bomb the mushroom cloud rising high in the air, swelling, SWElling, SWELLING! Until it reaches maximum capacity and the shards of her perfectly planned life fall down round her.She holds the plastic tester in her hand and stares at the two thin red lines. Those two little thin red lines mock her; say goodbye to the career you’ve worked so hard to achieve, goodbye to the boyfriend, which said he wanted no strings attached. Strings! Those two red lines were ropes...

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“Through the eyes of a child...” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #51

Here in the desert, far from the city lights, the Heavens show off their brilliance. The stars above look like silver glitter strewn across a dark canvas, no space is left untouched.This is the canopy that covers the stranded family.Earlier that day: They had come to visit the waterfall and creek that ran by the ancient homestead. The father had stumbled across it during one of his hunting trips. It was beautiful, quiet and secluded. The remains of a stone house, sat between two fingers of the mountain. It had r...

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“What if the facts are the Mystery?” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #51

The girl’s race around the yard examining the boundaries of their new home, they chase squirrels up into the trees and bunnies into their dens. They race around to the back of the spacious cabin and back to the front circling it several times. The girls are my babies; Lexus and Sassparilla. Lexi is a blue fawn Pit bull and Sassy is a Saint Bernard. They are so excited about the move, because now they have two acres to play in. The property is fenced to keep them from wandering into the surrounding forest.We are only about...

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“Hidden Memories” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #51

Tall and stately she stands, still elegant in her old age. But time is wearing her down, her façade is crumbling, her shutters broken and her windows are all boarded up.  She stands before the wrecking ball with dignity. She knows what’s coming but refuses to beg. In a way she welcomes it, she’s tired, she’s been tired since the fire. The owners wouldn’t give up though, they refurnished and updated her, but nobody came to stay. The picture of the 1970’s fire that gutted her lived long in people’s memories.W...

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“Stalked” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #50

“Virginia! I’m going to kill you!” the man’s shriek reverberated through the still forest.  “You can’t hide from me!”Startled Virginia froze, her eyes darted back and forth searching her surroundings, she had been making breakfast at her camp fire when she heard the man. She didn’t know who he was or why he’d be screaming at her, but it filled her with apprehension.“Virginia!”She jumped and spilled the hot water of her cooking pot on her leg and feet, she swallowed the cry of pain and she strained to hear where the man’s ...

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“Methuselah” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #50

Snow swirls in front of the windshield of her small plane; white is all she can see. The plane is bouncing like a wild bronco. The altimeter is spinning around so much it’s difficult to read. She glances at the oil temperature, it’s rising. Something isn’t right; the craft is taking too much of a beating. When she had left earlier they said she’d have clear skies, but once she climbed to fly over the Mountain peaks it all changed. How can it be snowing in July?She kept telling herself to be calm and remember her...

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“Answered Question” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #49

As I step out of the B&B in Port Henry I can’t get over the colors, the vibrant greens with splashes of gold and rust fill the countryside. As a life long Arizonan I’m use to more muted shades of greens, beiges and browns, so this is a treat for me. Standing on the wrap around porch, I breathe in the scents of the trees and plants. And of course the smells that roll off Lake Champlain. It is beautiful here, and so vast, this is the reason I came, to see this beautiful lake and to see if I can finally unravel the quest...

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“In the blink of an eye” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #49

You study the living canvas over head, the puffs of white are positioned strategically through the shades of blue, a swath of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red though barely discernible yet, they add a beautiful contrast to the picture. Sitting in this lovely forest park, you marvel at God’s handiwork. It isn’t just the sights, it’s the smells, the textures and the sounds that enhance the whole picture. Even the shrieks and laughter of your grandchildren add to the over all ambience.“Grandma, tell Mason tha...

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“By what name do I call my Superhero?” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #48

Your shoulders are bowed by the responsibility you carry,   Yet compassion is all we see.Your hands are rough and calloused from all your hard work.   Yet we don’t notice as you wipe away our tears.Your body aches and your arms are fatigued,    Yet your lap is always open as we run to you for hugs and cuddles.                               ...

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“Precious Cargo” by Catherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #47

More to be desired are they than gold............ sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.        Psalms 19:10 ESVDark clouds fill the sky overhead, you watch the spray battering the water proof covering you are under, it is your window to the heavens. Whether the spray is rain from above or just the ocean washing over the barge you can’t tell. You do know they said it would be a clear and calm crossing, they were wrong. It is cold and cloudy. The waves continuously batter your...

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Author bio

My greatest joy in life are my 8 grandchildren, and my 4 kids, and my love of God, next it's writing. I hope everyone enjoys reading these stories as much as I enjoy writing them.