Chris Campbell

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2021

Stories (126)

126 Stories

11863 karma pts

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“Comic Con-voluted” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #213

“SPLASH!” Was the sound of once living flesh and bone being transformed into water molecules, soaking into the dry, parched floor of the desert planet – some twelve light years from Earth. “Hydro, what have you done?” The elder-looking statesman alarmingly asked. “That was the high priest of Orr. There will be repercussions now from the Orronauts.” “So what!” Came the impetuous reply. “If their guards get anywhere near me, I’ll lay my powerful hands on them and turn them into vapour.” “Stop! Wait!” Came the outcry from the furrowed brow wiza...

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“The Book Of The Dead Letter Office” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #212

“To whom it may concern,” the letter started. “Within the enclosed book lies a treasure trove of adventures beyond your wildest imagination. Its spells within hold the key to many locked doors in time. Use it wisely and be warned: Not all outcomes are favourable.” “What on Earth is this nonsense,” Captain Richard Lyle muttered. “I say, Jonty,” he called across the small room. “I’ve just opened one of the dead letter packages that came in this morning and discovered this extraordinary letter inside.” “Who is it addressed to, Dickie?” Hi...

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“Pet Advice” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #211

“Who’s a beautiful boy, then? Yes, you are, yes, yes, yes. Daddy loves you. Yes, he does. Look at those beautiful eyes and pretty little nose. You want Daddy to scratch under your chin? There, you like that, don’t you.”Watching this outpouring of love between animal and human, the two men perched several meters above the watering hole on a short cliff ledge somewhere in the Northern Territory of Australia, stood dumbfounded at the scene taking place below them.“Wotcha make of that, mate?” The bearded of the two asked.“That’s a fuckin’ new on...

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“Insulting Antoine” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #211

“On my count, you both will proceed ten steps forward. On my command, you will then turn to face each other, aim your pistols and fire. Is that understood?” The two open-neck shirted men standing back-to-back, nodded in unison at the instructions. “As each of your Seconds have failed to get you to reconcile your differences without violence, this duel is categorised as à l'outrance, where there will be no satisfaction until one party is mortally wounded. Is that clear, gentlemen?” Again, the two men acknowledged the rules with a nod ...

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“Requiem For The Majordomo” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #211

Frankie O’Dowd fidgeted with his tight clerical collar, as he warmed himself in front of the drawing room fireplace. Being the only single person in the room, O’Dowd struck a lonely but serious figure among the evening’s soiree of family dinner guests. Averting his gaze from the crackling and glowing embers, O’Dowd surveyed the spacious surroundings. For a large room, the fireplace seemed an inadequate size to be an efficient heater; however, not one of the several guests in the room complained about the cold air forcefully trying to b...

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“A Sunday Roasting” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #210

“Wot’s this, then?” “It’s my new smartphone, Grandad.” “Wot’s it do?” “Lots of things.” “Like wot?” “Like, read emails, search Cyberspace.” “Wot’s Cyberspace - when it’s at home?” “It’s a superhighway of information available to everyone.” “Like a motorway?” “Yeah, sort of.” “Where’d they build it?” “It’s not something you can see. It’s mostly underground. But lately, it’s up in space.” “They’ve got motorways in space, like the Jetsons?” “No, they’ve got satellites in stationary orbit that provide access to the superhighway. It’s like a big ...

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“Take Me To Your Leader” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #210

“Greetings! We come in peace. Take me to your leader.” James “Dinky” Murray stood motionless with his jaw dropped and mouth agape at the eight feet tall man towering over him on his front porch. Being seven years old and two-fifths the size of the stranger, caused him to strain his neck trying to look up at the man’s face, and the more he strained, the more his face distorted and stretched into a look of unintelligence. “Mom!” Dinky shouted – without breaking eye contact. “It’s for you!” “Who is it, dear?” Dinky’s mother shouted from the kit...

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“Local Tongue” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #209

Travel Advice: Colourful language ahead. The hot setting sun momentarily perched on the horizon of the Australian Nullarbor Plain, as a sunset admirer raised a silhouetted arm to wave at the darkening sky. Uttering a blessing in his native tongue, he bid a fond farewell to another day and welcomed in the approaching night, while the haunting and captivating sound of a Didgeridoo signalled the not-too-distant presence of a local mob of residents gathering for a spiritual ceremony. The colour of the soil here in the Nullarbor, lends its...

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“Remote Control” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #208

DISCLAIMER: No drugs or alcohol were consumed while writing this story. “Hey, what’s-your-face! Do you ever wonder why some moments feel like a montage of dreams, and other moments we can’t remember yesterday?” “No, why?” “It just seems odd at times that I recollect things I’ve said but can’t recall when or where I said them.” “Not this again.” “Hear me out, okay? Do you recall anything unusual about your past?” “Like what?” “For instance, you were driving into the city, then suddenly you found yourself in a hospital having stitches s...

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“The Cat's Pyjamas” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #208

“Let me out! Please let me out! I don’t like it in here!” Not too long ago, I was in a happy place. Three square meals a day, plenty of attention, and they even threw in a few toys to alleviate the boredom of being alone for lengthy periods. However, I was quickly discarded when my youthful cuteness made way to young adulthood – after I started to display an aversion to the newest four-legged member of the family. Prior to that time, I would be left abandoned to my own devices for most of each day, so I used to entertain myself with games of...

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“A Little Side Action” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #207

“CUT!” “Who said that? Who yelled cut? I’m the director on this set and I am the only one who gets to shout, CUT!” “Boss, that would be the Intimacy Coordinator.” “Where is she? Where is this Intimacy Coordinator? Show yourself, you scene invader! Someone bring this person to me, that thinks they can direct my movie.” “She’s not here, boss.” “What do you mean, she’s not here? How can she not be here? How did she call, CUT!” “She’s working from home.” “Working from home? Why isn’t she on the set?” “It’s a closed set, only essential personnel ...

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“Night Shift” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #206

It all started one wintry night. I was waiting to cross a busy intersection on Oxford Street in London’s West End. My workday had just ended, and it felt good to be out of that stuffy office. I had been feeling warm all day and hoped I wasn’t coming down with a cold or flu that regularly permeated the office environment at this time of year. Joining the throngs of people heading for the underground trains on their way home, I breathed in the crisp air that usually had a ruffled chill to every month of January, and was looking forward to gett...

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“The Devil You Know” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #205

“Oh fow-el spirit, get out!” “It’s foul, not fow-el.” “What’s the difference?” “One is a pheasant or other type of bird.” “What kind of bird?” “I don’t know! Just get the wording right and get on with this exorcism, and can you please use terminology that’s not out of a Benny Hinn script?” “The English comic?” “You’re thinking of Benny Hill and not the Evangelist with the wavy white hair that starts in one direction, then goes in another, like it suddenly changed its mind halfway through.” “Who?” “Always wears a white suit. Thinks he’s the n...

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“THE BERDACHE” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #204

“Bartender, whiskey, and a jug of water, if you don’t mind.” Wynonna Belle’s lips were parched after a long day trundling through sage brush and dusty trail on her way south toward Fort Apache, Arizona. Her arrival in the sleepy little town of Holbrook bade well for resting her horses and her achy bones. Tired and hungry, Wynonna had initially sought out the hotel saloon hoping for a hot meal, a drink of rye, and a comfy bed for the night. However, she quickly doubted her decision of a drink first when the ornery herd of cattlemen and scally...

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“SpyPal” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #203

The black velvet painting of a bullfighter that had hung unmolested since before the millennium, tore and fell from its wall mount, as a whiskey glass shattered upon impact with it. Closely following the glass, a wicker chair violently crumbled against the bare stucco wall where the painting had just vacated, while raised, angry voices grunted and yelled foul obscenities, as their despatchers of vulgarity wrestled and rolled around the sawdust floor of the small Mexican cantina. The scene resembled an old western movie bar fight where head l...

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Author bio

** December 23, 2024 - I'm still taking a break from Reedsy, while I do some work on my novel (memoir of my youth as the first English-born child of an Irish family living in London through the swinging 1960s and changing 1970s). Similar to my obsession with the weekly prompts, my focus is currently on writing my memoir. See you all soon, when I see a weekly prompt that I like. ** Comedy is hard to write but so rewarding when the laughs roll in. As I continue to submit stories on Reedsy, I realise that comedy may be my path to follow. If I get serious, please remind me to laugh at the absurdity and to slap myself with a fish. On the off chance that I miss more than three weeks in a row of writing short stories, I'm most likely working on my book. So, should any fellow writers feel the urge to contact me, my email address is novelistinresidence@gmail.com.

Winning 1 story 🏆

Contest #226

Forthright Thursday – read story

Shortlisted 5 stories ⭐️

Contest #174

Exact Change Only – read story

Contest #172

Truth And Consequence – read story

Contest #168

By The Withernsea – read story

Contest #165

A Case of the Obvious – read story

Contest #136

The Last Hussar – read story