Chris Churilla

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2020

Stories (6)

6 Stories

120 karma pts

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“Going for the Gold” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #256

WARNING: Contains substance abuse and violence I’m walking down a Mexican beach in a gold bikini at sunset. I stop and look at the setting sun, then look at the bottle in my hand. I squeeze it and a dollop of cream drops in my palm. I raise it to my face and rub it into my skin. I turn to the camera and say, “Belleza Dorada. Te quita anos de vida!” “Cut!” the director yells. He jumps down from his chair, storms up to me, and glares. “I not beleef joo! Joo must make me beleef joo!” I want to remind this Kubrick wannabe I’m an Olympic gold me...

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“Travel Light” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #255

“Night’s Rest,” says Millie in her dramatic narrator voice. “Founded in 1873. The last census puts it at 9,782. Its high school mascot is Percy the Fighting Knight. The town slogan is, ‘Stay one night, and you’ll never want to leave!’ “ I can hear her rolling her eyes. She says, “I’m glad Percy is a fighting knight. And here I thought they were all pacifists.” I glance in the rearview at the bundled figure in the back seat, a cell phone clutched in her mittened hand. “Someone’s in a mood today.” “No, I love going to towns where the local the...

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“Lost Connection” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #226

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Contains adult language, sexual content, and violence.“I am going home,” Mona said, staring at her French textbook. “Je…”She glanced at her phoneShe looked back at her textbook.“Je…”Back to the phone.Stared hard at it.Back to the textbook.“Je…damn it!”She reached for her phone and brought up a search app.It rang, causing her to yelp and drop it.“Shit!”She looked at the caller ID, which read ALICE, and then picked up.“Hey bitch, what’s up?” she said.“Not struggling with my French homework, that’s for sure.”“Says the girl with t...

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“Kindly Disregard This Letter” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #212

Kindly Disregard This LetterMay 1Mom THIS CAMP SUCKS!!! IT’S A PRISON!!!! As soon as we got here, they took away our phones and tablets! I remember Grandpa telling those stories from the old days—you know, the 80s—when Russians put their own people in prison. I think he called it a “gulag”. They told us technology was interfering with our appreciation of nature. What a load of bull! The other girls suck too. There’s one, Katie, who thinks she’s the GOAT just because she started wearing a bra. Big deal. The sooner she has to start weari...

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“Welcome to Apocalypse Burger, Would You Like to Try Our End of Days Combo Meal?” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #127

I’m bending down to pick up a brown present dropped by my seven-year-old corgi Buddy during our morning walk when I feel it–something I haven’t felt in fifteen years.Trouble.Danger, Will Robinson, danger!Buddy whines, so he must sense it too.Still in my half-bent position, I look around, trying to keep it casual. Nothing seems out of place, but what do you expect at 7AM on a Tuesday morning in suburbia?I realize I must look pretty silly, having been in that position for at least ten seconds, so anyone watching me with ill intent knows I made...

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“The Courier” by Chris Churilla

Submitted to Contest #123

AUTHOR NOTE: This story contains adult language, sexual content, and violence. The courier stopped their motorcycle several hundred yards from the fortress and activated the binocular feature on their helmet. The heavy rucksack on their back dug into their shoulders, but they ignored it; they would soon be free of it. The guard towers were manned with heavy machine guns, easily capable of piercing the courier’s helmet and riding leathers. The ground surrounding the fortress was littered with ruined vehicles, preventing any sort of straig...

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Author bio

Ever since I was a child, I have been enthralled with reading, thanks to my mother's dramatic readings of fairy tales. Over the years, I have developed some skill with stringing words together in interesting ways, and I am currently honing my skill with short story writing.