Cindy Strube

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2021

Stories (36)

36 Stories

1199 karma pts

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“Eddie Goes A-Courting ~A Spring Romance~” by Cindy Strube

Eddie Goes A-Courting~A Spring Romance~“He-elp! He-elp!”Breaking the tranquility of a March morning, a desperate cry rings across the valley. No man runs to assist, nor even a woman lifts a finger to dial 9-1-1. Here and there a lip twitches. An eyebrow raises. Perhaps a chuckle or a sigh escapes. “He-elp!”Again the call resounds. Looks are exchanged, acknowledgements murmur...

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“The Book of Cats” by Cindy Strube

The Book of CatsLet’s count all the “fingers” and toes.Oh dear—is this one… Is there something wrong?One…two…three…four…five. And five on that side.What about…one…two…three…four. And four there. Poor wee scrap! Such a disability. But you can see, now that I’ve dried him off, he’ll have a gorgeous golden coat. Just like his daddy!What about the other two?… Oh, such a relief! They’re fine. Both have my coloring. This ...

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“Glass Beach ” by Cindy Strube

Glass BeachCome—walk with me this strand of glass Through mists of time To other daysWhose memories, in this mingled massOf splendid hues With bright array...

25 comments 25 SHORTLIST ⭐️

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“On Little Cat Feet” by Cindy Strube

On Little Cat FeetYou’re watching my fingers tapping on the keyboard. Those luminous green eyes are fixed on the movement… Mesmerized… mesmerizing… Help, Cat! Give me inspiration. The Naming of Cats is a great poem—but how am I going to write an essay on it? Eliot must have known cats. He used great characte...

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“Coffee and Danish” by Cindy Strube

Coffee and DanishShe has a perfect smile. Straight, uniform, dazzling white teeth. It occurs to me that they might be implants.I remember when she went head over handlebars off her bike and chipped a front tooth. I was ten and she was eight. The tooth had to be capped, and it always looked like a poorly shaped makeshift. She’s effervescent, chattering about how good it is to get together after all this time. Then I realize that she’s stopped talk...

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“The Name of the Game ” by Cindy Strube

The Name of the GamePsst! Hey. Got a story for you. A little ex-po-zay. Who am I? Just call me Flatiron. Can’t give my real identity. It’d be too risky. For me, for my cohorts and allies. Maybe for you, too. Anyway, here’s the scoop. There’s some shady dealing going on. I got involved by default. I’m confiding in you because: A. You look trustworthy, and 2. You're a neutral party.

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“All That Remains” by Cindy Strube

All That Remains 🎶 Memory, all alone in the moonlight— I can dream of the old days Life was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was… Let the memory live again. 🎵 ©️ I was beautiful once. I had style. Class. Substance. People flocked to my doors, begging to be incl...

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“The Janitors’ Holiday Party ” by Cindy Strube

CW: Gore and mentions of death in the context of natureThe Janitors’ Holiday Party “Party time!” Cousin Ludwig grunts, landing with an awkward hop. “We have secured the venue!”Work holiday parties are just that, in our profession: work, right along with the holiday partying. The time and the venue are always a last-minute surprise. It keeps life interesting.For us, the party—and th...

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“Juno’s What?” by Cindy Strube

CW: Gore and mentions of death in historical contextJuno’s What?Everyone at my school dreaded sixth grade, because it meant you got Old Mrs. Crump. “She’s been there so long, she was my dad’s teacher!” I told my friends.We all dragged our feet on the first day. The bell was already starting to ring when Sam Travers got close enough to see the new name on the door. He stopped so suddenly that we all prac...

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“Will Work for Peanuts” by Cindy Strube

Will Work for Peanuts“Go!”At the familiar command, I skitter out the doorway of the carrier. I pause, sniffing in the crepuscular gloom. Low light doesn’t faze me; my singular sense of smell will be my guide.There’s the sharp, cold smell of crushed concrete; the tanginess of metal; the sweet, slightly musty fragrance of splintered wood.I need to block out most of what my nose is perceiving. What I’m searchin...

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“About Vi” by Cindy Strube

About Vi“My son! My son! You finally came to see me!”A very old woman tries to scoot her braked wheelchair forward. She’s gripping the arms so hard, her knuckles turn white. Tears course down her crepey cheeks, even as she smiles. An attendant in happy-face scrubs pads up to her, the non-skid soles of her shoes squeaking on the speckled linoleum. “Now, Vi, don’t bother him. He’s here making a delivery.” The attendant smiles and pats the woman’s shoulder....

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“Balancing Act” by Cindy Strube

Balancing Act “You’re all so insular here!” Zinnia fumed. “City people are much more open minded!” Darius pushed back. Jumping to his feet, he slapped his palms against the horseshoe-shaped table. “This is an outrage!” He glared around at the other Councilmembers in turn, his mutton-chop side whiskers trembling.

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“Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme - ~A Pastiche~” by Cindy Strube

Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme~A Pastiche~Scritch-scritch-scritch.There it was again: a faint scrabbling sound. Gert exhaled loudly, flipped her pillow to the cool side, and pulled the quilt over her head.Scritch-scritch-scritch.She could still hear it. A mouse in the wall, no doubt — and there lay Siminy, tidily curled at the foot of the bed, u...

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“Kismet” by Cindy Strube

KismetIt almost got Sissy today.She’s the littlest one, and Mama usually keeps a careful watch over her — but somehow she crawled too close to the doorway.I saw it out of the corner of my eye; something dark and very quick.Sissy squeaked in fear. Mama grabbed her and bundled all six of us into the farthest part of the room.~~~Mama says we can’t go out. “We’re in mortal danger...

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“Tarnished” by Cindy Strube

Tarnished Note: this account is based on actual events in the lives of real people. Names have been changed to protect the memories of the innocent. October 17, 1905 - Tuesday My dearest James, Patience has been staring out the window for miles. We’re nearly a day into the journey, an...

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Author bio

I really have no business trying to write stories from prompts! There are so many characters and story ideas bumping around in my head already, so many stories begun, and begging to be completed - and so little time to give them. But - when there’s a spark of imagination that turns into a fire, it must be contained somehow… so here we are!

Shortlisted 2 stories ⭐️

Contest #186

Glass Beach – read story

Contest #130

Chicken Scratch – read story