Cindy Strube

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2021

Stories (50)

50 Stories

1500 karma pts

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“Ygnacia’s Hoard” by Cindy Strube

Ygnacia’s Hoard “They’re mine! You can’t have them!” Ygnacia shrieked, striking viciously. “Owww!” The Littlest Giant sucked the back of her hand, whimpering. “Did she get you? I’m sorry, Dumplin’! Move away from her… Yggi, you’re being naughty!… She’s a dragon, that one! Look at her, guarding her treasure. She can’t even ...

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“Prose and Considerations” by Cindy Strube

Prose and Considerations The odors of calfskin and parchment tickle my nose, blending into an intoxicating perfume that beguiles me. I shall endeavor, in this fresh journal, to set forth that which I cannot otherwise communicate. The book is almost too lovely to use… but now I have begun, there is no going back. The last gift fro...

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“Blood and Cookies” by Cindy Strube

Blood and Cookies “So what do you think?” The two Tamsins speak in unison. I’m dumbstruck, looking from one to the other like a cat tracking a laser.“Come on, which is which?”I’ve known Tamsin for years, and she’s never had a twin. But now she does. It’s thoroughly unnerving, and I don’t like it.I look at the one to my left.“What’s your name?”“Tamsin!” they both claim. ...

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“Going Postal” by Cindy Strube

Going PostalIt wasn’t Mattie’s fault.Put it down to a chain of events. Circumstances. An uneven floor; a wobbly cart; a gap under a cabinet. Perhaps slipshod maintenance, or a less-than-diligent cleaning crew.Mattie was a temporary employee. A college student, home for the holiday break. His job was to roll a canvas cart full of mail from the receiving room to the sorting center, and it was not his fault that the cart had a wonky wheel.

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“Arthur ” by Cindy Strube

[DRAFT - incomplete]ArthurOld people smell funny. I don’t know what causes it, but they all seem to have this weird odor. Kinda sweet and musty, like cucumbers and old books. Not that I’m around them much. Thing is, I don’t have any grandparents or anything. I mean, I did, of course, but they all died. I only have this vague memory of one grandma, from when I was really little. She had that same smell.I didn’t want to do this project. Not because of the s...

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“Good Bones ” by Cindy Strube

Good Bones“It’s a girl!” announces Dr. Jones. “Or rather, a woman.” The mottled remains, painstakingly arranged by his team, lay against fresh white paper; yellowish-brown cantles of humanity, poised to give up their secrets to the renowned forensic anthropologist.“Some of the most critical bones are here. They will tell us a story!” Dr. Jones beams, rubbing his hands together. “Due to the burial method and environmental circumstances, they are i...

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“Aurora Magna” by Cindy Strube

Aurora MagnaSomething…? surging through her body brought Celia to consciousness with a jolt. Her eyes flew open, meeting the pitch blackness of pre-dawn hours. She lay still, feeling her pulse jump in her throat. There was no sound but Finn's regular breathing. Celia tried to reason with herself: Might it have been the vestige of a dream? Or a phantom perception?She inhaled deeply, let it out slowly, closed her eyes. Panic subsided. She started to drift…...

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“Cootie Catcher” by Cindy Strube

Cootie Catcher“Sheena has cooties.”I’m playing Cat’s Cradle with Allie on the bus ride home when she all of a sudden looks at me kind of stern and says that. “Don’t talk to her.”“Why not? Mrs. Dawson said we should be nice to her. ‘Cause she’s new.”“She. Has. Coo-ties.” “Who told you that? She just seems like any other eight-year-old.”“She’s nine already.” Allie tosses her ponytail, smug as anything. “...

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“Will o’ the Wisp” by Cindy Strube

Will o’ the WispPerhaps it wasn’t the wisest decision I’ve ever made, taking that cutoff. Ten miles. That didn’t sound so bad.And so, even though it’s already midafternoon—and blazing hot—I turn off the clogged main highway onto a narrow but well-paved road. There’s not another vehicle in sight.

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“Don’t, Sue!” by Cindy Strube

Don’t, Sue!At 11:49 a.m., Sue plowed into the back of a bus.WHUMP!And just like that, lunch was delayed for the entire office. A witness called 9-1-1. Voices… sound urgent… Something going on?… doesn’t matter… Sirens?… accident?... Let them deal with it… Drift away… and back… Sue opened one eye, just a slit. The other one didn’t want to cooperate.

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“Earworm” by Cindy Strube

Earworm I’m not a pop fan. Make it stop, man. Can’t you stop it? In a shop, it was the first time that I heard it (...

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“Littlest Bear’s Big Adventures ” by Cindy Strube

Littlest Bear’s Big Adventures As soon as Beginning of Time had begun, Bears ambled traipsily hither and yon. Bigger and small of them, shorter and tall of them, furrily all of them—all, except one.Bigger Bear, chuffing and snuffily shuffling, waddled and waded in water so crystalline. Wishfully, fishingly, ever more cleverly snatching and catching the slippery prey, Bigger Bear—robust and pridefully powerful—routed his cowerful rivals away.Taunt...

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“Wabi Sabi” by Cindy Strube

Wabi SabiCherry blossoms float Carpeting the earth in pink Spring is here again.桜A flash of distinctive bright plumage draws my attention to a robin. Landing lightly on a branch, he dislodges a shower of petals. Throws back his head. Warbles his set piece: Cheerily-cheer-up, chee...

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“Somebody Else’s Shoes” by Cindy Strube

Somebody Else’s Shoes We’re both short, with wide feet. Other than that, Gigi and I have nothing in common. Dad jokes that the wide feet should give us “good understanding”. It doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love her. But it’s like we’re from two different worlds! Oh, sure, technically we’re from the same bloodline, but we’re like night and...

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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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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