reedsymarketplace
Hire professionals for your project
reedsyblog
Advice, insights and news
reedsylearning
Online publishing courses
reedsylive
Free publishing webinars
reedsydiscovery
Launch your book in style
Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2021
Submitted to Contest #138
The Longest Day “OK, honey, time for bed.” Jack’s eyelids are drooping. He sits in the big chair, idly stroking the velvety upholstery. Up the arms, skimming with his fingertips; down the arms, grazing with his knuckles. Toward him, it is prickly and rough. Away, it is soft and smooth. “Jack, let’s get your pajamas on you. You’re falling asleep!” The voice doesn’t sound quite right. He opens his eyes wide and stares at the woman. She isn’t Mama. She doesn’t look familiar at all. What is she doing here? Where is Mama? An...
Submitted to Contest #136
It’s hot. I’m out here at the edge of a sunbaked baseball diamond, letting my eyes go unfocused so I can distance myself from the game. Sweat is dripping into my eyes, and they’re stinging, so I can’t see anyway. I’m waaay outfield, as far away from the action as I can be. No one bothers me out here; they don’t actually want me to participate, and the feeling is mutual. I was, as always, the last one chosen for a team. I say “chosen” with big, fat air quotes. Really, I was the only one who didn’t get chosen. PE teachers are the wor...
Employee of the Month “Thanks a lot!”, Brad muttered, dropping the receiver back on the cradle. “BZZZZZZ…” retorted the instrument, announcing that he hadn’t aligned it just right. He clicked it into place.“Oodle-oodle-oo, oodle-” Cutting it off in mid-crow, Brad answered, “HR, Brad speaking.”“a three-night stay for the price of two in our luxurious-”… He hung up on the shrill, poorly enunciated, nasal recording. How had that call reached his direct line? Must’ve been a fluke. A fluke was a type of flounder. He felt like ...
Submitted to Contest #135
This story contains some references to the following: alcohol abuse, anger, marital discord, deathMarch 1894 - Watertown, NY“Are you expecting another child?… Answer me! ANSWER ME!”“Sshhh… Leo - please…”“NO! Get rid of it!”“Shh! The children will hear! I won’t! Leo - what’s happening? If you would just… we had a good marriage, at first - but your drinking has changed -”“I’m leaving!” The door slammed, punctuating Leo’s angry words. Jane, left standing in the kitchen, felt the developing baby flinch - the first detectable movement. She ...
Submitted to Contest #131
Small Town TalkTime was, you could'a fired a shotgun down Main Street at high noon on a Sunday, and not hit a soul. Nowadays, you'd get hauled in just for havin’ a gun - not to mention, you’d be likely to hit somebody even if you's a poor shot.Progress, they call it. Town's gotta grow to stay alive, they say. (Hrhmm!) Fact is, this town was mighty lively some years back… ‘Course, it was a while before my time, but I know plenty about it. Most of us older folks do - we just don't talk about it. Plenty of talk went on back then.You see th...
Shortlisted for Contest #130 ⭐️
Chicken Scratch Squinting in the bright sunlight, a small boy scanned the yard. He watched the chickens doing their left/right kick-kick, kick-kick dance, sending up little puffs of fine dust as they scratched for edibles. He liked watching them, and he also knew that their antics occasionally turned up interesting swag. Once, a long time ago - when he was four - he’d picked up a tiny soldier. Grandma took it away because she was afraid it could poison him, which he didn’t understand. Later, she gave it back to him all shiny and told...
Oops, you need an account for that!
Log in with your social account:
Or enter your email:
10 likes
