Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

“The Humble Christmas Wish” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #229

The letter, handwritten in red, green, and brown Crayolas, lay on the little girl's Barbie Mermaid & Friends' table on Christmas Eve, waiting for someone to mail it to the North Pole. It didn't begin with the usual “Dear Santa." Instead, scrawled in large print was a simple request, one that would never reach Santa in time.Jenny Harris had drawn stick figures of her mom, her aunt Marjorie, a very fat Santa, and herself…gathered around a snowman that sported a carrot nose, two charcoal eyes, and a cherry mouth. There also was a snowball i...

13 likes 3 comments 3

Read story

“The Last & First Meal” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #228

At first, it seemed like a normal Saturday…one that I would usually spend on my PlayStation 7 or roughhousing with my little brother, Hunter. I had planned to go to the new holocade that just opened downtown to hang out with my friends and play Mortal Kombat Death Toll X, but the moment I heard the screeching right outside our front door, my plans were upended. I knew something was wrong.My mom was making a big commotion out on the porch right in front of the entrance. When she stepped inside our huge wooden front door, I saw what I nee...

19 likes 5 comments 5

Read story

“One Tiny Thing” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

One day you finally see it...how one tiny thing in your life has led to another. You lost something that was precious, maybe the job you loved or the girlfriend of your dreams, later to find someone or something better. Or maybe you just had a bad experience at the local coffee shop and decided to try someplace new and discovered you love vanilla nut blend.This could be my best day ever, the beginning of a new journey, or it could turn out to be the worst. It's a crap shoot obviously, but that's life. And this day is already becomi...

6 likes 2 comments 2

Read story

“"I am Death."” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #163

The taxicab slows to a stop, the brakes screeching. The driver barely stops in time before hitting the Plymouth in front of them. This isn’t the first time during Oppie's trip the driver had shown himself a bit inattentive. Oppie wonders briefly if the driver got his license from a crackerjack box. This is no time for reckless driving, he thinks to himself. He has to be back at the lab soon, but he'd rather walk the rest of the way than go through that again.He looks out the window, trying to stuff down his feelings of annoyance. Where ...

20 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“The Gift ” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #162

One more ring and the call would've gone to voice-mail. Perhaps I should've let it go, but it was my boss.I'm her right hand, but also her number one flunky.Being the assistant manager isn't all its cracked up to be, especially at this particular convenience store, but at least I don't have to drive far to work. It's only a half mile from our house. The back and forth there is sometimes unbearably different from my life at home with my wife. Susan is the one who restores my heart when I've lost hope in the world.As I pick up the phone, I bar...

18 likes 3 comments 3

Read story

“A Walk Between Worlds” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #161

"Stop that! It feels weird." A thousand icy fingers are trying to pilfer through my brain. My eyes squint at the discomfort. My forehead furrows. Now, it looks like a crinkle-cut French fry.I raise my hand in protest, hoping they stop this intrusion immediately. One of the 7 ft. tall light beings doubles over as if I just punched him in the solar plexus.“Owwwww, your kickback is powerful. Were you a sensitive in your former life?”“I don't know...whatever… Just stop the rummaging!" I reply. "My brain isn’t some garage sale for you to go ...

9 likes 8 comments 8

Read story

“Entrusted” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #102

By now most of the townspeople in our neighborhood have seen the strange figure in some form or other. Auggie, herself , has run away from it a few times.But it always finds her.  It wants her. Why her? Her keen intuition is on red alert.  The figure is close…. Too f-in close…“This right here…” Auggie complains, shaking her index finger back and forth for emphasis, “going out in a pitch black area on a Friday night…very bad idea right now.  It’s still out there. Any of us could be it’s next meal !...

15 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Robot Glory” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #82

My gig is in Tennessee this time. I’ve got that Southern drawl going on like any of the locals, and I'm dressed casual like them, too. Like always favors like. A bit of behavioral wisdom.Wouldn't they be shocked to know I'm not really one of them, not even by a long shot? Well, what they know won't hurt them in this case.Comedy is just my part-time thing. I have a day job at a local factory, but not because I need money. It's so I can look the part of a real person--an organic, that is. Not that I don't see myself as a person, but some of th...

22 likes 7 comments 7

Read story

“Saving Billy” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #62

“How long do you plan to keep putting this off?The words pierced through Marie Stanford's peace of mind, threatening to suffocate her. These intrusions always gave her the same sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.Though the sudden interruption rattled her inside, she kept lacing her brand-new saddle wood boots, which had just arrived by UPS. After she finished, she glanced up to give the man an eye roll, letting him know she wasn't pleased.The strangers always found them. She and her husband, Gary, finally ended up returning to Stone Plai...

33 likes 7 comments 7

Read story

“Twenty-Seven” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #61

Twenty-seven.It was hard for her to believe.To Bella, it seemed like it might turn out to be just another autumn evening a lot like the rest before it, yet not. She only knew at that moment she couldn't bear any more boredom.The slender brunette wore a red, strapless dress, a modern ‘Jennifer Aniston’ haircut, and an enigmatic expression.If I'm gonna go out, it will be in style, she thought to herself.So, sticking her foot off the edge of the flat roof, she tested the air...but just as quickly pulled her lifeline back in.The next time the bo...

33 likes 37 comments 37

Read story

“Man Down” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #60

Twilight was melting into a few twinkling stars when Aiden radioed the others for help. His stomach lurched at the stench of both human and creature carnage. If evil had a smell, that would be what it was like.Aiden' sinewy chest was bare, but the fire kept him warm. A few moments before, he’d ripped his shirt into three parts to bind his best bud's wounds the best he could. He wasn’t sure his friend would make it until help arrived.Several coyotes were staying in touch with their quavering howls and yips. He and Daniel had fought off f...

24 likes 6 comments 6

Read story

“A Mother's Leverage” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #42

Shimmering rays of hope traverse the Tucson horizon where hundreds of thousands will soon awaken to greet the new day. In a few moments, daylight edges its way underneath the coffee-colored curtains of the modestly-furnished hotel room where a beautiful but shattered woman is lying in bed, tissue in hand. Moments pass. The determined rays of light begin to banish some of the darkness in the room. The brightness of this new day's advance seems a striking contrast to the despair evident in Danielle's amber eyes. Her eyelashes are glistening wi...

67 likes 50 comments 50

Read story

“Trigger Finger” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #41

The sign in front of the old vacant warehouse said Trigger Finger. It looked like it might blow away at any time.To Dodie, the name seemed a little mysterious.Those two words exploded in her mind like they were being shot from the barrel of a thirty-eight pistol. The mural on the side had faded over the years. Weeds were growing all around. The building just looked like a place where they could get in a lot of trouble.Grownups used to go there for target practice, and before that, it was a country bar where rednecks hung out. A twi...

38 likes 10 comments 10

Read story

“"Not So Bad" ” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #40

The morning Dodie met Braden, she was secretly sulking inside. She sat in the porch swing, swaying a little as she tried to read The Key to Extraordinary to distract herself from her swirling emotions. The aroma of bacon and eggs slowly crept out of the house and found its way to her nose, letting her know what mom was cooking. Usually, breakfast was her favorite meal, but today she didn’t care as much.How could her mom just give up on her dad and then move forward with someone new so soon? Didn’t he or their family mean anything to her? Dod...

32 likes 29 comments 29

Read story

“"The Good Shepherd" ” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #38

Dusk is bringing the day to a close as I enter St. Christopher’s Church in Detroit to hold a vigil for seven-year-old Brandon Foster, the youngest, baptized member of my congregation, who recently passed away. The crowd of mourners remain in their vehicles due to the state lock down.Tall, male attendants wear masks that clash strangely with their black suits and matching ties, while vehicles make their way through a line to the lot. They offer the incoming drivers a blue program leaflet and a matching candle, honoring his mother’s request…Bl...

29 likes 7 comments 7

Read story