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D.J. Bogner

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2021

Stories (6)

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6 Followers

6 Following

6 Stories

138 karma pts

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Aced

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #249

I was already down a set. No way I was losing another. Set point just made me more focused. Alex was good, maybe better than me, but I’d rather have eaten the fuzz off a tennis ball before giving him two sets in a row. We’d played each other through high school and college, and that happened only once. “You can still leave the court a winner! Not!” he cackled. We always trash-talked each other across the net. But Alex never said that to me before. Those were the exact words my old man used to say to me right before I stepped onto the court a...

14 likes

Match Point

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #246

It was set point. I lost the first one—I can’t lose this one, too. I laser-focused onto Alex across the net at the baseline, took a deep breath, went into my Zen-mode, and sent him into slow-motion. I could read his serve like it was a kid’s picture book. High ball toss about a foot out into the court, deep knee dip into a low crouch, body swiveled under it, trunk and shoulders coiled. He’s going for the slice—I leaped right and straddled the alley. Slo-mo ended—WHAM! No! He pronated the racket at the last second—blasted it down the T! He ac...

18 likes

The Permanent Collection

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #242

“I can’t get that painting out of my head. I’ve got to go back again.” Gabby studied her husband. “What, you mean, as in, now?” “It’ll only take a few minutes.” Gabby leveled her eyes at him. “We’re standing here in our bathing suits. The sandwiches and drinks are in the cooler at your feet, which you’re going to carry.” She tapped an oversized bag on the floor with her foot. “That’s our towels, blanket, suntan lotion, and chips.” She raised her hand and dangled a keychain in front of him. “I’m holding the car keys, Charlie. But you’re telli...

9 likes

Abstinence

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #233

Under a beautiful, cloudless sky, two lifelong friends gazed across a glorious vista of grasslands and valleys. A majestic, snow-covered mountain range climbed the sky in the distance. They swatted at a few flies that tried to spoil the day. “I’m going to give up meat, Rick. My version of Dry January.”“You’re telling me this now?”“I’ve been thinking it over for a long time. I wasn’t sure. Now I’m sure.”“Well, that’s ridiculous, Lenny.”“Not really. There are plenty of other things that will sustain me.”“None of them well enough. And I do...

4 likes

Too High

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #206

“Come on, Marty. You can’t make us late. These guys don’t like late.” Jake blew out a puff of air as he watched his fellow hiker plop one foot down after the next. Marty was at least thirty feet behind him on the narrow, uphill dirt path. “I can’t keep stopping and waiting for you.” “So walk slower.” Marty was doing his best. He wasn’t the fittest guy on the planet, nor the slimmest. “My watch says it’s ninety-seven degrees. Plus, we’re carrying these heavy backpacks. What did you say you put in them?” “Supplies. All of us are supposed to co...

5 likes

The Lost List

D.J. Bogner

Submitted to Contest #179

Henry isn’t your average guy. Unless your idea of an average guy includes making spreadsheets for everything he plans to do every day, from brushing his teeth in the morning to brushing them again at night, and everything else in between. With time-allotments.He’s a retired accountant. However, his organizational skills still show up for work full-time. During his in-office career, he created his fair share of columns and rows. However, bathroom breaks and dog walks were never line items then—they are now. Things have changed since the days ...

14 likes