Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (62)

62 Stories

3224 karma pts

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“Christmas Chameleon” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #281

I hung my keys on the third hook, my coat on the third peg, and plopped my tushy on the third sofa cushion from the door, like always. That's my life - pathetically predictable.I wouldn't want there to be any misunderstanding. I have no problem with predictability. I'd be happy as long as it gave me enough to pay bills, rent a larger apartment, and occasionally buy something nice. But, no! Unfortunately, it turned out to be more like a deadbeat dad. But what can I do? I don't have any control over it.I hadn't realized it was Christmas E...

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“Never Waste Broken Ribs” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #280

"Just move already. You're not smart enough to need this much time." "Smarts? Hey? If I dumped everything I know about checkers into your head, it would explode. Now shut up. You've made me lose my train of thought." "So smart are you? You've seen the Tin Lizzie?" "Yeah, I seen it." "You admit you were wrong?" "Nope." "Ha! Old Clyde, the smartest man alive. Never wrong. Ha! The most stubborn man alive is more like it. Every family in America will have a motor car, you'll see, Mr. Ford will make it happen." "Pie in the sky. You've got as much...

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“Tree of Life” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #279

I trudged through a foot of snow, squinting as frozen missiles pelted my goggles. The wind had a physical presence like a wall of water. I swam through the storm more than I walked. I desperately needed shelter. Peering through the barrage of snowflakes, I could barely make out a darkish line. I pressed forward, refusing to surrender to the irrational desire to lie down and rest.The dark line turned out to be a forest. Once I entered, the relentless attack lessened. The wind howled through the conifer trees like wolves who lost their prey. I...

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“Can I Kill Him Now” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #278

"Alright, remember, the new treaty says relocation assistance — no killing!" Five years of fighting orcs doesn't switch off overnight. I could still see the fight in their eyes. A newbie recently assigned to my squad shouted, "What if an orc won't relocate willingly? Can I kill him then?" "Didn't you just hear me? No killing!" "My bad," the knight said. "Just wanted clarification." We mounted our horses and rode out. The newbie caught up beside me while trotting to the orc's camp. "Sir, I've been thinking, what if an orc pretends to le...

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“He's Pointing a Cookie at Me” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #277

"Knock it off! Fleabags!" Another acorn hit me in the ear. I picked it up and hurled it at the nearest squirrel. It missed."Just what I expected from a baker," the squirrel said. "Go back to the kitchen and bake cookies. It's all you're good for." The squirrel clan laughed.I picked up another acorn and hit the rodent between the eyes. That put an end to his laughter."How's that for a baker?"The squirrel clan redoubled their missile attack. Acorns pelted me on all sides. Squeakings rang out for reinforcements. I just had to poke the bear. I'm...

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“Scenic Ashes” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #276

We erupted with a Mount Vesuvius-sized argument of hate and anger, the worst in our twenty-five-year marriage. Her scream shattered me like a rock hitting a windshield. My response only spread the cracks further. It happened during the epidemic in 2020. Our marriage shut down like unessential restaurants, clothing stores, and churches. We had no announcement from the president, but we knew only the essentials of our marriage would remain open. I hoped a few weeks would pass, and then all would return to normal. However, like our world,...

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“Everyone Loves a Good Burning” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #275

"Are you going to cook me?" I laughed, "Goodness, no." I grabbed a towel from the wash pot and wrung it. "Besides, I'm not a big meat eater." I cleaned the blood from his forehead. "You've flooded our village?" The lad hesitated, his eyes darting around in apprehension. After agonizing moments, he summoned his courage and added, "More than once!" The clumsy lad wasn't used to using his brain. To put it bluntly, he was thicker than a queen's mattress. "That's your ancestors' fault for building in a floodplain." "A floodplain? What's that?" "P...

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“The Tell-Tale Clock” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #274

"The pictures were hanging upside down," I said.My friend gasped and smiled, "Mary, you are a born storyteller. I actually felt goosebumps."I put my can of Pepsi down without taking a drink. "No, Cindy, I'm not making this up. I came home, and there they were. Perfectly level, but upside down.""Now stop it. You're freaking me out.""How do you think I feel? I have to live here."Just as I finished speaking, my grandfather clock struck seven and began to play "Westminster Chimes." We jumped, startled by the noisy antique."Sorry, girl, I didn't ...

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“Mistress of Doubt” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #273

Darn it! The Old Hag is following me again! I just can't, not after yesterday. Another day like that, and I'm finished as a writer.Doubling my pace, I cut through allies and shops, but I could still hear her high heels clicking behind me. Five shops and three alleys later, the clicking finally stopped. I pretended to look back at a passing bus to confirm I lost her.Darn it! Still there! What have I done to deserve this? Unlike me, she wasn't even sweating. It was ridiculous! Instead of looking frazzled, she looked like she came from a glamou...

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“Strange Noises Strange Eyes” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #272

There are many strange noises in a forest on an island: the hooting of owls, scurrying of small animals, crunching undergrowth of larger ones. Or are the hooting secret signals from man-eating natives moving into position to attack? Or angry grundle barrs? Or confused ellawyns about to blow the marooned sailors into the sea. Captain Wington imagined them all."Did you hear that?" Captain Wington said.He gripped his sword tighter, peering into the spooky tree line for movement. Not that his frazzled imagination needed any proof. He "saw" plent...

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“A Rowing Pit Offers Hours of Sit-up Sleeping” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #271

They don't tell you in rowing school that you sleep where you row. No! They let you believe you'll have a quadruple bunk or at least a wooden floor to sleep on. Surely, a ship in Selwyn's navy affords that much comfort? But no. The rowing pit offers hours of sit-up sleeping, no room to stretch out, and splinters to rollover sleepers - like Flimlet."Curse that cursed belt," Flimlet mumbled to himself loud enough for Lady Nimmo to hear.Lady Nimmo lay against her husband, unable to sleep. The belt wasn't the only thing she'd like to curse right...

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“We Could Tie a Rope Behind the Ship” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #270

"We have to go to Izen!" Lady Nimmo pointed her roasted chicken leg at everyone around the campfire. "I agree Captain Wington is a little much, but who else do you know that has his own ship?" She said before taking a bite out of her chicken leg.Everyone reluctantly agreed, even though they knew they would be subjected to Captain Wington's weight-to-oar fixations."Will he?" Flimlet asked. He grabbed a potato off the pan and took a huge bite before thinking. His eyes jumped wide open. He didn't want to spit it out, so he attempted to cool the...

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“Lady Nimmo and the Cursed Belt” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #269

Oakaford strategically positioned stumpers to capture the shadow elves who were shooting arrows into Lady Nimmo's house. Oakaford and the stumpers took this very personally. She brought them to life, and because of this connection, they become extremely upset when someone tries to harm her."Okay, everyone," Oakaford whisper-shouted. "Less noise."The entire line of root-footed stumpers kicked up enough noise to alert a passed-out drunk troll who is hard of hearing. Of course, Oakaford's "whisper-shouting" only added to the cacophony.Ash-rim s...

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“Through A Locked Door” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #268

If you saw my wife, you'd tell me how stupid I was for hitting her. And I wouldn't argue. She's a looker. I mean, she makes women in the movies look butt ugly. But in my defense, if you only knew the things I put up with at work, you'd cut me some slack. I know what you're gonna say – that's no excuse. But, hey, don't worry. I'm going to apologize – if she'll let me. She's been crying in our room for hours. I've tried entering several times, but it's locked. All that punching and shouting must have drained me more than I imagined. Just turni...

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“A Twisted Tale of a Fart Gone Wrong” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #267

That was not a fart! I knew Taco Bell was a bad idea. Number 35 stole the ball meant for me. "Hey, Ed! What the heck! Cut!" Darren yelled. It's true, the lane was open. However, my current situation did not lend itself to fast breaks. I slowly jogged back to the other side of the court, trying not to exasperate the mishap. Then it hit me — white uniform! We're the home team! The coach bellowed, "Get your butt back on defense!" My butt was precisely the problem. I needed to limit my movement as much as possible. If I keep moving, t...

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Author bio

Okay, a serious bio is long overdue. For over 20 years I've delivered packages for FedEx. I'm a mega audible book reader (it's safer while driving). My personal library contains 314 books (I finished most of them), and back in ancient history, when men used tapes, cds, and mp3s, I listened to around 400 books (most from public libraries). I didn't start writing until I desperately needed a less physical hobby. Basketball betrayed me, and my 40 plus year old body could no longer play without pain. The loss of a de-stresser led to mild depression. I attempted many hobbies, but they only created frustration and more stress. In March of 2023, I found Reedsy. I recalled my college English Comp professor saying he thought I had potential for writing, so I entered a story, and have never looked back. Writing is an amazing de-streesser and psychologist. I've been able to deal with more than I'm willing to say. It's been a God-send. The mild depression disappeared, and I'm having fun (most days, but you know what I mean). The Reedsy community is tremendously encouraging and helpful. I know I have much to learn, and I'm grateful for how much I have learned. I plan on staying here, meeting weekly contest deadlines, reading other entries, and giving as much karma as possible. So, there you go, a serious bio. 🤣