Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (62)

62 Stories

3225 karma pts

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“Lion Eyes” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #231

In the heart of Texas stands an exclusive hunting club called The Gable, a two-story lodge of gigantic proportions. Made of cedar, it sprawls out over ten thousand square feet. Its front doors open onto a cobblestone deck the length of an average tree and an open-roofed cedar deck above it. This astonishing entrance is supported by six cedar logs going from ground to roof, each cut from a single tree. Everything about this lodge screams extravagant wealth: huge windows, log pillars, fountains with statues of elk, deer, and bears standing tal...

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“Promotion of a Pimply Teenager” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #230

"You've only been here for two months," Gary, a middle-aged man in a white, button-up, grease-stained shirt, said. "I thought of that, and so I wrote down several reasons you should promote me," Brice, a pimply teenage boy wearing a red Captain John's Seafood work shirt, replied. Gary pinched the bridge of his nose with resignation. He was on hour sixty-five of an eighty-hour work week and had no energy to resist. "Alright, let's hear them." "First, I want to thank you for the opportunity to present my reasons for promoting me as the n...

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“The Change” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #229

"I don't have a reason. I just want it too," Anne Joyce said with a smile as she opened the top door of her double oven and put in her green bean casserole, wiping her hands on her snowman apron. The Joyce's kitchen was buzzing with activity. James, husband and father, bent over the table, brushing egg wash on rolls. "Does she have to have a reason?" "Ah, come on, Dad. It's more fun if we pry it out of her," Glenn said. "The Young One is right," Stan, the oldest twin by five minutes, said. "Isn't it the reason for tonight? To have fun?...

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“There Was a Chainsaw. There Was a Tree.” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #224

He set the alarm for 1:30 AM. "If the early bird gets the worm, then the night owl gets a buffet," Barron smirked at his cleverness. His "worm" was over fifty feet tall: Mr. Freeman's oak tree. It stood on the border of their backyards, and he wanted it down. He couldn't say why, just that he did, and tonight was the perfect opportunity with his parents on vacation and the Freemans staying overnight in the city. No one would be around to hear the deed. Beginning two months ago, Barron Abernathy researched how to cut trees down like most ei...

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“The Voice of a Moonbow” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #220

"That's what you get for twelve thousand?" Art Berkshire said. "We could have bought a house for that when we were first married." "Yes, dear," Betsy said with a tear in her eye."I mean, it's robbery. Instead of suits, they should have worn masks."Betsy didn't respond, and she knew she wouldn't need to for a while because his rants required little response. Fifty-three years had taught her when she should chime in."You know they reuse the coffin shell but still charge for it. Highway robbery!" Betsy looked out the window as they drove o...

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“The Cost of a Miracle” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #219

"I'm not sure what he's talking about," Harry said as he picked his teeth with a toothpick. "Some kind of religious mumbo jumbo." He threw the toothpick in a trash bin and felt for his phone. "I've got to send this to Eddie." He recorded thirty seconds as the preacher calmly talked with a couple. "Although, he's not a very exciting crazy preacher.""You don't see his kind much these days," Will said. "My old man used to poke fun at them. He would get people laughing so much that he said it made him feel like Larry the Cable Guy. Man, the stor...

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“A Lucky Knight” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #217

A sleepy river wound its way through the houses and huts of Hamdorn, a peaceful village in the kingdom of Bardton. The river provided the essentials for the village to thrive: water, fish, and boats laden with goods from Elgin. However, tonight, it added one more essential: a romantic backdrop. Sir Dugmore and Lady Frances walked along its grassy banks, holding hands and speaking in hushed tones. "I don't understand," Sir Dugmore said. "What's so hard to understand about liking dragons?” Lady Frances said. "The part where you like them...

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“The Chair in the Woods” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #216

Kelly stood in line. Always so busy, she thought. She counted the people in front of her, only three orders away. Her eyes kept darting to an overstuffed chair in the corner. I have to have it. I just can't go on. It's been too long. Two away. One away."Hi, Kelly. Would you like your usual?"Kelly was distracted by the chair. "Hi Julie, just my usual." The cashier gave her a strange look. Kelly paid and dashed to the corner chair. Her heart was racing as she got closer. It was still open. She walked faster as she thought, stay open, stay open...

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“Befriending a Vampire over a Rare Steak” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #215

"So, you say biting is out of the question?" The Count asked matter-of-factly as they walked on a crowded Manhattan sidewalk. "Absolutely," the Doctor answered. "What if no one was looking, and a lonely madame really wanted me too?" "No!" "How about a suicidal man who was about to jump?" "Still no!" "Really? That seems a bit wasteful. He would have died anyway. Why shouldn't I suck his blood?" "Not even if he begged you. You said you wanted to ditch the "monster" image. There are no exceptions." "Yeah. Alright. But this is go...

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“The Desert Gives and the Desert Takes Away” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #204

A dusty SUV pulled beside a gas pump. A couple, Scott and Judy, got out, looking just as dusty. He filled up the tank while Judy went inside, searching for a restroom."Over there," an old woman behind the counter pointed to the bathrooms."Thanks," Judy wasted no time. She really needed to go and had for over thirty miles.After Judy finished, she perused the aisles, not looking for anything but relishing the cool air-conditioned store. Theirs went out just before leaving Oklahoma. They could hardly believe their dumb luck. Here they were, abo...

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“Club of the Grotesque” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #203

Flea markets: the Mecca of antiquarians and hoarders alike. The first search for underpriced antiques hiding among the worthless junk. The latter uses them like a drug addict uses needles, the hunt and acquisition of more stuff gives them a high. Lying in the middle of these extremes are average people: the garage seller, the poor, the stingy, the bored. However, there is a minuscule amount of people who can’t be put into any category. A group that shouldn’t even exist in polite society. Chad McDoon belonged to this group. A rear breed of gr...

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“Tearing Down” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #202

Sampson slept on Delilah’s softest sofa amid a tremendous amount of hair clippings. His hair clippings. He was a very sound sleeper, and this made Delilah’s job that much easier. After cutting Sampson’s long hair off, she tied his arms with seven new ropes. While she did this, his snoring wasn’t halted, not even for a second. “I hate to do this, my lover, but I can’t live off love alone.” She went outside to inform the Philistine soldiers that it was safe to go in and arrest him.The soldiers stealthily entered her house, and surrounded Samps...

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“The Eternal Offer” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #200

The two of them looked ordinary. Nothing stood out. The clothes. The hair. The shoes. All typical. Moving among the mass of New Yorkers and tourists, they easily blended in. Admittingly, this wasn't a challenge in Time Square. There were so many nut cases; ordinary people looked odd. And odd was par for the course on this street. “I hate New York!” Said one of the two–a tall man with white hair pulled back into a ponytail, a muscular frame, and a stern look. “Messed up Time Tickers! Why do they try so hard to be freaks?” “They are just t...

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“Peter Wingate!” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #199

“The wisdom that poured from his mouth was mind-blowing.” Roger, a college student, said to his parents as they sat around the dinner table. “I mean, the things he taught me about life and how to be successful in business were worth a college education.” His black hair kept falling into his eyes as he gesticulated his excitement. “You mean the guy you met on the airplane?” His dad, Jim, asked. “Yeah! Haven't you been listening?” Roger laughed and shook his head. “He has changed my life!” “This guy you just met on the airplane?” Jim rai...

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“Relive Again Agency” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #196

Time travel is easy. It’s paying for it that’s hard. Most people can only dream about it. Even the wealthy have to think twice about it. It takes millions of Global Credits to time travel. The longer you want to stay in the past the more it costs. The companies that provide time travel, justify their price because the time splitters cost billions. So as of right now, only the wealthy can even entertain the thought of time travel. A wealthy man in his old age, planned a five year trip. He lost his wife a year ago and couldn’t stand living w...

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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. 🤣