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David B Fraser

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2022

Stories (69)

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25 Followers

1 Following

69 Stories

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The Exit Interview

Submitted to Contest #211

Andrew could see Cheryl already sitting at a table when he came in. He checked his cell. Six-fifty-two. Cheryl appeared to have two glasses of wine on her table, and one was already empty. She was wearing a black and white long sleeved striped shirt and a beret. Andrew got his coat check stub and the Maître d’ escorted him to the table. “I really appreciate you coming Cheryl. I appreciate this opportunity.” Andrew said, seating himself. “Don’t.” Cheryl waved him quiet. “I just want to get this...

9 likes

A Knight, a Toad, and a Cat, go into a Library

Submitted to Contest #211

Margaret steadied herself on the ladder. She held on with one hand as the other was pressed against her white blouse trying to calm her heart against the height she had climbed. She lifted the same hand to run a finger along the heavy tomes stored up here. Coats of Arms. Heraldry. Gwynn-Jones. Emblems. Black, Farrel, Howells, Rowlands, Ward. Margaret looked down. At the foot the rolling library ladder was a knight, a toad, and a cat, looking up at her, expectantly. Of course, Margaret wasn’t sure it was a knig...

4 likes

It’s Not Who You Think

Submitted to Contest #210

Astra sat outside the café with her feet on the bench, and with her knees up against her chest. Glen, Harold, and Leslie hung around like puppies for her attention. The driverless cars provided a summer breeze as they hummed by. Glen sipped his drink straw and commented, “You should go out with me.” Astra shook her head, looking across the street towards the fountained park. “I only go for tall, thin, emancipated men.” Harold laughed and jabbed Glen. “She wants Leo.” &nb...

10 likes

The Last Stop

Submitted to Contest #209

Jimmy Toms walked into the gas station office carrying a ball peen hammer behind his back. He was six two and baby faced, with bad skin and glaring eyes. Arnold pushed his belly away from the ledger on his cluttered desk and stood. His stubby hand held a little stubby pencil. He was happy for the break from his bookkeeping until he saw the young man’s eyes. “Is this self-service?” Jimmy complained. “No sir.” Arnold smiled. Getting no smile back he went out to fill the vehicle...

8 likes

I was a John Q Extra

Submitted to Contest #207

“Cut” the first Assistant Director called. “Break for lunch.” The third Assistant Director announced. “We’re in that warehouse. Doors are way down the west end.” We were led by some seventh Assistant Director, Extra’s Wrangler, to the far end of a warehouse where catering had still not unloaded. “We’re locked out.” Another extra said yanking on the steel doors. “I saw tech guys somewhere at the other end inside, when we came over. We could knock on the window...

10 likes

He Knows the Building

Submitted to Contest #206

“The building is closed.” Altenhafen announced from a dark reception desk lit only with a reading lamp. Ginny approached in her uniform and placed her flashlight on the counter. “Final Line Security.” Altenhafen picked up the flashlight with his thumb and finger like it was a dead rat and handed it back to Ginny. “Where is Karl Bhaur?” He asked. “We’re separated. The company’s in my name. So, you have a contract with me, not Karl Bhaur. You won’t be seeing Karl Bhaur.” S...

9 likes

She Tries to Run Out

Submitted to Contest #206

Marcus Tomlinson judged the house to be at least a hundred years old. It was not likely to have had yard work done in living memory. Carly Whitby unlocked the front door. Marcus observed the curves of her cheap rhinestoned, black dressed, figure. She looked back and blushed at him. “I’m sorry, I meant to do this before our date but I had to get the kids back to my ex. He’s a psycho creep, and a pain in my ass if I’m late on the custody times.” The door opened to reveal an elderly woman b...

10 likes

He’s Coming Back

Submitted to Contest #206

I met Janie in an off-campus dive bar. She was thirty-five looking twenty-seven in a short red dress. She thought I was twenty-seven. I was twenty. “What are you studying?” She asked, not pretending to touch the drink I bought her. “Business management.” I said. She didn’t care. I told her, “I gotta get going. Got an exam tomorrow.” She put a hand around my waist as I stood up and drew me towards her bar stool. “You’re kind of shy.” “A little.” I admitted. &...

10 likes

Swindler’s End

Submitted to Contest #204

The Palace Hotel was the biggest house Big Jim had ever seen. Fancy carriages rolled by him and Big Jim paid no mind to the splashes of mud from them. He walked to the doors of the hotel and looked on the whitest whitewashed walls he had ever seen. The dark clouds were parting and the sun was coming out. He had arrived. As he walked closer to the doors Big Jim held the reins of his horse wondering where he was going to tie him off. Preston, the doorman, stood like a soldier at his post. He wore an expensive suit and...

10 likes

Email Love

Submitted to Contest #200

To: < Izak Brian, COO - Line Answers Communication> Hey, big guy, thanks for the drink yesterday. Sorry to hear about your wife. She’ll probably get better soon. She’s looks better in your wallet photo, than the one on your desk. Listen, I don’t know if you saw, or if you know, but I saw Jon Sweet there at that Carly’s Cafe. When we came in. He was putting on his coat. He was wobbling. I’m pretty sure he’s a drinker. I’ve heard that around, too. Betty Peak :) To: < Izak Brian, COO - Li...

12 likes

Did You Hear About Harriet?

Submitted to Contest #200

Harriet’s only real sin is that she was late for church every Sunday. She always has an excuse. Her arthritis was acting up. The car won’t start. The cat got out again. Harriet’s friends were complaining that the hot days of summer were here again and the old church wasn’t air conditioned. Lacking a budget to fix what they had, let alone buy new things, the ladies proposed to the Minister that services be pushed back an hour earlier so they could be done before the day’s heat wiped out the few remaining aging parishioners. The problem ...

12 likes

Anita and Desire

Submitted to Contest #199

Anita didn’t know someone had left a diary on her desk. She sat down in her corner office on the fourteen floor of the Jamal Schaefer Building to slog through another workday. She shifted about in the stiffness of her suit. She powered on her computer. She downed a mini bottle of an energy drink. She sipped away the taste with a vanilla cream latte. She cleared that away with a swig from her bottled water. Her eyes widened awake and she began. She pulled the elastics off a bundle placed on her desk. In the bundl...

8 likes

Soft Hands

Submitted to Contest #199

Isadore had drank too much wine. They had all drank too much wine. The cabin was spilling out light and laughter into the dark woods. “Swim time!” Carly announced. And with that, she ran down to the sandy shore by the lake and started peeling her clothes off. “We’re getting our suits.” Erica said. Mary and Larissa agreed. They changed and joined Carly for a boozy frolic. They all chimed in for Isadore to join them. She declined the invite to swim, feeling a bit lightheaded. ...

10 likes

I Went to the Concert

Submitted to Contest #199

My older brother warned me that High School was all street gangs. If you were fifteen and you weren’t in a street gang you got beat up by them, he said. For most of my High School I lived in fear. I always got to school early so I didn’t have to walk by the guys hanging out front before classes began. I sat at the back of every class and I didn’t ask questions. I carried as many books as I could from class to class to reduce any time in front of my locker when the hallways got busy. I got in and out of th...

10 likes

Her Smile

Submitted to Contest #199

Nancy was on her way to Red’s office only to find him buzzing open the front door to let in a man in a lumberjack shirt. “Just leave it on my desk.” Red called as they passed Nancy. Nancy turned to watch the man go by. As Red reached the warehouse doors the man looked back to look at her with his head a little down and a shy grin. Nancy gave him a crooked smile and the man was gone with Red. Nancy touched her cheek where the permanent crease was beside her mouth. She re...

8 likes