Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2020

Stories (84)

84 Stories

28875 karma pts

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“How To Slash A Tire” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #140

Step One: Let some air out.“You have to depressurize the tire,” the older boy explains, pulling out his switchblade. With a flick of a button, a two-inch blade appears. My eyes grow wide—I have never seen anything like it. With a vulpine grin, he hands the knife to me to hold. I shake my head. His hair is long, blonde, feathered. He’s wearing a black AC/DC concert t-shirt. I don’t know him very well since he goes to another school, but he’s a friend of Susy Watts. “Why do you have to do that?” I ask, watching him use the tip o...

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“Growing Sideways” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up.”“Get out of my room.”I cross my arms. We stare at each other.“$275,” I say. “It’s going to cost $275 to replace your retainer.”“So?” “So? So—do you have $275 to replace your retainer?” I ask my son, exasperated at his indifference.“No,” he replies, dismissing me. He begins to shove his earbuds back into his skull. I slap them out of his hands.“HEY,” he protests, snatching them off the floor. His fingernails are painted black, the nail polish chipped around the tips. “I’m talking to you,” I explain, growing more infur...

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“Homewrecker” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #138

“No, she isn’t my daughter,” he corrects a colleague. “She’s my wife.”On cue, I beam at my husband, innocent and doe-eyed—like I did in my 20’s when he was in his 40’s. His friend invariably elbows him, making comments about cradle robbing and spring chickens. We laugh. I say something clever in reply. His companion looks surprised. And she’s witty, too?My cheeks hurt in an attempt to hold a smile. They continue to talk like I’m not there, but my husband reaches out for my hand. Above all, we are the dearest of friends. But in publ...

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“Spider Silk” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #137

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” My sister Lizz holds up the book she is reading to her 3rd grade science class. The eight-year-old students go wide-eyed at seeing a picture of little Fern attempting to wrestle away an ax from her father. He has planned to kill a newborn pig, the runt of the litter. Holy shit, I think. Charlotte's Web is brutal. I remember loving the book from my childhood, but now, as an adult? I had forgotten how unsparing E.B. White is with his charming tale about a pig and a spider. I look around to see ...

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“Hack” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #136

Your cursor blinks. Your cursor blinks ceaselessly. You delete ceaselessly. Adverbs are not your friend. Adverbs are indicative of weak diction, but you cannot think of a better verb to express the action just the way you want. Certainly you can use an adverb occasionally. You delete occasionally. You delete certainly.You can use an adverb on occasion. You close your laptop. Your writing session is not going well. None of the five prompts are particularly inspiring.You decide to take a break. Make a sandwi...

106 comments 106

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“War Crimes” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #135

Andriy watched his father move an anti-tank mine out of the roadway using his bare hands, all the while smoking a Chinese cigarette, the tobacco loose and pungent. “Your name, Andriy, means manly and strong,” his father explained through clenched teeth, delicately carrying the explosive. “I named you for days like these. You will be a soldier. A warrior.” “How can I be a warrior? I’m twelve,” Andriy replied, standing a ways off, hands at the ready to cover his ears. “Twelve is old enough to be the greatest of warriors. Yo...

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“Few and Far Between” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #134

“He fell again,” my husband mouths to me, then returns to his phone call with his-brother-who-I-cannot-stand. “No, no. I’m right here. I can be there in twenty minutes.”Of course he’s going out in an ice storm in the middle of the night. Of course he’s the one my father-in-law calls, a man who patently favors my husband’s inept older brother and overindulges his younger one. Of course he’s riding to the rescue. That’s what martyrs do. My husband paces, phone still in hand. “Did the doctors say anything else—what caused the fall?” D...

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“Get Thee to a Nunnery” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #131

“Sister Theresa, what time does the new applicant arrive?” Sister Pauline asked politely, to avoid Sister Theresa’s wrath. For a Franciscan, Sister Theresa could be entirely uncharitable, even to the abbess herself.“Oh you old cow, I’ve told you twice already!” Sister Theresa replied, throwing the bread dough she’d been kneading into a large wooden bowl, as if the water, flour, salt and yeast had purposely annoyed her. She punched the dough down a few more times, then covered the bowl with a kitchen towel to let it rise. In an hour or so, sh...

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“Marked for Failure” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #130

Twenty years earlier, Chaoxiang’s mother had held her newborn son, weeping with joy. Of all the auspicious names to choose from, his mother picked the Chinese name for “expecting fortune.” As an undocumented kitchen worker at AmeriCasino’s Shanghai Buffet in Reno, Chaoxiang had learned to temper his expectations. In the midst of chopping endless mounds of broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and peppers for a pittance, Chaoxiang paused mid-slice, knee-deep in parings, to watch the cheery twinkle lights blink. Outside, they clicked wildly agains...

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“Perilous Times Shall Come” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #129

When the end came, it was the people in the cities who suffered the most.Barbeau lay low on the snowy roof of the abandoned ski chalet, focusing his 10x50 binoculars on the great plumes of black and gray smoke spiraling from the general direction of Washington, D.C. It appeared Interstate 66 was still blocked heading west. Exactly who had commandeered the roadway—Barbeau couldn’t hazard a guess. But the ice and freezing snow were making passage all the more difficult for them. He stoically watched a steady stream of heavy military trans...

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“Pink Martini” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #128

“I don’t think I’m ready.”“You’re ready. Besides, you don’t have a choice.”“I don’t have a chance . . .” “C’mon. She’s sweet.”“She’s scary.”“She’s sweet and scary and—six years old. Look, I think you have a distinct advantage, being a grown up and all.”“Ugh . . . tell me what she wants to do again?”“She wants to have tea with her mommy’s new boyfriend.”“Where?”“In the treehouse.”“Do I have to climb the tree?”“Yes, you have to climb the tree—in your suit.”“Why do I have to wear a suit? I don’t even wear a suit to work.”“She wants a forma...

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“Death By Sharpie” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #127

Lori Greene was needlessly cruel and we were afraid of her. “Please don’t slice and dice other students with your sharp tongue, Lori,” scolded Ms. Attaway, our 7th grade drama teacher. “Everyone deserves your respect.”When Ryan Wiggins laughed at her rebuke, Lori Greene decided to cancel him on the spot. “You’re a pervert, Ryan,” she loudly announced to the class. “I’ve seen what’s on your camera roll, and you are a creeper.” The entire first period class, except for Ms. Attaway and Ryan, burst out into laughter. Of course Lor...

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“The 2nd Floor of the Circuit Court Building” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #126

“Stay off the 2nd floor of the Circuit Court building,” my older brother advises, lighting a cigarette directly under a No Smoking sign. “Why?” “Ain’t nothing good up here,” he replies, his cigarette ash falling on the paperwork declaring him my guardian. The clerk frowns at him while he signs, but he flashes her a dazzling smile when he hands the papers back to her. One look at his handsome face and all is forgiven. “What’s a ward?” I ask, squinting at the paper. “A dependent,” he replies, carefully writing out a c...

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“The 10th Circle of Hell” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #124

“Virgil?” “Yes, Dante.” “Um, what’s going on here? I was told there were only nine circles of hell.” “There were only nine circles of hell in the 20th century. But for the 21st century? We needed to expand.” “You needed to . . . expand. Hell.” “Yes. We’ve added a whole new circle. Well, truthfully, it’s more oblong than circular. It’s been that sort of millennium.” “Virgil. In all seriousness, I’m not sure I can walk through another realm of the damned. It’s hella depressing.” “Well, you don’t have much of a choice do you? ...

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“Florida Man” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #123

Miami⛱⛱⛱“Well, that was dramatic.”“You know the drill. We had to put a hood on you. It's better you don't know where you are.”“You could have just beaten me up on the street.”“Where’s the fun in that? Now, look Ricky, we’re tired of waiting for our money.” “I got your money . . . it’s just tied up.”“No, you are tied up. Hit him again.”“That’s not necessary—Oof!”“C’mon, Ricky. Don’t make us mess up your pretty face. Well, maybe it’s not so pretty anymore, and maybe your girlfriend won’t like you as much anymore.”“Keep my girlfriend’s nam...

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Author bio

Copyright © 2023 Deidra Whitt Lovegren - All Rights Reserved. Using content without written permission is prohibited. Check out the website: deidrawhittlovegren.com Listen to a podcast: Readlotswritelots.com Read us one of your stories: Bluemarblestorytellers.com Chat about the joys & frustrations of writing: https://discord.gg/bxTWQw3HJR Winning stories: 🏆#142 - "What You Can Do With Your Book" 🏆#67 - "Your Poor Rick" 🏆#53 - "The Play's the Thing" Shortlisted: 🏅#235 - “Dispatched” 🏅#198 - “Butter & Cream” 🏅#189 - “The Smoke of Her Burning” 🏅#172 - “Honestly” 🏅#171 - “Kaleidoscope” 🏅#168 - "Far Away and Fast” 🏅#158 - "Like a Baseball Bat to the Face" 🏅#144 - "Shuttered Hearts" 🏅#138 - "Homewrecker" 🏅#136 - "Hack" 🏅#124 - "The 10th Circle of Hell" 🏅#121 - "No Thank Hugh" 🏅#77 - "As Ice Glazes Rocks" 🏅#65 - "Marshmallow Wrapped In Barbed Wire" 🏅#52 - "Irrumator Praetor Matrem Suam" 🏅#47 - "A Breakup in Five Acts" My personal favorites are: ❤️ “No One Really Explains” ❤️ “Can't Get Enough of What You Don't Need”

Winning 2 stories 🏆

Contest #142

What You Can Do With Your Book – read story

Contest #67

Your Poor Rick – read story

Shortlisted 16 stories ⭐️

Contest #235

Dispatched – read story

Contest #198

Butter & Cream – read story

Contest #189

The Smoke of Her Burning – read story

Contest #172

Honestly – read story

Contest #171

Kaleidoscope – read story