Denise Mastrocola

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

Stories (9)

9 Stories

210 karma pts

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“Turn Back Time” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #186

Rivers of fabric between my fingers. A lovely shade of blue. Sapphire, cerulean— or is it closer to teal? It doesn’t really matter. So soft; I sigh— Staring into space— into time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A floor length gown, swirls about the room. His arm about my waist. The scent of Old Spice lingers between us. His smile; that mysterious smile. Release— ...

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“Dear to My Heart” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #185

Some references to war and its atrocities. Papa was a university professor before the war— before we were forced to build a bomb shelter in the woods behind our home— before that dark day, when we were forced to use it to hide from those who said they were there to protect us. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The relentless...

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“Mystery on Mackinac ” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #182

Handing her ticket to the man on the dock, Chelsea hurried after her sister who was already aboard the ferry, and was heading for the upper deck. “What’s your hurry,” she panted, grasping the handrail, and using it to pull herself up faster. With the exception of several overly eager children, most of the passengers were moving at a leisurely pace, enjoying the breezes off the lake, and cranin...

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“In The Clinches” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #181

The gathering crowd, and consequent buzz of voices, was impossible to miss. Feigning interest in her book, Adelin’s eyes shifted to her right where several older women had gathered, their body language screaming agitation. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she fought the urge to join them, not wanting to get pulled into their drama. What was it Tevye had said in the musical, Fiddler on the Roof?— “Go...

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“Tis a Gift to Live Simply” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #179

Stepping back from the colorful display, Caroline Winters surveyed her work. Pictures, quotes, inspirational messages, a poem clipped out of a magazine; it reminded her vaguely of a collage she had made in the fifth grade for career day. Eyes drawn toward the center of the arrangement, she whispered the words, “Two roads d...

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“Through Their Eyes” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #175

“The children’s story time begins in fifteen minutes,” the young assistant said, glancing over at the head librarian expectantly. “That’s right,” the woman replied, calmly shifting books back and forth, sorting them into neat stacks. “Is the room prepared?” “Yes, but our reader hasn’t arrived yet, and there are already several children and thei...

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“A Bit of Auld Lang Syne” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #174

Morning crept slowly through the mists, almost imperceptibly, waves of pinks, yellows, and blues spreading across the horizon, reflecting off the glassy, rippling lake. Sitting in my Adirondack chair, legs bent, with my chin resting on my knees, I waited, watching— listening as the world around me whispered back to life. We had arranged to meet this morning for a reunio...

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“One Simple Word” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #172

Pushing past the wall of humanity leaving the coffee shop with their steaming cups of gourmet brew, I walked to the counter, ordered my simple hot chocolate, and found a seat in the back corner by the window. White swirls against the glass reminded me of another winter day, many years ago, when a question was asked, an answer was given, and one simple word changed my life.I began my journey blindly, not realizing when I heard the music, stepped into his room, and looked into th...

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“In the Shadows” by Denise Mastrocola

Submitted to Contest #105

In the Shadows (Genevieve) Little did I know as I lay sweating in my bed, too ill to get on with my duties, that the mistress of the house was working on a remedy for me in her still-room. Normally an apothecary would have been sent for, but he was away and his apprentice didn’t know when he would be back. One of the handmaids, Anne, interceded on my behalf a...

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Author bio

Denise is a writer/editor who has been writing for most of her life. Short stories, blog posts, novels, poetry, or non-fiction— she has dabbled in all of it at one time or another. Denise enjoys a challenge and likes to write to a deadline so as to keep herself focused. She naturally leans toward historical fiction, or young adult fiction, but likes to try other things as well.