Elisa Welch

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2024

Stories (4)

4 Stories

69 karma pts

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“Daddy's Favorite” by Elisa Welch

Submitted to Contest #270

Rachel stepped off the school bus warily, already listening for the angry bark of Daddy’s huge, black mutt, Peach. She walked up the driveway, walking as fast as she could, eyes wide and scanning the yard, so his daily lunge at her wouldn’t take her by surprise. Even with the rope that tethered him to the giant elm, and the fence that lined the driveway, the long walk from the road to the porch was a daily ordeal.But all was silent as she reached the front steps. She skipped the broken step, then crossed the grey wood porch, with its peeling...

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“Seven Rooms” by Elisa Welch

Submitted to Contest #255

EntrywayI am standing in the entryway of my mother’s small house, holding empty boxes, keys hanging limply from a finger. The silence holds me like a vise. My body is poised, waiting for the blare of Fox news, the raspy call of her angry need.“Reyna! Where’s my damn Newports?! Cheese and rice, girl, I’ve been waiting all day, get a move on!”Her voice echoes in my mind, but the house remains eerily quiet. I can’t stop staring at the dust bunny that has formed in the corner near the old bench where I learned to tie my shoes. Mot...

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“Bad Math Will Kill Ya” by Elisa Welch

Monday, March 1st, 2010 Went to see the doc today.  He’s concerned about the weight gain, but we agreed that a couple dozen pounds isn't surprising, given I did quit smoking.  Yeah, that took a few years longer than I planned, but I’ve been tobacco free for three weeks now - yay for me!   I could only do a minute or two of the treadmill test, so he wants me to start with a simple goal, like ONE sit-up.  Can you believe it? Something about if I make it small enough, I can’t talk myself out of it.  Well, challen...

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“The Flame that Holds the Darkness at Bay” by Elisa Welch

Submitted to Contest #232

The monks of Imau Getan had been singing for 698 years, 9 moons and 17 days without pause.  Had they stopped, or so they believed, a darkness like no other would enfold the world for a thousand years.  Men would turn against friend and neighbor, cities would burn, nations would go to war for no reason other than to destroy one another.  The monks’ song was a Lighthouse to the world.  Their liturgy named it the Flame.  And so the monks sang.  Sometimes their ranks were hundreds, too many to fit in the unchangin...

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Author bio

I'm a lapsed writer trying to get back into the habit of writing every day. Also a graduate student and a grandma, which makes it too easy to procrastinate !