Frances Gaudiano

“A Road Trip with Returns” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #262

A Road Trip with ReturnsOnce a year her Aunt Anna came to visit with her rich husband and two spoiled children. Gillian looked forward to these holidays because her aunt enjoyed showing off her wealth to her sibling, Gillian’s father. They would arrive in their new car (a new one each year) and take Gillian’s family to restaurants, a rare treat for them. Over the visit, Gillian and cousins would be transported to amusement parks, the cinema and baseball games. Wherever they went they were allowed to fill up on ice cream and be given a souven...

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“Some Poor Player” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #257

Some Poor PlayerKerry hated making blood. It was next to impossible to get the right consistency. Too much corn syrup and the stuff turned into taffy, too much red food colouring and it would drip all over the stage. And it was a total pain in the ass getting if off the costumes. Why had she got stuck with Macbeth of all plays? Why couldn’t it have been As You Like It, Twelfth Night or Comedy of Errors. No, not Comedy, too many quick changes. At least Macbeth was a short play. It was no Hamlet. She gave a final stir to the congealing mess in...

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“Mandy Could Shoot” by Frances Gaudiano

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #255

Mandy could shoot. She could shoot better than any girl she ever met, any man too, but you didn’t go around telling men that. Men around here wouldn’t date a girl that was better than them and she did like going out on dates – getting all dolled up with her best outfit and putting on make-up. She liked when they picked her up in their newly cleaned truck and took her to dinner, or the cinema and they paid her way. Men around here were old-fashioned. That was fine with her. She’d smile, showing off the dimple in her left cheek and say, ‘Sure ...

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“Swimming Buddy” by Frances Gaudiano

Swimming Buddy Damn it’s cold! Never mind, if I get in quickly and kept moving, I might escape hypothermia. Not so easy getting in today though. My usual quiet cove has been hit by a north easterly wind and the waves are significant. Ug! Just got a face full of sea water. Well, flushing your nasal passages with salty water is supposed to be good for your sinuses. I just have to get out past these breakers. I enjoy swimming, that’s why I come down here every morning and brave the temperatures but I am no surfer. The waves seem to taunt me, r...

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“The Champion” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #209

The Champion It was a small car but I was a small person, fitting between the cooler box and the window. If I was quiet, they would forget I was there and I could lay my forehead against the cool glass and watch the country flash by me. I was their star gymnast and they were taking me around the country to various summer training camps. It was a privilege, setting me apart and making me an object of jealousy for the other girls on my team. It didn’t matter. I had never socialized with the team much anyway. I couldn’t go out for a burger...

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“New Skin” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #205

New Skin It was that time again; the serpent has summoned her. Minerva made her way down the steep path to the beach where he resided. On her way, she passed the sentinel tree and touched it, asking for its blessing and leaving next to it a bead she had saved as an offering. She noticed someone else had been to the tree today, scattering bird seed around the base of the Scot’s Pine. The path could be slippery when there was rain but today was bright and unusually warm, which made sense. The serpent would not have chosen an overcast day to...

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“A Nurse Remembers” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #195

A Nurse Remembers The receptionist put the box of biscuits on the staff room table and picked up the card taped to the box. “It’s from the Wakefields.” She proceeded to read out the card to the nurses collapsed on the sofa, nursing their cups of tea. “Many thanks to the wonderful vet Helen, who took care of our dog Ruby her whole life. Helen helped us with Ruby through all the years – her accident, her heart trouble and her final passing. We will be forever grateful.” The receptionist let the card fall on to the table. “Do you think Helen ...

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“It's Hardly Brain Surgery” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #194

It’s Hardly Brain Surgery “It’s not like it’s brain surgery,” Brian huffed as he handed Janet the new nail clippers he had bought at the pet store. “I’m sure it’s no different than cutting our own nails and it’s certainly not worth paying for a visit to the vet.” “If it’s so easy, why don’t you do it?” Janet was still refusing to take possession of the red-handled clippers with the nasty guillotine edge. “Because it’s not my dog.” Janet had to raise her eyebrows at that. Sinbad, the dog, spent most evenings sprawled on the couch next to ...

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“In the back of the truck” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #193

In the back of the Truck Jackie was between boyfriends. Way between boyfriends. The last two guys had turned about to be dating other women; actually, not just dating, in long-term significant relationships with other women. Jackie had been a fling, twice. So, was taking a break from men, a very long break. This didn’t sit well with Karen who had a fabulous love life and was planning on getting married. She wanted Jackie to be happy too. Jackie assured her friend that she was quite happy and quite busy, after all she was working on her mast...

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“What was Lost, Now is Found” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #192

Once was Lost, Now is Found Since they had moved away from their old home, they didn’t go to London much anymore. Bella used to love visiting the big city with all it’s museums and theatres and activities. Her daughter loved to go for the shopping. They would usually make a deal that if they went shopping for a couple of hours then Bella would get an hour in a museum. She supposed she could just let her daughter go off on her own – Chelsea was 17 now but Bella didn’t quite trust the city. It might not be safe to let a teenage girl off on h...

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“Speak to Me” by Frances Gaudiano

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #190

Speak to Me “Speak now,” Virginia said to the photograph of her sister. She waited patiently. She had always been patient with her sister, an emotional woman who had been married five times, always to assholes. Virginia has sat through many midnight phone calls with her sister, Elizabeth, sobbing on the other end of the line. Virginia had waited till the sobs subsided and then said, “Speak now.” She said it again to the photograph but it remained silent. Fine, there were other people to talk to. Virginia drifted over to the grand piano. N...

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“Purr” by Frances Gaudiano

Submitted to Contest #187

Purr I had smelled death on her for a while. As the time came near, I spent more and more time laying on her bed next to her. I aligned my body next to her chest - The bad spot was there, in her breast, where she would have suckled her kittens. I purred as loud as I could, trying to comfort her with my vibration. I hope I helped; I could feel that her pain was eating her alive. At the very end the man took me away and shut the door between me and my person. He never understood us. I know she would have wanted me there but she was too weak...

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