Frances Goulart

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2024

Stories (13)

13 Stories

195 karma pts

?

“OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #278

O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?Precious Catherine:I have so many things to say to you, Catherine. That’s why I decided to set my laptop and phone aside and put the words that follow into the form of an old- fashioned handwritten letter. Handwritten! Who does that anymore? Why? Because it seemed a more honest  and more personal way to say what I have been meaning to say to you  for a while now. Ever since that night after our movie date I when I got that phone call and got up and left. And didn’t come back. Remember you asked me ‘did...

0 comments 0
Read story

“CALL ME KAT” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #276

CALL ME KAT “Aaron, it’s almost dinner time. Where are you going?”“I don’t know. It’s the strangest thing
 but did you see the black cat that showed up at the back door? 
.This is the second morning I found her  sitting on the porch 
almost like she’s waiting for me, waiting for me to join her. She didn’t even look at the sauce of milk I put out for her. Aren’t cats supposed to like milk? She just sat there and gave me that look. Looked me straight in the eye. Anyway it felt that way.”“What look? ““As though she wanted me to f...

7 comments 7
Read story

“WHERE THE WILD THINGS AREN'T ” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #274

WHERE THE WILD THINGS AREN’T “Tell me again about this night terror of yours, Aidan 
How do you describe it? ““It’s simple. It’s real simple, doc.  I just can’t look under the bed, never, not after the sun goes down. ““Because there is a monster there? You know that is a very childish fear. And you are 30 years old now. That makes you a grown-up.”“You don’t have to remind me, doc. You are the only one I can talk to. The only one who will listen.”“Well, okay, let’s talk about it. Again. Tell me what you think is under the bed?...

1 comment 1
Read story

“THE PATH ALMOST FOLLOWED ” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #273

THE PATH ALMOST TAKEN I don't usually walk at night, well, not this late after dark but I have a reason to walk tonight. This is no time for a car ride. And I am recording my thoughts because well, maybe someone (I really don't know who) might be interested in hearing why I did what I am about to do. And it‘s   too late to tell me I am being impulsive, headstrong. It’s much too late for that. By the time you will hear this, whoever you are. Maybe you’re just a morbid bystander, maybe a friend (if I ha...

0 comments 0
Read story

“YOUR HUSBAND, MY HUSBAND, WHOSE HUSBAND?” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #271

YOUR HUSBAND, MY HUSBAND, WHOSE HUSBAND? “What a five-star day! Makes you forget all your troubles out here on the ocean. Have you ever taken a cruise before? Have you ever been to this part of the world 
..before?”“Actually this is my first. My first cruise and my first visit to the Greek Islands. It’s thrilling.”“Mine too ... I don’t know why I waited this long. Oh, sorry, my name is Estelle. I’m traveling alone. ““ I’m Joy. Nice to meet you. I’m also traveling solo. But same here. I don’t know why I waited so long except, well, I wou...

1 comment 1
Read story

“THE BIG CHILL” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #270

THE BIG CHILL (or REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD) “Look at the calendar. Look!  It’s been two long years to the day that I’ve been locked up been in here! I shouldn’t be here at all. Ed, I know and I know you know in your heart of hearts that I had nothing to do with that hold-up. Why would I, a man of lifelong good character, a man of principle, a professional chef, even consider such a criminal act like bank robbery for one minute? Why?”“Yeah, I know, Jacko, of course you are innocent. Everyone in this joint is innocent, an...

2 comments 2
Read story

“MAGIC BY THE BOX” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #269

MAGIC BY THE BOXCriticize me all you want, I know you will mock me, when you get here, Paul.  I don’t care if you don’t believe in magic. What’s the harm?  But I’m not even in a hurry.  Look, I haven’t even opened the box, have I? I haven’t even untied the string. Or touched the tape! It is still sitting here on the kitchen table with the twine, the tape and the postage stamps intact.  There must be something special inside if they used tape and doubled up on the twine, don’t you think? And how long has it been sitting th...

0 comments 0
Read story

“AFTER ....THE ACCIDENT?” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #267

AFTER 

..THE ACCIDENT???? I am staring up at a ceiling that isn’t  mine, on a hard mattress in in a bed that definitely isn’t  mine, in some kind of  nightshirt  that I would never have to worn to bed or anywhere else.! Where are my clothes? Where am I?  I have to get out of here. What’s this, bandages around my wrists?  And what is this tag on my wrist? It says Harrison Carmichael?  Who is Harrison Carmichael?  My name is Jack. Jack Keller.  It’s always been Jack Heller. Is this some kind of jok...

1 comment 1
Read story

“COURTING THE NUMERICAL (NO, THE ALOPHABETICAL) MUSE” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #266

Frances.goulart@gmail.com Courting the Numerical, (no, the Alphabetical) Muse ! Any writer worth his, her or their salt needs a muse to spark his, her or their creativity from time to time.  For some, it might be fantasizing about a beautiful human in real life or in fantasy, or gazing out at majestic rolling hills, a pastoral landscape, or having a faithful family dog with its chin resting on your slippers.  Picasso’s muse (and lover) was the photographer and surrealist artist Dora Maar who inspired several famous portraits inclu...

1 comment 1
Read story

“LOST AND FOUND....AND LOST AGAIN” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #265

LOST AND FOUND 
.AND LOST AGAIN I am a simple man. With a simple name, Ed. Just Ed. (Sometimes people call me Ted or Fred but I don’t mind.) Ed is a shorter, simpler name than Ted or Fred. Or even Ned! I have a simple way of living. No fancy curtains or antique armchairs or Persian rugs for me.  I live in a plain house. With two floors and no basement. Basements and attics are fancy. I just need the basics.I drive a simple car. Look, out the window. It is parked in that spot with my name. Just Ed. It is a simple...

0 comments 0
Read story

“TWO STRANGERS WALK INTO A WEDDING PARTY...” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #264

TWO STRANGERS WALK INTO A WEDDING PARTY
.. “Phew, what a relief to be inside! I know this is a happy wedding celebration, but what’s with all the shouting out there? Shouldn’t the action be in here now that the ceremony is over?  I thought I came here for some good cheer (and some fancy food)!” “Yeah, me, too, dude, what is it that’s happening out there?  “No idea. And you know what? I don’t really care. I parked in the front but I came in the back way to avoid the crowd. But most of the crowd seems to be out front. I don’t hear a...

0 comments 0
Read story

“HOT PLANET HOT PROPEERTY” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #262

Frances.goulart@gmail.com HOT PLANET, HOT PROPERTY “Hey, come on in, pal!  You look soggy.” “No surprise.  This is the hottest day of the summer of this year, or last year or the year before. Check your thermometer! “ “It’s maybe the hottest summer day ever, I’m hearing. But not in here.” “I know every August is steamy but this one is different. I swear, I’ve been sweating from my armpits and eyebrows for two days now. “It's climate change... That’s gotta be it. “ “Yeah maybe, maybe not.  But whatever it is out there.&...

0 comments 0
Read story

“THANKS, NO THANKS!” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #261

Frances.goulart@gmail.com THANKS, NO THANKS “Thank you? Are you joking? You expect me to be grateful to you.  Really? You, you kidnapped me. You took me out of my bed at midnight. You must have because and I don’t fly. How did I get here? No, don’t tell me. A princess doesn’t travel in a sleeping gown. This not a proper outdoors dressing gown. And where are my slippers? “. “Those slippers came from my father the King. There, I am grateful to him for those slippers but not to you! He will be here to rescue me before you can put the kettl...

1 comment 1
Read story

Author bio

I write poetry, children's fantasies, also non-fiction dealing with food, health, cooking. My book FOR THE LOVE OF LEMONS will be out sometime later this year.