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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023
Submitted to Contest #316
Shadows in the Classroom Looking at the box of crayons on the coffee table, I knew it was time to have the conversation."Come, Sarah, I have a story to tell you." I cleared the back-to-school shopping bags off the couch, making room for my granddaughter to sit next to me.“Mom! We talked about this. We agreed not to,” my daughter said, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.“Abigail, don’t interrupt your mother,” I reprimanded. “Come, little one, let your grandmother tell you the story.” Sarah abandoned her bag of art supplies and joined m...
Submitted to Contest #314
RED HOT “Come on, buddy, let’s get you to a shelter.”They peered into my box, shining a beam of light into my eyes.“Fuck off,” I wanted to say, but I knew better. Best not to antagonize the public, especially the cops. They would haul you out and shove you into their car quicker than you can shake your ass at them.I held my tongue and said nothing, waiting for them to move along.The sweat was collecting on my forehead, dripping sideways down my face, stinging my eyes. I felt sick, nauseous, and disgusted. When was the last time I had somethi...
Submitted to Contest #310
Loophole to Heaven I’ve often wondered about the reunion at The Pearly Gates. Are loved ones there upon your arrival to greet you, or do you have to wait around for them? Perhaps it’s like the airport where a guy is holding up a tattered sign displaying your name written with a Sharpie.What if no one shows up for you? While couples run to each other in slow motion, do you stand by and watch? You could take out your phone and idly scroll, pretending not to notice. Worse yet, what if your loved ones are actually terrible people? Are you stuck ...
Submitted to Contest #309
BALLOONS “Hey babe, you’re home early.”“Yeah, summer Fridays! We leave at 3:00 instead of 5:00. I’m psyched to be home!”I looked at the back of my husband’s head as he stood at the sink rinsing the cat bowl. “What’s up,” he mumbled in lieu of the fantasy conversation that just played in my mind.I watched him click open a can of cat food, scoop out a generous portion, and walk out the back door. I stood in the middle of the empty kitchen, the air beginning to escape my anticipation of the weekend balloon. Pffffssst. The clock glowed on the m...
“Rebecca, would you like to join the others in a card game?”Her gaze shifted from the blue sky through the window to the lady standing over her. Card game? What was she talking about?“Rebecca? What do you think? Want to play some rummy?” she asked a second time.“No.” She returned her gaze to the bluest of skies letting the voice float away. It was the perfect color, reminding her of that day so long ago. Where was she? Leaning back, legs outstretched holding onto those chains she saw that same blue sky, heard the laughter, felt the joy. She ...
Submitted to Contest #308
When I Was Nine “Are you watching?” I bounced up and down weightlessly in the cold water.“Watch me!” I shouted again for good measure before diving under to do a handstand. My fingertips touched the rough bottom as I thrust my legs up into the air. I held the position for as long as my lungs would allow before righting myself, gasping for air. Blinking and rubbing my eyes, I looked for my mother. “Did you see me? Did you?” I called out among the ruckus of screaming children.My mother, relaxing on the lounge chair, wiggled her fingers and smi...
Submitted to Contest #307
Walking down the empty hallway, I wondered if I had the right information. Slipping the flyer out of my pocket, I read for the millionth time “Salem meeting in Mahogany Hall”. I looked at the dark heavy door in front of me, took a deep breath, and pushed it open. I felt some trepidation but mostly excitement about pulling the trigger on my trip to Salem, my long-awaited graduation gift to myself. Having been to Boston a few years back, I wished I had taken the extra time to travel to Salem to pay my respects. The townsfolk who had been vicio...
Shortlisted for Contest #305 ⭐️
June 12, 2024 ~ Cagliari, Sardinia“Angel in a Yellow Dress” The charcuterie board was pushed across the counter to my husband’s surprise. He had gestured to the meats and cheeses through the glass counter but perhaps should have googled the Italian word for sandwich. “What’s this?” he demanded. “Just eat it,” I hissed at him hoping he wouldn’t refuse to pay or, worse yet, make a scene. “Okay, okay,” he grumbled, taking the tray and heading for the orange couch tucked behind a mahogany coffee table. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling wine bott...
Submitted to Contest #304
There it was just as expected, on time as if set with an alarm clock. The 3:00 AM door opened after being closed and bolted all day while she sat at her writing desk. She wasn’t surprised in the least.Trying to gain access between chores and appointments had proven to be impossible. Changing gears, new perspectives and fresh starts were all futile efforts. That massive door was held shut with an invisible combination lock with the right sequence of numbers unknown to her.At 3:00 AM it slid open, but more than slid open, if she was being real...
Submitted to Contest #298
Depression is real. It’s not something that anyone wants or chooses, and a simple “snap out of it” is never the answer. In fact, that kind of flippant advice only makes one feel more isolated and misunderstood.She had tried multiple forms of therapy, changed her diet, exercised, and experimented with prescription meds. There were occasional good results, some feelings of relief, but nothing ever lasted. Inevitably, the downward spiral always returned to drag her into its pit of despair.Again and again, she saw the catch phrase while scro...
Submitted to Contest #297
I wasn’t chosen to pull the trigger but would do so had my number been called. Surprisingly, after all the years of despair and decline we had kept the tradition of the weekly lottery. The country tuned in to hear the cheery voice announce the winning numbers. Unknown to the public, the first number called last week determined who would do the deed. If no one had an exact match, whoever was closest was tagged to be the one who must assassinate the dictator.We had little time to waste and a lot of moving pieces as the country slept ignorantly...
Submitted to Contest #294
Biting into my sandwich, I began to chew despite the choking sensation. I should have made it lighter, fewer slices of cheese perhaps, but then again, how lean can a sandwich be before it’s just bread on bread? I forced down the bite with a small sip of water. The whoosh of the Keurig along with the intoxicating aroma taunted me from across the lunchroom. My coworkers casually chatted while selecting their K-cups from the spinning rack, their easy banter keeping me seated in silence. I made a mental note to or...
Submitted to Contest #291
Being on the top of the pile gave me some hope. Not a lot, but I did feel more optimistic than I had at the bottom of the pile. What was going to happen to me? I knew my options and had considered them extensively. I could end up in storage, transferred to another store or simply dumped into the garbage. Another scenario, by far the worst, was fueled by whispered rumors that never calmed down completely. The fear of book burning haunted me in the quiet of the night when I was feeling the lowest of low. &nbs...
Submitted to Contest #290
I made sure the bottles were set properly, chose two ounces, and pushed the cold green button. A momentary pause led to the whir as the bottles filled simultaneously in the mechanical arms. The babies quieted down as they began to nurse. A quick look around assured me that the operation was running smoothly, so I switched off the light and left the feeding room. I had to get my monthly injection and then I was done for the day. Hunger pains began creeping in, and I thought of the frozen dinners piled in the freezer. ...
I follow the girl. I don’t know who she is or where she leads me. I don’t think to ask, nor do I worry. I succumb to the comfort as we begin another lap around the halls in the layers. There is no before, there is no after. There is no effort to my movement, as it is happening to me rather than by me.Wait. I want to meet him. I want so desperately to meet him. I love him.Can I convey this message to the girl when I have no voice, no means to speak? I must find a way.She is suddenly gone as I go through the laps ...
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