Jack Karolewski

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2021

Stories (7)

7 Stories

198 karma pts

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“Survivor” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #243

​The global pandemic was unstoppable. ​As soon as one vaccine was developed for the deadly air-borne scourge, the virus mutated, and the race was on to develop another. But it was a futile battle against time and statistical certainty. The human species was in a fatal downward spiral. Nature had outwitted medical science. The deaths came in a tsunami of disbelief, horror, and despair. ​Businesses closed for lack of workers. The world economy collapsed. Governments gradually shut down. Police and fire protection dwind...

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“The Last Library” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #142

Perhaps it was inevitable. For what is life but a never-ending cavalcade of change and loss? ​People around the world stopped purchasing -- then soon, completely stopped reading -- physical books and other print media such as newspapers and magazines. Bookstores and publishers went out of business. Writers went broke and gave up hope, and ultimately abandoned their chosen profession. Finally, one by one, ...

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“Guardian” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #103

​          GUARDIAN ​Whether you realize it or not -- from the moment of your conception in the womb to the instant of your last exhaled breath – you are being lovingly watched over and protected by a unique and powerful spiritual being. Some faiths refer to this entity as your ‘guardian angel’. It helps you choose between right and wrong, and acts as your ‘inner voice’ -- your conscience. This spirit has...

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“The Discovery” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #99

                           THE DISCOVERY                                                         It was a hot, humid July in 1961. I was just shy of my tenth birthday. We lived on the South Side of Chicago, about six city blocks from Rainbow Beach on Lake Michigan.       In the summer, I would often return alone to the beach on my green Schwinnbicycle with a small, broken window screen. There I wou...

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“THE DECISION” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #95

                      THE DECISION​ It was June in 1975, and I had just graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. My degree was in elementary education, and I was “gung-ho” to start my new teaching career. Unfortunately at that time, teaching jobs were scarce due to a nation-wide downturn in the economy. I needed a job andmoney...

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“DON’T YOU WISH” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #94

                    DON'T YOU WISH ​Owen Matmor was an ardent, dedicated walker. Naturally, he enjoyed other activities -- such as bicycling and swimming -- but hiking was his favorite pastime.              A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Owen was single and twenty-six years old. He worked as an AC/ heating system repairman during the week, and moonli...

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“I Saw the Light” by Jack Karolewski

Submitted to Contest #92

  I SAW THE LIGHT ​I was nine years old in 1960, and was living with my family on the South Side of Chicago. Our house was small – around 875 square feet, built of wood for my maternal grandparents in 1898 – with one area used as a bedroom by my two sisters, one bathroom, one bedroom for my parents, and one tiny bedroom for me. There was a kitc...

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Author bio

Teacher-Historian-Librarian-Author. I specialize in all genres of short stories. I have visited 118 countries so far, as well as all fifty states. Sixteen collections of my short stories are currently up on Amazon.