James Fritz

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2023

Stories (12)

12 Stories

221 karma pts

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“One Surly Bus Driver” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #246

The Greyhound bus isn’t as packed as I thought it would be. Usually, the Minneapolis to Chicago route is sold out. Katrina and I have a row to ourselves. She snuggles up close to me in the seat. I can practically taste her fruity perfume. Her glasses droop low on her face as she reads her Kindle. Her dimples look more pronounced whenever she’s concentrating on something. If there were an award for the most kissable nerd in the world, she would win.She’s letting me stay at her house over Christmas break. I’m going to meet her parents for the ...

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“The Bunker” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #234

January 16, 1945I’ve been waiting for you. Oh, how I’ve missed you. The world is crumbling around you, but I still take you in with open arms. The Soviets pursue you from the East, and the Americans from the West. We don’t have much time left together, but we’ll make the most of it.My beloved Fuhrer… my precious Adolf. Do you mind if I call you Adi?Your orderlies and adjutants bring down your personal effects. A painting of Frederick the Great, Third Reich china, a desk with chairs. Soon, I’ll ...

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“The Tunnel of Temptation” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #226

David and I wait at the entrance to the Tunnel of Temptation for a boat to arrive. We’ve been on every ride except this one. He wanted to save this one for last. “That way, if you get tempted with an old fling, at least we’ll have already done everything else beforehand!” I had never heard of Pumpkin Palooza until he told me about it. Supposedly it’s this traveling carnival that goes to a different town acr...

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“Escape from New Alcatraz” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #219

Depth: 3.3 kilometers. Distance from New Alcatraz: 900 meters. Time since loss of contact: 27 hours, 43 minutes. I squeeze the grip on my M4 carbine. The on-board submarine computer sounds deeper than Barry White. I try to ignore it. All I can think about is the safety of my platoon. This is unlike any mission we’ve ever been on. Technically, the place we’re going to...

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“A Letter from a Dissatisfied Shangri-La Festival Attendee” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Customer Relations, I am addressing this letter to your Customer Relations Team since (a) I am a customer and (b) our relationship is in hot water. Since your company took down its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, and TikTok, you have left me no choice but to write a physical letter. And even though I’m from Gen Z, I know how to addr...

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“Liar's Dice” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #210

“That’s the last time we’re playing Candy Land for Adults!” Sheila said. “I am officially banning it from any future Halloween parties!” “What do you mean, hon?” Lucas asked. “You didn’t get a kick out of Cough Drop Canopy, Viagra Village, and Menopause Mountains?” “Whoever made this variant is a hack,” Sheila said. She pushed the board game aside. “What else do you guys want to play?” Viv asked. “Yo...

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“A Surrealist's Worst Nightmare” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #206

I grasp a champagne flute as I saunter around my art exhibition at the Met. Everybody who’s somebody is here for the grand opening. Dealers, collectors, curators. My Surrealist paintings cover the walls. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding roughshod over a planet-sized baseball. A pinball machine with skyscrapers for flippers. The interior of an office building in which everybody who works there has a lampshade an...

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“Resumo Mortuis” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #200

The whine of the graveyard gates breaks the silence of the night. Glisanda pushes them open and strides in like she owns the place. The Coven Prep Book of Spells Volume 4 rests under her arm. “Aren’t you coming?” she asks. My heart races in my chest. This is such a bad idea. Even though my sister’s a good witch, this will be her first time trying out the reanimation spell. “What if something goes wro...

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“The Pollux Hide and Seek Championship” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #197

I stand in front of the entrance to the maze. Its white walls look like something out of an insane asylum. Pieces of straw blanket the grass. The sun beats down on us. I pity the first-timers that didn’t think of bringing a hiking hat. Some of the other contestants are jogging in place to warm up, as if they’ll be able to breeze through the whole thing. I hold back a grin. They’ll wind up lost in an hour, and then...

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“On Time” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #193

The contact is late. I stand outside the Bolshoi Theater. A bowl-shaped fountain shoots a jet of water into the air. The front doors look like they’re made of solid gold. Ten white columns hold up a beautiful golden awning. I pace along the walkway in front of the entrance. The flash drive in my suit pocket feels as heavy as a brick. Loaded on it are the plans for Russia’s new hypersonic missiles, the first...

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“The Greatest Fairy Tale of All Time” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #186

The Fairy Books sat in a pile on Marcus’s nightstand. The colored spines stacked on top of each other looked like the arcs of a rainbow.He pulled his comforter up to his chin. His father sat in a chair next to the bed, flipping through the Red Fairy Book. Some of the worn pages had broken from the spine.“Come on,” he said, “I haven’t read any of these to you in a while.”“No,” Marcus said. “I want a new story. We’ve gone through all those before.”Marcus’s father set the book down. H...

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“We Come Here To Die” by James Fritz

Submitted to Contest #183

My hands vibrate as I grasp the cable. The water ripples below me. Even though the cliff I’m standing on is only 20 feet high, it feels like a mile. A part of me isn’t scared. I know I’m going to injure myself today. Every single person I’ve talked to that’s been to Vernon’s Waterworks has the scars to prove it. Broken bones, dislocations, burn marks, fractures, sprains, concussions. If I make ...

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Author bio

James graduated from Loyola University Chicago with degrees in business and music. He currently works as a data analyst in Illinois but seeks to write full-time soon. He enjoys reading and writing, piano, jiu jitsu, snuggling with his partner, and his self-appointed role as president of the Evgeny Kissin fan club. You can find him on Instagram under the handle @james.fritz.writing