Jeannette Miller

“Life Isn't” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #158

We thought we were so cool. Every Friday and Saturday night, we would park right here with my car facing toward the street so we could sit on the hood and watch other cars full of kids cruise back and forth yelling out their windows and playing music. It was kind of lame, but what else are you going to do as a teenager in a small town with nothing to do? We’d get all dolled up and wear what we thought would make us look cute but not too eager or desperate for the guys cruising who were trying to act cool themselves. We all knew each other a...

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“Beyond the Meadow” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #156

“Don’t you remember the afternoon we spent lying in the grass… looking up at the clouds…the one shaped like a pirate ship? How beautiful that day was? Just me and you…with the breeze caressing our bare skin while the sun warmed our bodies lying there…in the tall grass. I remember. I remember following you, carrying that enormous wicker picnic basket thinking its handles were going to break off any second because it was so heavy and feeling so relieved when we made it to our spot in the meadow with it completely intact. You laid out the blank...

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“Out Of Time” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time. Are you sure you want to do this?”Was I sure? No. I mean, what is certainty when you have no idea what is actually going to happen once you say yes to something? The idea always sounds good at the time. All pumped up with frills and thrills and testimonials from random people, who may or may not be actors, claiming it was the best thing ever!One thing I did know, having someone remind me every five freaking minutes time was running out followed up with are you sure didn’t help. I was already anxious once I said ye...

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“The Thing About Ava” by Jeannette Miller

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #153

“I can’t believe we’re arguing about this.” I said to my husband under my breath hoping our 4-year-old daughter sitting a few feet away couldn’t hear. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen when she was born. Of course, I’m sure every mom thinks that; especially after giving birth, all hopped up on adrenaline, and completely exhausted. Looking into her tiny face with huge blue eyes and already a good amount of dark hair, I promised I would take care of her and love her until the end of time. Ava did everything early. Sitting up, cr...

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“I Can See It Now” by Jeannette Miller

 “I can see it now.” “Are you sure? Because I can’t.” “You have to look beyond the thing and focus behind—” “You can’t see it either.” “I don’t even know what we’re supposed to be looking for. How do I know if I can see it?” “I knew it! All this time, you had me going, thinking there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t see it and you could see it. Dang it. I knew you couldn’t see anything either.” “Well, we better see something or we’re gonna be in trouble.” “In trouble? What are you seven? Your momma’s gonna get mad and ...

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“Lather. Rinse. Repeat.” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #151

James was minding his own business, drinking his coffee and reading the paper. It was Sunday morning. His day off. His day to relax, maybe go outside and mow the lawn. If the weather wasn’t too hot. “This time it will be different.” Liz said pleadingly sitting down on the couch next to James. Convincing him to try new things was always a challenge. Her track record wasn’t that good and she really needed something to go as planned. “You said that the last time.” James said without looking at her. Saying no was easier if he didn’t look at her...

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“The Proposal ” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #150

Please, don’t do it. Jenny thought as George bent down on one knee. She looked away. She couldn’t bear to experience the embarrassment of what was about to happen. How could it be happening? There were literally no signs leading up to this. Jenny thought to herself, okay, let’s see. I woke up, everything seemed fine. I slept fine. Except for the slight crick in my neck. No biggie. Okay…got dressed…wait. No, I didn’t get dressed first, I went to the bathroom, then contemplated taking a shower or not. I still had one more good day of hair whi...

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“The Trunk” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #149

Kate could see the flickering of light through the hole where the broken tail light was. It felt like she had been in the car trunk for days. The last thing she remembered was walking home on that rural stretch of road from the Millers place and then waking up in a dark trunk.  She had screamed and plead for help for what felt like hours until her throat burned raw and stripped bare. Kicking the sides of the trunk with her legs and hitting the roof of the trunk until there was no more energy left in her arms and legs. Her face was seare...

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“Portraits” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #144

“Amanda, a picture for page six?” Amanda turned around and smiled holding up her glass of champagne as the event photographer took her picture. “Got it! Thanks.” They said walking away as they began taking pictures of the other guests. She stood at the gallery balcony and looked down at the crowd. Hundreds of people wearing exquisite gowns and tuxedos were there all for her. Celebrating her latest painting. She sipped her champagne feeling the bubbles float down her throat and thought about how much her life had changed in the last year. A...

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“Crown of Thorns” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #143

Jan wanted so much to be a plant person as she walked the aisle of the local plant shop. Row after row of lush green house plants in all shapes and sizes. There were two tone plants that purified the air, plants for beginners, low light plants, plants who need water every day, low maintenance plants, and trendy plants. It was like a tropical jungle in here between the big leaf palms, cascading ivy’s, and big bushy ferns. So much life. It was calming. Something about having a healthy house plant elevated a person from cold and uncaring to mo...

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“The Storm” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #140

The last thing I remember was the loud, cracking splitting sound of the huge fir tree near the back of the house after it had been swaying fiercely and finally bending and giving way to the pressure of the 65 mph winds. I work for Lucy, a sweet 89-year-old lady whose family practically founded this small rural town and who still owns thousands of acres of land. Her house sits at the top of a rural road surrounded by large fir, maple, and spruce trees her mother planted when Lucy was a little girl. Lucy’s parents were into cattle, horses, an...

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“Sunshine Brings the Darkness” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #138

It’s been 8 days since that freak electrical storm hit the town and left enough electrical ions in the atmosphere to keep the sun from setting. 8 days of around the clock sunshine. It sounded like a huge sonic boom coupled with a bit of a quake in the ground then nothing. Perfect stillness right in the middle of the day. Not even the birds could be heard chirping. It was kind of eerie. Lainie remembers walking out of the post office when it happened and then only being able to see spots for the next two hours straight. It was a good thing i...

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“Born” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #135

It’s dark in here. A massive expanse of what feels like pure nothingness and yet a strangely calming sense of what is to come. It is dark here. Full of nothingness and a wasteland brimming with fear. This state of being lasts for what seems like an eternity; although, what is time in a place like this? This feeling keeps me on edge for what feels like forever. I have no concept of time. My existence continues unnoticed with waves of motion sending me here and there without care or concern of my self. These waves support me. They take me w...

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“Moonstone Match” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #134

In three days, Amy would be married to a young man two years younger than her in order to keep the population of the colony prospering. Amy didn’t want to marry him. She didn’t want to marry anyone. Not yet anyway. It was going to happen on her 18th birthday. She was supposed to be excited, but instead, she felt like she was being sent to her death. She wanted to know more about the people in Earth’s history, why people did the things they did, and why she was being compelled to do something she didn’t want to do. Amy’s parents had one of th...

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“On the Road Again” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #132

“How about some Willie Nelson?” Christine’s dad asked while popping a cassette tape into the van’s radio. He had just picked her up from school and were heading back to the apartment where they stayed. She was relieved. It was the third school so far this year and she hadn’t really made any friends she thought were worth keeping. It hadn’t been a surprise either since she heard her father talking to someone on the phone about the heat last night. Guess I won’t need to study for tomorrow’s test after all, she thought. She didn’t have much to...

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