Jeffery Young

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (18)

18 Stories

398 karma pts

?

“Evergreens and Four Hunters October 31st of 1948” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #246

“Matthew!” Luke called out into a tangle of overgrown evergreens.“Yeah?” Matthew was in the bushes some way off from camp. When nature calls, you answer, regardless of the circumstance. He righted his pants, straightened his shirt, and wiped his hands on some tree bark. “What’s got you, Lucky?”“Just get up here!” Came the reply.Matthew smiled. He knew how much Luke hated that nickname, but as far as older brothers go, Luke was among the easiest of the four to push over. Mark and Johnny, the second and first eldest respectively, were much mor...

Read story

“Red Puddles and People, December 23rd of 1948” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #246

Reverend Hugh Gregory and Doctor Malone Trenton stood upon the docks, huddled in a circle around a twisted lump. In their companionship was a distraught Sheriff Boris Osipov, hands clasped firmly behind his back as he viewed the lump analytically. His blue coat and hood were soaked like sponges, his brow furrowed over beady eyes. Another person, the town’s medical practitioner/postwoman, Iris Henness, was crouched over the lump. She mumbled to herself incoherently, her deep blue eyes and sharp features cutting the drizzle as it found her. Th...

Read story

“ Blue Glass and Captain Malcolm Monet, October 21st of 1948” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #246

Icy blue waves battered the white hull of the M.M.S. Monet with an unpleasant disposition, warning its three passengers of an impending storm. Malcolm Monet manned the helm with the same cold, stalwart expertise that he had brought into thousands of similar expeditions. The fishing ship obeyed his commands with minimal fuss, its sputtering engine obeying the repairs that safe harbor had only three days prior wrought. The cold northern seas that surrounded Birbour, the destination of Malcolm’s two enigmatic passengers, were tumultuous this ti...

Read story

“Cold Coats” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #232

It is cold and there is no avoiding that. No longer a chance of denying it. I cover myself in layer upon layer of clothing, donning thick jackets and sweatshirts, pants with thermal lining and tight-fitting boxers with the same. Mom taught me to leave no room for wind or air or breathing or any stray snowflake to enter into my little mobile cocoon. I wouldn’t be out of place in one of those Arctic Research stations. Sm...

Read story

“The Things in My House” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #219

There are sixty-eight cameras in my house and no blind spots. I had to pay extra for that last bit. Not to mention that I had to spend three days in a hotel while Civilian Militia Security Services, or CMSS, cross-examined every corner of my house searching for any holes in their air-tight security. Long story short, I may have to skip groceries for a while. Regardless, I’m happy. Around two weeks ago ...

Read story

“There is a Ceiling Fan Spinning” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #218

Mold and mildew hung like a pungent fog, invading my seared nostrils. Fluffy carpet cushioned my bruised feet. A flash flickered across the room, throwing white light across a painting, a bed, and the man in the mirror. The sky erupted in chase, briefly drowning out the swirling hum of the fan. It was warm. A cool breeze tickled my wet cheeks. Rain streaked violently across darkened window panes. It’d be a great summer ...

Read story

“Pale Ring of Flesh” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #191

I closed my eyes. “I’m so, so sorry . . .”“I forgive you.”“Wh-what?!”“You heard me. I forgive you.”“But-but I was so cruel to you . . .”“And I forgive you.”“And I cheated on you! After five years!”“I forgive you.”“I betrayed you . . . and I didn’t even regret it.”“Do you regret it now?”“I do!” She sobbed. “Then I forgive you.”“I hurt you so, so badly . . .”“What did I say? I forgive you.”“All ...

Read story

“Graveyard Swirls” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #179

“Hey! What’re you doing out here?!” “It’s just me. Don’t worry, Fred.” “Oh! Mr. Jamie.” The old grave keeper appeared from behind a great tombstone, dimming his lantern-light so as not to blind me. “It’s been quite a while since our last chat, friend.” “Exactly a year,” I responded, pulling myself from my spot on the ground, standing and extending my hand. He took it, greeting me merrily.

Read story

“Revenge of the Hamster” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #176

“I’m a hamster. There’s no avoiding it. Those stupid coven witches turned me into this cute, fluffy, adorable rodent,” my little black eyes burned with ferocity, my nose twitched with a mighty and rageful inhalation, “REVENGE!!!” I squeaked, the time was nigh. There was an impossibly high door in front of me, those witches having dumped me only a few feet outside after a day of shoebo...

Read story

“Pocket Flowers” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #175

Warning: Contains themes of war, violence, death, and gore. Ac Something crashed outside, the night sky filling with what looked like trillions of falling, flaming stars. An alarm blared, signaling another attack, the enemy was on their way. Screaming. Shouts and someone barking orders. Running. Fires crackled as the neighborhood ignited with pillars of fire. Explosions. More screaming....

Read story

“It Ain't Everyday” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #174

“The lab gets cold at night,” I said, wrapping the girl with a quilted blanket. She had fallen asleep at the lab bench, again, and her brown hair was splayed out around her like sun-beams. Checking the wall clock, I sighed heavily. “Tess. It’s three in the morning! Why are you still here?” “Mmm?” She moaned, smacking her lips and lifting her head slowly. “Who?” She sounded half-panicked, confused until she saw m...

Read story

“Lower Your Expectations ” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #173

You find yourself fettered to a table once . . . and the next time isn’t quite as special. Interrogation chambers were becoming way too common in my life, quickly losing their charm. A very gruff looking security guard stood near a metallic door on the other side of the room. A black one-way mirror covered the wall to my right and I was definitely on the wrong side of it. Yellow bulbs buzzed above m...

Read story

“Bookstore Girl” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #172

“Thomas Mc Flanagan was an Irish immigrant who moved to the United States in the 1970s, falling in love with the daughter of an old southern gentleman while in Charleston. Of course, southern tradition didn’t allow for that, so the couple did what any logical young couple would do, they ran! Escaped! Fled to the north and moved to a small town near Chesapeake bay and married. It was a struggle, obviously, but they manag...

Read story

“Outrunning the Ocean” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #171

“I don’t know, doc. I just feel like they're still on me. You see? You know she and I met in college? I told you that story? We didn’t exactly hit it off, but hey, when you’re as awkward as me and as guarded as her, it’s a wonder we even remembered each other’s names! But those orbs! Those two, beautiful orbs! They haunt me, even when I haven’t seen her in so long. Sure, I feel that twang in my chest, that liquid cool like a bucket of water cascading down on me . . . she was beautiful in so many ways! I hung onto every word, gasp...

Read story

“The Covered Man” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #135

CW: death, gore, illnessThe man in my room was dressed like an alien. He had a white plastic suit, like a packaged fish from the town over the hill. I couldn’t see his face behind a dark visor, but when he spoke his voice was fluent in muffled smiles. It was comforting in a way, like burying your face in pillows when you’re tired. I wish I could see his face, I hadn’t seen anyone's face in weeks. Not since I got sick. I was playing with my baby sister outside the village about two weeks ago. Running around n...

Read story

Author bio

Thank you for visiting my page. My earlier short stories are a little all over the place . . . ranging from existential heartbreak to Christian fiction and all the way to nonsensical horror. My "dated" stories all take place in the same place, Birbour, a fictional town in Alaska. They also contain the same characters and expand upon the town's history, relationships, and lore in their own ways. They can also be read as stand alone shorts. Give them a read! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #132

Prayer in the Dirt – read story