Jim Mendenhall

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2020

Stories (4)

4 Stories

74 karma pts

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“Valerie’s Fall” by Jim Mendenhall

Submitted to Contest #77

For two days, Valerie had stared at the ground from high above, watching the snow fall past her, giving her the disorienting sensation of driving backwards through a tunnel. For two days, she had watched the snow pile high at the foot of the tree. She had been a voyeur of the natural world, watching groups of forest animals gather, root in the snowdrifts for food, and cross the ice. A squirrel. A group of three deer. A black bear that stopped, reared up on its hind legs and sniffed, puzzled, before dropping back down and moving on....

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“Cockroaches in the Monastery” by Jim Mendenhall

Submitted to Contest #75

Antonio wrung his hands, as if feeling them for the first time, then ran his finger down the soft blue veins that burrowed through the surface of the loose flesh. He inspected the liver spots that speckled his skin. He picked at them and rubbed them, but they stubbornly remained. “Cosa sono questi scarafaggi?” he mumbled to himself. “What are these cockroaches?” “Not cockroaches,” said the young monk ...

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“A Life, Reduced” by Jim Mendenhall

Submitted to Contest #74

I sometimes spend an hour on YouTube watching movie trailers before bed. They are fast, energetic, dramatic, exciting, tense. They are remarkable works of compelling triviality. They make anything look good - any melodramatic treacle, any frenetic thriller, any self-important art house sermon. Movie trailers are what directors wish their movies could be. Just the best bits, set to music, with obscure critics promising you a “dazzling,” “electrifyingly brilliant,” “heart-rending” experience. Watch a trailer, and the cares of the world melt...

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“A Celebration of Sorts” by Jim Mendenhall

Submitted to Contest #73

“The problem,” said Drew, as he took a dubious red drink from a passing tray, “is that you’re simply not very attractive.”“Physically, you mean?” asked Harry. “Or is it my personality?”“Yes,” replied Drew, “exactly. Family must be honest with each other. Even if we are separated by a degree or two.”“You’re hardly family. Barely an acquaintance,” said Harry.“No need to be mean,” said Drew. “I am your cousin, after all. I’ve known you since you were a child.”...

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