Joan Wright

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2021

Stories (18)

18 Stories

420 karma pts

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“The Muddy Stick” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #247

Roscoe burst through the doggie door, leaving muddy footprints across the brand-new hardwood floor. He was dragging a long muddy stick which left muddy prints of its own. "BOB, screamed Margo ,Call your dog!!! Roscoe wagged his tail as he placed his new treasure at Margo's feet."The patio door slowly slid open. Bob stuck his head in."Whats the problem? Oh shit, there's mud all over the new floor!""That's the problem. Your dog brought half the mud in the yard into our house along with a huge muddy stick. Could you please take him outside and ...

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“Chained Together” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #246

The cool air was refreshing after the heat of the summer day. Being free from the ground lifted Alice's spirits. It had been a long day working in the factory. It paid well, but boredom always set in after the first ten minutes of her shift. If I'm going to make something of myself I have to go to college. If I go to college I have to have money. So boredom would have to be put up with until September.Alice glanced at her watch. Remi was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago. A smile crossed her face as she thought of her friend. they had ...

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“MY HERO” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #240

The big old yellow school bus bumped along the lonely country road. School got out at three, but Carrie and Josh were the last stop. They usually didn't reach the end of their gravel driveway until about four o'clock. Carrie was nine and in the fourth grade and Josh was a six year old first grader. They both had dark brown hair like their dad, and blue eyes like their mom. Carrie loved her little brother, but she was tired of that constant statement, WATCH OUT FOR YOUR BROTHER! Running a farm takes a lot of work and everyone has to help was ...

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“Sweet Dreams” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #239

It all started when I began dreaming. I'm a very light sleeper and continuously wake up during the night; which means I never reach rem sleep so I don't dream. I was home from college on my summer break. I worked in the mornings and evenings but noon to six was free time for me. I layed in the sun, read books for fun, and napped. The complete opposite of my college schedule. I was under no stress and slept better than ever, dreamed every night; and remembered all the details. Each morning before work I would share my dreams with my younger s...

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“Kate” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #231

Kathryn woke up for the third time. It was 8:00 this time. New Years Day 2024. Something was vitally wrong. She had no hangover, no headache, no mouth full of cotton and no unsettled stomach. New Years Day had been a recovery day for as long as she remembered. Resolutions. That's where it all started. One year ago Kathryn had woken up on Becky"s floor wrapped in a dog blanket. Sick as a could be and wishing she were dead. That's when she made the resolutions that changed her life. She would be disciplined, care about her appearance, and wor...

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“Jessica this story contains sensitive material regarding mental health” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #216

Jessica heard the mewing of her tiny daughter. She rushed to the nursery. "Mommy's here," Jessica crooned. She lifted the little bundle out of the crib. "You're soaking wet!" Jessica began the ritual of changing everything from the inside out. She was used to the mewing turning into howling as the hunger pangs took over. Wet clothes disposed of, the baby was rewrapped in cozy clean blankets and the main event of nursing began. Jessica reached for the nursing pillow and got cozy. The rocking chair had been a gift from her parents. Oh, she mis...

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“The Trip of a Lifetime” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #209

" So what you're saying is, that you sold me to a farmer, in Kansas?"Screeched Anna. "Well not exactly sold you. The farmer needs help and we have the opportunity to help him." replied her frustrated father. "WE Do you mean your'e going too?" "Well, not exactly" "Well, what is it exactly?' "Well you know we've been having financial problems and I'm going to have to sell the house, and this will be better for you." "What you mean is you spent all my mother's money, so now I'm on my own!" Anna's face was turning from red to purple. "You went ...

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“The Land of Opportunity” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #207

Salvador leaned over the sink to rest his aching back. "We need more glasses," shouted Steve as he pushed his way through the swinging door. Salvador filled another metal tray with glasses and lifted it into the dishwasher. He adjusted the bandana he had tied on his sweating forehead. The spray of hot water and the heat from the giant grills was almost unbearable. He only made ten dollars a hour. He was paid in cash no questions asked. Salvador was one of the lucky ones, and he knew it. He had a job and made enough money to rent a tiny apar...

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“What Goes Around, Comes Around” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #200

"Just look at her! She is so pathetic. If I had teeth like that, my parents would have had braces put on me the moment I got teeth." Megan's three friends giggled at the remark. "It even effects the way she talks. Look at her over there eating alone again." Megan then imitates Becca's speech to the delight of her friends. "I hope she doesn't bite herself while eating her lunch." Gales of laughter erupt from the table and drift through the cafeteria. Becca doesn't need to look up to know she is the subject of the laughter.Becca is used to the...

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“I LOVE YOU JAR” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #133

Joey sat up in bed. He looked outside and it was still dark. He couldn't see his clock, but he knew it wasn't anywhere close to morning. What had woken him up? He listened. Then he heard the familiar sobbing from his mother's room. He crept out of his room and across the dark hallway. She wasn't crying very loud tonight, maybe she was crying in her sleep. He never knew what to do. Mom had been crying like this most nights since Dad had left. She was always embarrassed if he went in. Then she would apologize for waking him up. He was tir...

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“FORSAKEN” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #115

"WHORE! Tramp! Traitor!" Screamed Tina hysterically. The words echoed down the quiet street. Neighbors stared in paralyzed disbelief. The next sound was the slap that Tina fired at Judy's face. Judy gasped as the intensity of the slap knocked her off balance. Tina and Judy who had been best friends since third grade were at war. Well, at least Tina was at war. "Roger and I are going steady and everyone knows it, especially you." Raged Tina. "Please, let me explain, Begged Judy, holding her hand over her reddened cheek. You don't know the who...

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“ MEGAN” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #108

Megan awoke to the acrid smell of smoke. it hurt her throat and she couldn't stop coughing. She jumped from her bed and ran to her bedroom door. She felt the door like she'd been taught. IF THE DOOR IS HOT, DO NOT OPEN IT. The door was so hot she could hardly touch it. She looked out her second story window and there were reddish orange flames as far as she could see. She was trapped! There was no way out!!!Then the screaming began. "Someone help me, Mom wake up! Then her screams were interrupted by uncontrollable coughing. Is this how her l...

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“SOLITUDE” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #107

The coolness of the water revived her tired body. Four days of hundred plus temperatures had pushed Marianne over the edge. Dinner had been a disaster! Roger had turned his nose up at the fish, Becca had proclaimed she was a vegetarian, and her husband, Bob had eaten a late lunch and said he wasn't very hungry. "You expect me to cook dinner in a kitchen that's as hot as an oven, and then you complain about it?" Marianne had screamed. She stormed from the table went to the guest room, slammed the door and locked it. Her family was ...

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“God Works in Mysterious Ways” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #103

Who knew that new floors meant hours of hammering and clouds of dust. Who knew I wouldn't be able to paint until the floors were done. The schedule seemed perfect on paper, but in reality we were already three days behind. Moving is inconvenient, stressful, and unpredictable. "I'm never moving again!" I said for the third time today. But it didn't matter because no could hear me above the cacophony of construction. We had sold our family home to our oldest son and his family. We had purchased a condo. We were paring down. Four bedrooms to tw...

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“The Way to a Man's Heart......” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #100

Bonnie had to stop at the grocery store, after picking up Brian, on her way home from work. She needed diapers; again. Shopping with the baby was so much more complicated, but she was learning how to cope. Brian babbled in his car seat. Glancing in the rear view mirror she saw her precious son. She felt so fortunate to have him. He was the one good thing that came out of her disastrous marriage. Divorce had dragged her down, dampened her spirit, and destroyed her self confidence. But escaping the four years of abuse she had suffered, had mad...

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Author bio

I am a retired elementary school teacher. I live in Erie, CO halfway between Denver and Boulder. I just celebrated my 53rd wedding anniversary. I have had 6 stories and one poem published.