Joe Parrillo

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2019

Stories (4)

4 Stories

64 karma pts

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“The Galactic Historians” by Joe Parrillo

Submitted to Contest #210

Toby Ellerman had issues—but the kid could draw!After the tragic suicide of his father almost ten years ago, Toby retreated into his amazing mind and the world of drawing. At that same time, he also began to hear voices that told him of exotic life on other planets and of the near visitation of extraterrestrial visitors. All this was reflected in his simple pen and pencil art which made many marvel for its breathtaking detail and maturity.These fantastic ideas and the voices in his head earned him the diagnosis of “schizophrenia” from Dr. Ro...

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“Joey and Loretta” by Joe Parrillo

Submitted to Contest #23

“Crapola!” Frank cursed. “I should be retired, lounging on some Caribbean island sipping beer or somethin’ out of a coconut, instead of being an Uber driver!” But with losing his wife to cancer last year, then his job, too, that he held for thirty years due to layoffs, Frank Brower had run out of options. At 67, and a thin resume, he wasn't exactly a hot commodity to companies hiring. Frank listened to the weather report on TV and it was all bad. He hoped he’d get no calls from Uber today but just as he was having that thought, tha...

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“Time Flies” by Joe Parrillo

Submitted to Contest #22

Sitting on the couch in her second floor apartment overlooking the main street in Raleigh, North Carolina, Marlowe watched the New Year’s Eve ball drop in NYC on TV, pondering the year that was soon passing into the dust bin of history. It was a very disappointing year. Her freelance writing career was struggling as not one of her articles were accepted by any magazines. Worse, her boyfriend of two years kicked her to the curb for some young 19-year old bimbo, which acounted for her being alone tonight. The small room was enveloped...

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“The Lists of Love” by Joe Parrillo

Submitted to Contest #19

Simon Barks went down his list methodically, “White wine, asparagus, potatoes, garlic, pumpernickle bread, cherry cheesecake, Sumatra coffee, whole bean of course, candles, matches. I think that’s it.” In the condo directly below Simon’s, Felicia Francone was writing her own shopping list out. The items weren’t nearly as elegant but each one was written with love. She was having her widowed mother over for dinner tomorrow. Being Italian, the Sunday menu always included pasta, meatballs, salad, Italian bread and red wine—all t...

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Author bio

I'm 69 years old, I mean, young, and looking to forge a career in freelance writing. OK, yes, I'm a little late to the game for sure but I think I can do it. I've been writing short stories for years but never moved to get any of my material published. Until now. I took an online course about 2 years ago called, "Writeriffic: Creative Training for Writers" by author Eva Shaw. It was really my first foray into writing and Eva loved every piece I submitted, even going so far as to say a few were definitely publishable. Now I'm taking another online class by Christopher Fielden. I'm trying to get exposed to as many freelance training courses as possible to hone my virgin skills.