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Joe Swanson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2020

Stories (284)

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260 Followers

1 Following

284 Stories

4018 karma pts

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Today?

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #102

I stopped to say Hi to a guy sitting on a bench by the rose garden in the park. He looked like he could use a friend, turns out he didn’t. Said he just liked roses, reminded him of when times were good, the sky was green, and the grass was blue. I left him sitting there, too big to carry, too stubborn to change. He asked as I turned to withdraw, subtly of course, “Do you need any.” I asked, “what?” He said if I didn’t know, he couldn’t help me. He also said, “if it was free, would it make a difference?” I said, “I ...

12 likes

Incontrovertible

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #102

“Is it possible to be so intrenched in your values that you become immune…yes, immune to the ability to understand another’s intrenched views rooted in what they deem morality. Or if you don’t want to go that far or deep, ethics?” “I hear your question, and yet don’t really understand the moral conflict, unless the person is not entirely sure of the beliefs they claim they hold. I see it all the time. Just look at the variety of religions that surround us, and the lack of diversity based on exactly the same premise, “That God ...

20 likes

A Nice Man

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #102

“Have you noticed how the mail delivery just isn’t what it was. That guy who wanted to ruin it so we couldn’t vote; I hear is still there. I’ve noticed the same thing is happening to the paper delivery business too. Our paperboy, or girl, can’t say I ever met which ever one it is, but which ever one it is, is a terrible shot, and is always late. I find the paper most days not on the porch like when old Mr. Henry used to deliver it, but in the bushes. Once on the porch roof. Too bad he died, I bet he was a nice man.&n...

15 likes

My Hill

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #102

It was surprise. My parents thinking back on that time, were struggling financially. My father’s construction job left holes in our stability; weather and economic circumstances drove the need for his ingenuity. My mother worked fashioning furs taken from the captive exploitation of animals kept for their resource, regardless of their compliance. The bicycle had been a dream I kept under my bed, as to let it out could only mean disappointment. That day changed my pessimistic realities of reality, into the supposition that...

11 likes

Darkest Before the Dawn

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #102

“Who comes up with these saying? Darkest before the Dawn. You ever attempt to analyze any of these “sayings?” It never rains but pours, a picture is worth a thousand words, the grass is always greener. They are such nebulous terms, and yet we understand the inference they are attempting to make. I wonder is that possible for other things? Urban legends, rural generosity, melting pots, that kind of thing. Is there someone who sits around making these observances into universally accepted allegories?” When he...

17 likes

Trusted

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

“I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight... today. You’ll have to excuse me; I’m somewhat disoriented by the latest events to descend on our community. Professor Brown, although a man of few words, did utter some memorable ones. “Insane Sanity,” if you remember any of his lectures, was a topic he enjoyed, I believe more than any of the other topics he explored. He never however actually explained what the term, or expression, “Insane Sanity” actually meant. He was of course adept at using that technique to mak...

12 likes

When In Doubt

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

It started out, the questions about the monotonous repetition of doing everything, anything. Eating, working, even sleeping, same dreams, nothing changes, always the same. I found myself counting my actions. Winding up the electric chord or hose; one, two, three, thirty-three. I realized that was, is, one of the cautions attributed to insanity. It has to do, or so I remember, with allowing yourself to be lulled by repetition into a state of subservience to routine. The less one objects to repetition the easier it is ...

13 likes

Caterpillars Tale

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

“You are telling me that I got it wrong.” “No, not that you got it wrong, it’s just that you didn’t get it right?” “You lost me. I didn’t get it wrong, but I didn’t get it right. Where does that leave me then. Which way is the needle tending to point if you don’t mind saying.” It is difficult at times talking to someone who has made up their mind about something, and you are attempting to change it. I’ve attempted to use logic, coercion, diplomacy, everything but outright force to get him to see that you can’t always do t...

10 likes

Play It Again

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

“Where did you get this?” “Where did I get what?” “This oval mirror, with the wood frame. Some kind of bird carved on the top. Looks like a black bird, raven, one of those strange birds. And here on the bottom some kind of plant. A vine of some kind, but the leaves appear to have faces.” “It belonged to my Grandmother. It was in the basement of her old house. The silver backing is starting to go so the reflection is a bit cloudy, but it’s the sentiment that I enjoy.” “You remember this mirror being in your Grand...

11 likes

Play It Again

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

They were twins. They weren’t identical twins, physically lookin, but in all other ways one could be exchanged for the other and no one that can’t see could tell them apart. One of the things, and there were many, that could drive you to distraction, was their ability to echo one another’s thoughts. Robert having been born first I believe inherited the predominant quality that goes with those that are first, and Roger always the echo, the shadow, a faint breath behind his brother where speech was concerned, a close second. So...

14 likes

It's On Me

Joe Swanson

“Hey! It’s you.” “Well, yes it is. And it’s you.” “I should apologize; I can’t remember your name.” “Don’t be foolish. Half the time I can’t remember it either.” We laugh. He believes most things these days. I told him I owned the diner and do all the cooking. I pretend I can’t remember either. It seems to make him more comfortable. I don’t run the diner or cook anymore. Only cooking I do is in my mind. Just this morning I made eggs Benedict. Tasted just like I thought it would. I used to coo...

1 like

Purpose

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #100

“We are gathered here today to attempt a new approach to weight loss. Many of us have over the years grown more than fond of ourselves, if you know what I mean. Eating disorders come in all shapes and flavors.” That is when everyone laughed and I began to dream about the days when metabolism could be blamed for everything. No longer an option for weight loss, weight gain, weight manipulation, all are fair game when it comes to indoctrinating us with the notion we are not perfect. We of course know we are not perfect and that i...

9 likes

Difficult

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #100

It’s difficult preparing a meal for someone you don’t know all that well; actually at all. I met her quite by accident. Well not quite as you might imagine. She ran over me with her bicycle. Nice bike, older Schwinn with balloon tires. Said it was her mother’s when she was herself. I let it go at that. It was all her fault. People on bicycles believe they have the same rights as cars, which I get. But then cars don’t usually drive on the side walk. I was waiting on the corner, looking up the street to see...

6 likes

Alfonse

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #100

I was supposed to meet him at “Randy’s,” a bar restaurant kind of place. Mostly neighborhood folks. Once in a while some wayfarers, bikers, those passing by and seeing the sign and figuring, “Why not!” There is this cowboy, like the Marlboro man type you see along the road on the building’s roof. A silhouette of a figure cut out of metal just standing there head down, as if waiting for the hangman to show up and read last rites. It has a revolving thing like we used to have on our Christmas tree that splashes it with the color...

9 likes

Difficult

Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #100

It’s difficult preparing a meal for someone you don’t know all that well; actually at all. I met her quite by accident. Well not quite, she ran over me with her bicycle. It was a nice bike, older Schwinn with balloon tires. Said it was her mother’s when she was herself. I let it go at that. It wasn’t all her fault, but then of late people on bicycles think they have the same rights as cars, which I get. But then cars don’t usually ride on the side walk. Anyways, I was waiting on the corner, looking to see...

13 likes