Joey Balk

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2022

Stories (6)

6 Stories

129 karma pts

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“Venedig” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #217

July 22, 1961 “I love you but—” “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t say it.” I shifted on my feet uneasily, not quite knowing what to do with my hands. “Let’s just—let’s enjoy the time we have left.” I took her hand and squeezed it, giving her a nod, but my expression must’ve been solemn. It’s hard to enjoy something when the end of it is fast approaching; in sight even, just ten hours on my watch. All you can focus on are the grains in the hourglass that are falling way too quickly. “Let’s find a shop, get some wine.” The streets of Venice are ...

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“Gas and Lucky Strikes” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #209

There was an eighth left in the tank and thirty miles until the next station. I was praying I’d make it. The limit was sixty, but I turned on cruise control at fifty to lower the consumption just a little more. The roads are near empty after two in the morning. Every set of headlights is desperate to get to its destination. Wherever that might be. Home, holiday, a loved one. I was in no hurry. When the gas station finally came in sight on the right, the fuel symbol on my dash was rapidly blinking in red. They look so different in the nightti...

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“God's Grudge” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #169

God hates us all. Everyone knows it—deep down. Take Africa for example. More than half the continent is plagued by poverty and nowhere else do as many children die of starvation or illness. It’s the twenty-first century; Surely a benevolent God would’ve either aided these people or made them sterile to prevent the continued suffering. Dogs die when they eat chocolate. Chocolate for fuck’s sake. Why is that? I’ll tell you: God is vicious. I’ll do you one more: drugs. Drugs are bad, right? I mean, everyone knows that. But have you ever sh...

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“Duality” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #164

They passed the sign that used to announce the name of the town. It was hanging sideways, held up by a single screw that soldiered on, and instead of showing the town’s name, it showed a spray-painted cock that he’d artistically drawn on it when he was fifteen. ‘Excuse me, could you stop here?’ lee said, ‘I’d like to walk the rest of the way.’ The driver pulled over immediately and seemed a little relieved that he wouldn’t have to smudge his car by driving on the dirt road. Still, he asked, ‘are you sure, Mr. Yang? I was asked to drive yo...

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“19:27:46” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #161

‘So, you know how we said we had to reduce CO2 emissions and separate our trash and such to prevent climate change?’ ‘That was over twenty years ago, Laura. What about it?’ Twenty-two, but who’s counting? At this point I’m unable to keep my leg still. Like a jackhammer I keep bouncing it up and down, sending ripples through the glass of water in front of me. ‘Yeah… that was a lie. What we discovered then wasn’t that the climate was changing, we already knew about that for thirty years, give or take, and with the rapid development of te...

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“Tokyo smoke” by Joey Balk

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #158

[possible triggers: intimidation (slight), mention of drugs and trial] She flicked the wheel of the lighter. Sparks shot up, followed by a small flame which she held to the end of the cigarette dangling from between her lips. ‘Talk; you’ve got about five minutes to convince me to let you live.’ ‘In that case, mind if I have a cigarette too? That’s executioner etiquette, isn’t it, or is that just Hollywood?’ ‘Just Hollywood,’ she said, but offered me her pack of cigarettes with her free hand just the same. Her other hand, the one hid...

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Author bio

What to write? what to write? Uhm, hi. Sooooo, I'm new here. Sort of at least. Long time lurker and very recent poster. My name is Joey Balk. I'm an English teacher in training in the Netherlands (yes cheese is great. Yes you can just buy weed here), and spend nearly all of my free time either reading, writing or longboarding. Though I'm studying to be a teacher, I dream of one day becoming a published author. well, I hope you enjoy my stories and don't be afraid to leave a comment.

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #158

Tokyo smoke – read story