John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (273)

273 Stories

8247 karma pts

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“Forbidden ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #290

Having a long weekend, Adrian drove his college sweetheart, Evelyn, up to meet his parents. It was time. Paradise, his hometown, occupied a hidden valley about two hours from the city. Unsullied by modern life, the town lived up to its name.Adrian’s mother told him she would make his favorite dish for dinner.Wanting to beat traffic, they left early in his pick-up truck.About an hour into the drive, Evelyn pulled an apple from her purse and took a bite.Adrian asked, “What’s that?”“An apple. Want one?” “No, no, no… throw it away.”“Why? They’re...

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“The First Kiss Lasts” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #290

Mouth agape, Blaise turned away. ‘It’s him. It can’t be. His family moved away. But I know it’s him. He’s back? Who but Dale could be so dreamy?’She left the room. She couldn’t deal with the emotions welling up from who knows where? Blaise hadn’t seen Dale in at least a decade, since grade school. The summer before third grade? His family took him away and she never saw him again. Until he walked into the first party of their senior year.‘Wow. Here we are. All grown up.’She never forgot the last time she saw him. The movers were marching in ...

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“Getting Real” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #289

Dressed elegantly in a black velvet dress and pearls, Siobhan entered the hotel lobby. She spoke with the desk clerk, Tamara, for a moment, before entering the dining room. They smiled and nodded before Siobhan broke away. All her old school mates waved her over when she paused at the threshold. She’d known Lourdes since grade school. Though not always friends, the decades had softened edges. Ford and Axel were always buddies, inseparable. The jokes about their names went way back. ‘Where could you go without me?’ was Axel’s famous question....

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“Soaked” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #288

Wearing his best suit, Bentley stood under Francine’s second story balcony. He hoped she would accept his apology. It began to rain. Though he had no umbrella, he didn’t care. Starting as a heavy mist, the drizzle soon became a steady shower. ‘Maybe it’ll help,’ he thought.If he’d blown it with Francine, nothing else mattered to him. He couldn’t believe how stupid he’d been. ‘Stomped on her heart… for pride…? Ego…? Nothing so elevated…’ He didn’t know what to call it. He missed her.Bentley thought back to their argument a week ago. Francine ...

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“Tea for Three” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #287

Checking the day’s schedule, Maude looked forward to meeting her first-time client, Silesia. Her daily prep included the wide variety of tea blends sufficient to the day’s demands. Maude called her social events ‘Pours.’ Modeled after the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, she aimed deeper than mere tranquility. Her delicious, blended teas reoriented her client’s views of themselves and the world. She tailored each concoction individually by adding herbs and essential oils. Every ingredient was organic and non-toxic.Of course, it was all leg...

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“Fire Escape” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #286

Geoff’s phone kept ringing. He knew it was Madelaine, his hysterical friend… girlfriend? ‘Mad,’ for short. Who else? He didn’t pick up. He knew what it was about. He didn’t need to hear, again, how foolhardy he was to move into the hills.He was busy. Half an hour ago the evacuation order gave him an hour. Wind buffeted his house. Hundred mile per hour gusts were predicted. A siren wailed by. No rain for months. Fire was racing down the canyon toward him, driven by Santa Ana winds.Everything in his life had gone insane. He had minutes to choo...

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“Dog and Pony” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #283

Young Ryder entered the living room early Christmas morning to see a large box lying beside the tree. It was too large to fit among the other presents. There were holes around the top. Ryder stared in awe as he thought he saw the box move. He whispered, “A pony? Santa brought me a pony?”He ran to the box and peered into one of the air holes. A Beagle puppy stared back. Its wagging tail thumped. It whimpered, begging for release.“Mom! Dad! Santa brought me a pony!”Ryder’s parents, Paige and Levi, entered. Still in pajamas, they were bleary fr...

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“Mine ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #282

Cole didn’t know if he was asleep or awake until he heard someone cough. Then began the incessant striking of hammer on stone. Earl, the foreman, had set up shifts for everyone. He’d said, “Keep pounding. Let them know we’re still here. Alive.”There was no light. None. Not a glimmer. Everything felt dreamlike. Only Cole’s dreams felt real. They played out in daylight.How long since the cave in? Time had lost meaning. It felt like forever. Or an hour ago. He’d startle awake and wonder where he was. Then remember. How long had he slept? A few ...

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“Surprise Party” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #281

Sam opened the front door to see his younger brother, Clark, holding a decorative bottle bag. He blocked his entry.“What are you doing here?”He offered him the gift bag. “Merry Christmas to you too, Sam.”Sam took the bag and set it on the gift table. “Cute, Clark. But no cigar. You need to leave.” Clark was used to Sam’s challenges, but this was extreme.“You’re serious? I came to make peace.”Sam set his jaw, out of patience for his brother’s games.“What if that’s not an option? Your being here offers anything but peace.”“Listen to yourself. ...

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“Playtime” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #280

“No, don’t!” Shocked, Jeremy looked at Pricilla. He said, “Why?”He’d just told her he planned to propose marriage to Adele, his girlfriend.Pricilla hadn’t thought before speaking. Now she didn’t have time to think.’You’re too young… Her first name would sound funny with your last… I don’t have a present… What about college? She has plans for the summer… She’s already married. Oh… I love you… No…’There had been joggers on the path. Ducks paddled about the lake. It felt eerily quiet now. ‘Where is everyone when I need them?’Pricilla trie...

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“The Last” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #279

Lou awoke completely alone.Ordinarily, that would not be unusual. But this evening, he found himself seated in the middle of the city’s largest auditorium.“How…? Where…?” Squinting into the bright lights, he looked around, trying to understand. He sat, the sole person in a sea of empty seats. Moments before, it had been standing room only. Nothing made sense. Was it a dream? ‘Am I dreaming now?’Invited by Mona, he got stuck watching a speech by the most boring man in the world. Lou knew this was true. He'd heard them all. Only Mona could con...

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“Cheater” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #278

Connie prepared for work and ignored the envelope which had lain on her table unread for two days. Its mere existence was an affront. ‘Just throw it away…’She recognized Rusty’s initials on the return address but couldn’t care less what he might wish to say. It had been too long. ‘Why now?’ Over him long ago, and with no thought of him for years, had she seen him in a decade?She’d been crazy for him then. He ended it suddenly with a rushed, mumbled explanation. He was gone from her life. But not her head.‘What happened… what went wrong, I’ll...

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“Dragons Fly ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #277

Ursula stood on the precipice, looking toward the distant castle. She pulled her hood close. Tethered nearby, her horse grumbled as it ate from a hay bale.“Why am I here? I should be attending Queen Hannah… not tending livestock.” She looked into the cave at the she dragon. Brooding, Safire rested in her nest. Sunlight from the cave entrance shone off its scales, warming the cave with a rosy glow. Ursula had never seen anything alive so huge. Stepping up to Safire’s eye, she smoothed her hair in the reflection. Safire watched impassively. Ha...

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“Twisted” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #276

My father and I had a complicated relationship. He had a family with four children to raise. I was the third son. From my narrow perspective, I felt like an also ran.A good provider, we were always housed, fed and clothed. We lacked for nothing material. But Dad always did things his way, in his time. He was an entrepreneur. When opportunities arose, he took them. The family followed. He saw many opportunities. We moved often. Dad planned to move the summer before I entered seventh grade. He listed the house for sale without telling our moth...

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“Witchy ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #275

Witchy “Here they come…” To Freya, they were the proverbial mob carrying torches and pitchforks. Objectively, they were trick-or-treaters doing what little kids do on this iconic day. They toured the neighborhood in fanciful costumes toting pillowcases and plastic buckets laden with sweets. Not wanting to harsh their sugar buzz, a few vigilant parents followed at a distance.Freya hated that Samhain, her holiday, had become the cartoonish Hallmark holiday, Halloween. Samhain’s magic had gotten trampled by a vast commercial enterprise dedicat...

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Author bio

I enjoy seeing how words and memory wrestle with reality. Locked within the cage of language, I like rattling the bars. Please read and comment, even if you don't like. Ramond Gorringe has read my story 'Haunted' aloud on his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azY66UEfocs Copyright © 2021 John K. Adams - All Rights Reserved. Using content for commercial gain without written permission is prohibited.

Shortlisted 2 stories ⭐️

Contest #208

Behind the Door – read story

Contest #198

DMV in Retrograde – read story