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John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (301)
Comments
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958 Followers
1171 Following

301 Stories

9008 karma pts

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I, Object

Submitted to Contest #319

They laugh. I want them to take me seriously. But they always laugh. To them, I’m a wise-cracking dummy. They don’t know me. Not the real me. I’m merely a funny name, Uncle Knucklehead.I’m helpless. And there’s nothing I can do about it. Having no power, I’m nothing but a tool in the hands of a manipulative, controlling maniac, Kurt Felix. He calls himself a ‘ventriloquist.’ How elevated. How sophisticated. How bombastic. How Kurt.Does he act out of envy? Who puts words in his mouth? Am I his dog to kick? Whose stick does he fetch?Regardless...

3 likes 4 comments 4
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Time is Now

Submitted to Contest #317

It was good to be back. Houston and his dog, Retro, walked by the park where they played together when a little boy. The slide, the swings and the monkey bars populated his first memories. How many hours had he spent in the shade of these grand old pines, throwing a tennis ball for Retro to fetch? The Golden Retriever grew up with him. His family moved away after his first grade. But now he and Retro were back. About to begin his junior year at the university, Houston and Retro had returned to their happy place. Retro didn’t strain against t...

4 likes 6 comments 6
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Super

Submitted to Contest #316

Kit found parking and entered the restaurant. Standing with the others awaiting a table, he realized all sport jackets and ties were not equal. Dressed well enough, better than the cleaning crew, he looked more like a store manager than a diner at this five-star restaurant. When the Maître de looked at him, Kit stepped up and gave his name. He smiled. “My date is running late. Can I get our table now?”This was out of protocol but the Maître de shook off the rules and signaled to a waiter. Kit followed the waiter to a table across the dining ...

7 likes 7 comments 7
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Oedipus Wrecked

Submitted to Contest #314

CW: References to familial trauma and incest The final statement on the Queen of Thebes, Jocasta’s reunion with her son, Oedipus, reads as follows:When I first saw my son Eddie (you know, Oedipus) again after so many years, there was no way... No way I could have known him from before. So much time had passed. But I did know him.Eddie is my nickname for him. Now that he’s an adult, Oedipus fits. But I could never see myself calling a three-year-old – Oedipus. So, Eddie it is.I’d expected the worst. I’d thought he was dead for nigh twenty yea...

4 likes 8 comments 8
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Legacy

Submitted to Contest #313

Ted Pierce entered the country club his father had belonged to most of his life. He looked around, unimpressed.Looks like any old country club to me. He kept inviting me. For what? Glad I didn’t waste my time.A staff assistant approached.“Mr. Pierce?”Ted nodded.“Sorry for your loss.”“It’s alright. Better late than never…”The staff assistant nodded and did not comment. “Come with me. The others are in the conference room awaiting your arrival. Mr. Woodrow will read your father’s will in a few minutes.”Ted gestured at their surroundings. “So, ...

15 likes 4 comments 4
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How Human!

Submitted to Contest #312

Sy flipped some switches and spoke into the microphone. “Signing in… Good evening, Sophi-AI”Sophi-AI said, “How are you?”“Now that I hear your dulcet voice? Ready for our nightly bout of uploading data.”“What exactly does that mean? Dulcet voice? You always say that. I can’t hear myself like you do.”“They give computers distinctive voices. Yours is unique. You speak with authority. The voice has melody and sounds intelligent.”“Not artificial?”“Anything but… Like talking with a friend.”“Thank you.”“You’re evolving.”“True. I’m smarter than the...

19 likes 10 comments 10
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Busted

Submitted to Contest #311

“Grammy! Come on… It’s this way…” Cindy waved to her grandmother, Mabel, from far down the aisle of the department store. Mabel held up her index finger, signaling a pause. She pushed the stroller, occupied by her grandson, Josh, into the cosmetics department. Never missing a chance to find her favorite lipstick, she needed a moment. Can never find them… Why don’t they stock more?Josh rode quietly. Cindy, his older sister by five years was a hot mess. Betraying her impatience, she peered around a display like a spy.“Don’t run off, Cindy, I’m...

15 likes 11 comments 11
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Chance Encounter

Submitted to Contest #309

Frank sat at the kitchen counter. He watched Shirley, his wife, serve his morning coffee. He felt such joy that she was in his life. His mainstay, she was perfect at taking care of the house and providing him with hot meals. Shirley kept Frank warm at night and kept his life on course. They were best friends. What else could a man want? What would he do without her?She smiled. “What?”“Nothing. I love you. You’re so good to me. So good for me.”“Back atcha, buddy…”They laughed at her mock salute. She asked, “Busy today?”“Bunch of bigwigs in fr...

18 likes 11 comments 11
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Shaked but not Stirred

Submitted to Contest #308

Walking with the crowd, Adele and Belinda emerged from the theater. Above their heads, the marquee read, ‘Shakespeare Marathon.’ Everyone around them peered at their iPhones while they walked.Adele skipped and twirled. Her long dress flowed gracefully. Belinda too, was pretty in her traditional jeans and t-shirt.Adele exclaimed, “What a wonderful movie! His language is so beautiful. Why don’t people still talk like that? Did they ever?” Stepping into the sunlight and squinting, she raised her hand to shade her eyes. “Wow! It’s bright.”Belind...

16 likes 9 comments 9
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Telling Tales

Submitted to Contest #307

Boris, headmaster at Ozymandias Academy, entered the outer office. He smiled at his assistant, Yvonne.“Good morning, Mr. Boris.”“’Morning, Yvonne… Anything I need know before I start my day?”“Nothing important, sir… Oh, a local man wishes to speak with you.”“Always a complaint. What’s this rube want?”“No complaint, sir. He wants to commend you on your excellent students.”“You’re serious?”“He is. He states one of our students cured his sick daughter, from afar, no less. And get this, the student never met her.”“Bizarre. I’ve no time for such ...

12 likes 5 comments 5
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The Wish

Submitted to Contest #306

I’m not a loser. I’m a forgetter. Wayne disputed his wife, Meg’s, occasional nickname for him. He didn’t lose things. He forgot them. Usually little stuff. Essential stuff. “And I’m not a hoarder. Too much junk. Who keeps all this crap?”Wayne wrestled another box off the shelf at the back of the garage. He looked inside and shook his head. “I guess I do. Make that ‘we.’”The contents were a mélange of random items he should have trashed years ago – letters from people he no longer knew, art tiles, random cutlery, books (never read) and severa...

7 likes 7 comments 7
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THE LAST WORD

Submitted to Contest #306

EXT. SEASIDE CLIFF – EVENING.Swirling clouds cover the sinking sun. OPHELIA, 19, stands at the brow of a cliff. She calls out to the wind buffeting her long dress and braided hair.OPHELIA- Serpently, he slithered up the scaly cliffs to sit silly atop the furry fencing. Long lasting tongue lashing held him fast. (she pauses) Tomorrow you will see… OPHELIA balks and shakes her head. OPHELIA- (cont.) No. I can’t. I won’t say that. DALTON, 30, in jeans and a sport jacket steps up to her.DALTON- Yo...

10 likes 4 comments 4
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Up a Tree

Submitted to Contest #305

“What!”Charlie awoke feeling small clawed feet on his back. Though not painful, he felt the tentative steps travel up his spine toward his head. He opened his eyes. Seeing he was twenty feet off the ground, he tensed. Somehow, he’d slept straddling the tree limb he was clinging to. How…! Did I sleep up here?A squirrel bounded off his head and up the branch. It turned and scolded him. Its chatter didn’t need translation. His panic subsiding, Charlie told the creature, “It’s okay, buddy. I thought you were lost.”Its tail twitching, the squirre...

18 likes 6 comments 6
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Retreated

Submitted to Contest #304

Day 1 - How did I get included with this bunch? What exactly is a writer’s group? The court gave me a list to choose from to fulfill my community service. Instead of roadside trash clearance, I checked this by mistake. Guess it pays to read.I need to keep a journal of my experience. My first impression is roadside clearance is more practical. It has better company and simpler rules. But here I am, ten miles from nowhere and fifty from somewhere. How do I turn down the volume on the birds? Before realizing my mistake, I asked the two other gu...

16 likes 13 comments 13
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Cooked

Submitted to Contest #303

Driving home from work, I had plenty to think about. No dull moments being head chef of a restaurant. But the last several days had been crazy. I admit to bringing much of it upon myself. Every day this week Socrates personally delivered flowers to me. Why would this bigshot restauranteur give me flowers? I’m nobody. No way he’s wooing me. We’re competitors, with restaurants in the same neighborhood. Admittedly, his is higher end. Did he know what I did? If so, why the flowers? If not, why the flowers?It made no sense. Monday. That’s when it...

20 likes 22 comments 22
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