John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (190)

190 Stories

5796 karma pts

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“Sandcastle of Desire” by John K Adams

As if the sun shines only on her, all eyes fall on ‘the woman’ as she strolls across the classic Italian city square. A flock of pigeons parts before her. Dressed simply, she looks better than those watching. In awe, they stare. She’s perfect. ‘The man,’ distracted, almost collides with ‘the woman,’ crossing her path. As if receiving an angel’s tap, he turns and sees the woman he’s been trying to meet. Thei...

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“DMV in Retrograde” by John K Adams

“You nervous?”“A little. You know… I’ll be okay.”“I’m sure you will. I’ll be at the café. Text me when you’re ready.”Corey, fifteen-and-a-half-years-old, repeated ‘You got this,’ to himself. If only he believed it.He’d driven hundreds of miles practicing over the last few months. But until he passed this test, to the world, he knew squat.First tests… firsts of anything are mysterious to the uninitiated. Rites of passage used to mean something. Crossing that line meant leaving childhood forever. ...

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“The Olympics Gamed” by John K Adams

Mars, the god of war, clapped his hands and addressed the crowd. “Welcome! What a beautiful morning here on Mount Olympus.” The crowd cheered. Epimetheus suppressed an ironic smile. The god of afterthought and the father of excuses considered his lowly status amongst his peers. “Some gods get all the breaks. Why is the god of war presiding over the opening of the Olympic Games?” No one answered him...

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“If Only” by John K Adams

‘Drab. Who would design anything in drab?’ Carole looked around. It seemed everything sang a dirge of that same ‘blah’ color. Evelyn entered. Carole stopped sketching and watched her daughter make herself breakfast. She sat opposite her mother without speaking. “Good morning…” Evelyn nodded and took a bite. Carole returned to her sketch but soon set the charcoal onto the table.

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“The Front Man” by John K Adams

‘Here we go,’ thought Angel, standing outside the rear entrance of Joaquin’s. About to start his shift as busboy, he wondered, ‘Should I go in? I never felt like this.’ He weighed his options. ‘Why should I quit? It’s not my problem. Let them sort it out. Why should I start over?’ The door burst open. Pretending graciousness, waiters, Diego and Cisco offered each other the door. Then ...

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“Seed Crystal” by John K Adams

Ian needed an entry point for his story. No portal, no story.The sun shone through his window, creating a bright trapezoid on his floor. Dust drifted through the beam. The house was quiet.All he needed was a simple dust mote on which his story’s beautiful snow flake could form. He could pick any one.‘Always to the dust returning.’Ian never called it ‘writer’s block.’ ‘That’s a faulty understanding of the problem.’ Ian felt he needed to find this story’s crystalizing agent. With enough research...

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“Hamster Wheel ” by John K Adams

Elaine said, “I hate to tell you this…” Greg looked up from his newspaper. “What?” “Oh, never mind.” “Elaine, what?” “I don’t want to fight.” “Who’s fighting? Talk.” “We’re… in a rut.” “We are?” He reached for her. “Greg, our hamster wheel...” He stared. “It rattles and spins but never goes anywhere.” “Uhm, Honey, if it rolled away, you’d lose the hamster…”<...

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“Eric’s Last Stand ” by John K Adams

Was this Eric’s last stand? He hoped not. But the past year made him think it might be. Eric stood before the one room cabin. It was his, a gift from Simon, his dying friend. Eric had never seen it before. Spiders had spun brocades under the eaves. He felt numb. That was an improvement over the despair he’d nurtured lately. Maybe numbness was something he could build upon, use as a springboard. Regardless, ...

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“Yuuna’s Ghost ” by John K Adams

Suggested by, ‘101 Zen Koans,’ by Secret of Zen. Riku’s young wife, Yuuna, became ill. The doctor’s tried everything but told Riku to prepare, her death was nigh. Riku loved Yuuna deeply. Seeing her suffer tortured him. He gladly tended to her smallest need until she was gone. When she became too weak to stand, s...

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“Easy Peasy” by John K Adams

“Speak now,” Kurt told his wife, Madison. She heard her brother, Lionel’s, voice through the phone. “Hello? Mad? You there?” The previous week’s events flooded Madison’s memory. So much unnecessary drama. They hadn’t seen each other since their mother’s memorial. She suggested meeting up. Big deal. She would fly to see her daughter, Wilma, in Seattle. Why couldn’t he meet in the middle? Portland’s ha...

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“Roads Not Taken ” by John K Adams

“In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight path was lost.” Dante “You okay?” Driving, Anton glanced at his wife, Renee. “Sure. Thinking. Why?” “We’re not there yet. But you were slowing. You know, checking in.” “It’s nothing… Well, it’s, you know.” She nodded. “Damn road is so dark. And, to be honest, I’m dreading...

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“The Catch” by John K Adams

“So, what’s the catch, Mom?” Marilyn hated Adam’s incessant disputing everything she said. ‘Six years old, and such an attitude.’ Giving birth was the easy part. She gained no status from that task. Adam kept her playing catch up. Always one, no, ten steps behind. How did he get so smart? Though glad of that, his sharp tongue exhausted her. To Adam, she could do no right. Before he could talk was r...

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“Playing the Odds” by John K Adams

“Hey, Ryan.” “Foley! What’s up?” “You hear ‘bout the lotto?” “Of course! Bought a ticket.” “You? I thought you didn’t believe in that…” “I don’t. But with a prize of almost a billion, I figured… can’t hurt. Doing my part. Goes to the schools and all that…” “You said some politician skims...” “Same dif. They take their cut either way… I figure it’s a win-win. Brings the cus...

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“Of Breath and Blood” by John K Adams

Princess Hannah awakened in dim, cold light. Her head ached. Confined within rigid walls, she couldn’t move. Something smelled bad. Groping to consciousness, she sensed eyes upon her. Grotesque faces watched wherever she turned. But moving she realized they were reflections of herself. As bad as she felt, she hoped these hideous images were not true. ‘No princess could survive looking so wretched. Am ...

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“Cape Not Included” by John K Adams

“Houston, we have a problem.” It was the same, old, never changing story. Houston Feerless was no superhero. He knew that. And most of Belleville knew that. But they treated him like one. Everyone called him for almost anything at all. People have problems. Houston almost always fixed them. He couldn’t get a moment’s peace. If the phone wasn’t ringing, someone was knocking his door, or leaving a note o...

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Author bio

I enjoy seeing how words and memory wrestle with reality. Please check out the podcast interview of me with Deidra Lovegren, and Russell Norman on Read lots Write Lots: https://www.readlotswritelots.com/wp/podcast/episode-21-john-k-adams/ Three stories of mine were recently included in the '2021 Indie Authors' Short Story Anthology.' 'Dust Collectors' and 'Eye of the Beholder' are two recent favorites. 'Eat What you Kill' and 'Billy Jack to the Rescue' are loosely autobiographical. I have two grown children and a beautiful, loving wife. Please read and comment, even if you don't like.

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #198

DMV in Retrograde – read story