John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (260)

260 Stories

7878 karma pts

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“Danish Modern” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #95

Maggie found Knut rummaging in the kitchen. She often found him scrounging a snack, though breakfast was hours away. If he couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t sleep. Compared to their daily lapses in communication, midnight snacks were of little note. An immigrant from Denmark, Knut spoke English pretty well. Though it often seemed the piece lost in translation was meaning. He noticed her watching from the shadows and continued his foraging. She said, “I sense tension between us.” He paused, “That makes no sense.” “Are you tense with me?” “I was b...

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“Burned” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #94

James looked at Linda, “That’s not only absurd. It’s ridiculous.” “Oh, really?” He nodded with a finality she had learned to challenge only with the best arguments. He would stand his ground to the very end. And perhaps beyond it. She thought, ‘This is so much fun…’ They were finishing their Friday night dinner at their favorite restaurant. ‘Maybe I should have skipped that second margarita…’ Hugs, kisses and even general applications of affection carried no weight with James, when resolving disputes like this. Linda knew. They were lovers....

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“Real Trouble” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #93

Henry looked into the dusky night. Fireflies flashed. His eyes tracked one, then another. Mysteriously there and gone. There and gone. ‘Could soon be me,’ he thought. He knew his deep trouble. Could be life and death. Frenchie, in the driver’s seat didn’t care. No one understands when you lose your mind. You’re expected to keep tabs on such things. Not like telling your Mom you lost your sweater at school. ‘Where did you last see it…?’ Regardless, Henry amused himself. He kept quiet, though. Frenchie, parked the limo and idled the ...

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“Out of Darkness” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #92

Bing and Wing first met in the waiting room of the Vision Center. They each happened to have an appointment. A great friendship began that day.Bing heard her talking with her driver. He recognized her voice.“Excuse me, aren’t you Wing?”She turned to the sound. “Yes. Who are you?”“Your voice is familiar. You read at the Poetry Jam, last month. I’d know your voice anywhere. I love your poetry.”She paused and said, “You sound familiar too. Do I know you? Are you a singer?”“I sing. Yes.”She smiled. He heard it in her voice. “Will you sing for me...

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“Ariadne’s Thread ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #91

Alan’s friends could not believe him. They wanted more. They wanted proof. “You met him?” “Merlo exists?” “You spoke?” “What did he say?” “What’s he like?” “He signed it?” “He stole your book?” “His book?” “Why take his own book?” “It’s my copy of his latest, ‘Ariadne’s Thread’.” Everyone envied Alan’s good fortune. Few could claim the great Merlo had stolen one of their books. Fewer, that the thief also wrote it. Many claimed to know Merlo, the celebrated author, eccentric and recluse. He lived in this city where Alan attended univ...

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“ Everything is Poison, Everything is Medicine” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #90

“How beautiful!” Karen exclaimed, looking over the valley stretched before them. The sun topped distant mountains. Layers of mist still settled in the hollows. She looked at her children, Tim and Amy, straddling their bikes.“This is why I wanted to get out today. You can’t see this on a phone screen.”Tim nodded, though his expression betrayed doubt.“Looks like there’s a meadow there. Let’s ride down and check it out. Maybe picnic there.”Karen rode down the fire road trailed by eleven year-old Tim and seven year-old Amy. The girl wobbled a bi...

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“Money Shot” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #89

Anna’s eyes fluttered as she lay cradled in Trent’s arms. “I‘m cold… Is it cold?” Trent pulled off his jacket and tucked it around her. The wrecked car lay on its side. Smoke drifted. “Hang on, Anna. We’ll get through this.” “I’m sorry.” “No, I’m sorry. You saved my life… you took a bullet meant for me.” “Guess I learned. I’ll never do that again… ” She tried to smile. “Quiet now. Save your strength…” “I… I’m fading Trent... I need to say… I think this is…” “Cut!” The actors, Edge and Sedona, looked around. “What happened?” “Hold your places...

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“Ask Me No Questions ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #88

“Hi, I’m Jason.” He extended his hand. “The Argonauts are outside with the boat.” ‘Shut up! You dork!’ “I’m Jill…” She took his hand and glanced around conspiratorially. “Parking that thing must be a… pain.” He laughed at her joke. “That’s good. Not everyone gets it.” Ice broken. ‘Maybe this won’t be such an ordeal…’ They each paused, expecting the other to talk. The silence hadn’t yet become strained. He gestured to the hostess’ station. Jill said, “I never had a blind date with a person so legendary.” “Really? This is my first,” he lied...

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“Fools” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #87

Blake hated April Fool’s Day. Don’t fools run the place? They need a holiday too? The fact that his birthday fell on April 1st didn’t help its reputation. Thanks to his brother, Jeff, he grew up being his family’s April Fool. How many shaving crème or mayonnaise frosted cakes can one kid bite into and laugh? He never wanted to see another cake . Any mention of Marie Antoinette made him gag. Despite his parent’s efforts, Jeff’s ingenious pranks always succeeded. Blake admitted to himself, the hot fudge mashed potato sundae was inspired. And...

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“Spring’s in the Error” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #86

Margaret didn’t notice when Jane first arrived to the print shop. Her sole focus was printing the flyer for her annual Shakespeare in the Park festival. They always did the favorite, ‘Midsummer’s Night Dream’. But Jane’s increasingly strident voice demanded attention. “You printed it all wrong,” she said to Greg, the manager. “Actually, I didn’t. I followed your instructions exactly. Look at the paperwork.” Jane slapped the table. “Who orders a flyer announcing, ‘Shakespeare in the Pork’?” “You did. Look.” He pointed to her signature at the...

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“I Like to Drive” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing with this city… if you don’t have a ‘place for your stuff’, if all you have is your body, you’re a nobody. With no place to stand, you have no standing. You ain’t got a castle, who are you? So, being homeless, unless you call my car a home, I wanted a place to lay my head besides my steering wheel. I drove into the camp to check things out. Little kids wandered like stray dogs. No one cared. I slammed my brakes and yelled a blue streak out my window when a pack of them ran into the road. Last thing I needed, to run some kid ...

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“Smoke and MIrrors” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #84

Grace saw the rider approaching from a long way off. The dog’s barking drew her attention to him. Maybe he had news from back East. She called to her toddler, “Go inside Sally. Wait for me there.” Sally ran to Grace with the little sack of meal. “We’ll feed the chickens later, Hon.” She caressed her cheek. Sally’s gaze followed Shep’s bark. “Who is that, Mommy? Don’t like him.” “I don’t like him either. Stay inside and I’ll send him off.” She patted her bottom. “Go on, now. You wait for me.” Grace followed the girl inside. She checked her p...

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“Paradise Unshared” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #83

Cheryl opened the door to see her husband, Dave, sitting at the kitchen table with his back to her. He didn’t move. She thought it odd that he didn’t acknowledge her entrance. Oblivious to all else, he stared at the portable radio which played quietly on the table. She watched him on the edge of amazement. Usually fidgety, Dave sat as still as she’d ever seen him, except when he slept. Even his sleep was restless. The radio announcer declared an imminent opportunity to ‘win big’. Dave picked up the pen and prepared to write. Having things ...

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“LDNOOBW” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #82

Chad said, “Noob, think of emotions as salad dressing. Some favor one or another, or each depending on their mood. But they’re all kind of cheesy. The salad itself doesn’t change much.” “Which dressing do you use?” “I don’t use dressing. I like my salads dry.” “I struggle with analogies to things about which I have no reference. Since I’ll never have a salad, this is not helpful. My world is already abstract.” “All language is metaphorical, Noob. Analogue vs. digital. Consider how about some algorithms are more elegant than others. One works...

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“Before the Shift” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #81

Jessie sighed and gave Shelly a call. Past time. They hadn’t talked for ages. Seemed like… could it actually be years? Get it done before work. Of course, he could text. ‘One of the great innovations of the new century,’ he thought. ‘Poor communication with the illusion of efficiency.’ His fingers fumbled with the number pad. Holding a ‘cell’ instead of a wall mounted phone felt strange. The device had no heft. Insubstantial, like a toy, he could throw it against a wall without a thought. He thought about this ‘cell’. Living quarters in ...

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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