John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (269)

269 Stories

8152 karma pts

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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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“Princess Elvis” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #80

Let me tell you how my nickname came about. My sister gave it to me. It doesn’t make any sense, as you’ll see. But it stuck. I was only a girl. So, forgive my not having all the times and dates. You can look it up. You may dispute some details but I’ll never forget that day. I was there. Daddy brought us, Mama, me and my sister, Charlotte, to the city to see the Reverend, Dr. King. It was a big deal. You’d have thought the circus came to town for all the people. It took forever to find parking. Daddy kept mumbling under his breath and sayin...

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“Are You There?” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #79

“Norman, are you in there?” ‘Oh for a moment of privacy. But no…’ The shards of a dream slipped through my fingers. “Of course Mother. Do you see me?” “No.” “Is the door shut?” “Yes…” “If it were open you’d be in here with me.” “Yes…” ‘How many times have we read this script?’ I thought as I sat on the edge of the tub. ‘Is there no other way?’ “I’ll be a moment…” “Yes.” I flushed the toilet so she wouldn’t pester me about what took so long. ‘The dream… I almost had it…’ Through the door, she said, “No.” “No what, M...

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“Pyramid Schematics” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #78

“So tell me more about this pyramid scheme, Ted.” Joe didn’t get it. “Again, it’s not a scheme nor a scam. It’s a convention of the latest pyramid technology.” Joe and Ted walked through the jammed parking lot. The convention center loomed in the distance. “So, why are we here again?” “I thought I might run into someone.” “You remember where we parked, right?“ “Of course. Just be patient. It’ll be amazing.” “Well don’t expect me to buy one. I hate heights…” They approached the entrance and joined the line of ticket holders dressed in pyrami...

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“Suicide Hill” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #77

The clouds parted to reveal a vast snow covered landscape. Eddie squinted as the sun shone on the brilliant snow clad plains. He had mixed feelings about snow. ‘Beautiful to look at, but it might kill you.’ The jet began its descent. ‘I’m almost there,’ he thought. It had been decades. He wondered if he would surprise his sister, Michelle. The plane landed without incident. Eddie retrieved his luggage and caught a cab to Michelle’s house. She opened the door before he knocked. “Eddie!” He caught her as she threw herself into his embrace. T...

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“Leaf Blower Cantata” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #76

Sammy sat in the back booth of his regular café in West L. A. He read the sports page while awaiting his friends, Ben and David. They’d met here for breakfast every week for years. He looked at his watch. Late again. Ben entered and spotted Sammy in ‘their’ booth in the back. Sammy had returned to the newspaper. Ben approached. “You won't believe it. I am so fed up to here.” Sammy peered over the sports page. “You're late.” “I know. Where's David?” “I don't know. He's late too. Have a seat.” “I'm going to file a lawsuit. They ...

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“I Don’t Love You Too” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #76

Amy looked into Charlie’s eyes and spoke, “Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest come to thy heart as that within my breast!” Charlie looked at his script and said, “Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?” Giving him a mischievous look, “What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?” “The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.” “I give up. Your words ring false as marbles hitting a plate.” Charlie frowned. “What? Amy, that isn’t in the script.” “I don’t feel it, Charles.” “What’s that mean?” “It means, ‘I. ...

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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