Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Contests
Magazine
FAQ

John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (285)
Comments
Library
936 Followers
1148 Following

285 Stories

8573 karma pts

?

Sink or Swim

Submitted to Contest #108

Jay and Ann made their way through the wharf-side bustle to the gang plank. A line of couples made their way past the white uniformed purser, checking documents. Ann looked around and then at the rings on her finger. “It’s so romantic. Isn’t it?” Jay hugged her as they waited their turn. “Just like in the movies. Only movies move.” Ann laughed. “You prefer an airport?” He looked over his glasses at her and said an emphatic, “No.” “They’ve been predicting teleporting since Star Trek first broadcast. Can you imagine? Text something into the ...

22 likes 3 comments 3
Read story

Truth be Told

Submitted to Contest #107

Eleventh grade and Margot had been a newbie six times. Sheesh! Margot never expected to get used to being the ‘new kid.’ Once high school lay in the rear view mirror, she could get on with her life. Her immediate task was breaking into a group, so she wouldn’t spend the next two years alone. Margot knew too well, gaining social traction after school started, sucks, big-time. By week two, the cliques have gelled. Breaking into anything but your own locker is a pitiful pipe-dream. The kids gathering tonight were lifelong friends. Breaking into...

18 likes 6 comments 6
Read story

Getaway

Submitted to Contest #104

Jerry couldn’t wait to start the weekend. The day had been nothing but dreary mandatory meetings filled with preening people. He got nothing done. Clearing his desk, he saw his two notes from the last confab. Surrounded by doodles, filigrees, and dark underlining, he’d written an idea for a training on how ‘not to ask pointless questions which prolong meetings into eternity.’ Printed neatly beneath that, he wrote, ‘paradise = alone.’ He never made the suggestion, though. He knew it would have provoked additional pointless discussion. What ...

19 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Harmonic Divergence

Submitted to Contest #103

Opposites attract, so I’ve heard. Some call it magnetism. But unlike the lowly lodestone, people eat, sleep, and have opinions. Though drawn irresistibly to each other, sometimes, one or two of a couple feels stuck. What quantum switch transforms attraction into repulsion?Bret and Erin met at the Harmonic Convergence in Sedona. En route to a favorite camp site, he meant to stop for gas and the crowd enveloped him. There was so much color and light and movement. He’d never seen anything like it. And Erin appeared amidst the kaleidoscopic mome...

19 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Help Wanted

Submitted to Contest #102

Richard pressed the intercom button. “Nick, let me have all the resumes we have for that sales position.” His office manager poked his head through the door. “I gave it to you, boss. On your desk… The folder…” He glanced at the single sheet of paper it contained. “This? There’s only one.” “Yeah. That’s it.” Richard recognized the name at the top of the resume, Benjie Bantam. He couldn’t believe it. “Re-run the ad.” “We ran it three times and that’s all we got.” “Hard to believe.” “I know. It’s a good job for the right person. But the good n...

17 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

The Proposal

Submitted to Contest #100

Trent handed his car key to the valet and took Cindy’s arm. Her eyes got wide as they strolled into the best restaurant in town. “This is spectacular, Trent. Did you win the lotto?” “No… Just want to take my best girl for a well-deserved night on the town.” She pretended to pout. “And who would that be?” Trent pulled her close. “You, Cindy. Of course. Who else?” “You said, ‘best girl…’ Of how many?” He shook his head at the faux pas. “Only girl. Of course. Or do you prefer, ‘baby’?” She smiled slyly. He turned to her, “How about, ‘Love of ...

28 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Ants and Ice Cream

Submitted to Contest #99

I finally understood my father. Had I become him? He always hated whining.I do too.Like a fountain of molten rock, rage welled up. Where did this come from? Unsuppressed, would it continue? Unstoppable? Obliterate me and everything?I imagined ripping up the sidewalk and tossing concrete slabs like Frisbees. Did I think I was the Hulk? Did I want to be?Would that shut the kid up?I glanced at my wife. I strained to speak in a normal voice. “Can’t you do something? Do I have to pull over?”Translation: Do something or I will.She stretched around...

15 likes 7 comments 7
Read story

Magic Shoebox

Submitted to Contest #98

Paul rang the doorbell and said , “Follow my lead. It’ll be fine.” His mother opened the door and cried out, “Paul! It’s so good to see you!” Ada embraced him. “Too long, Ma. Too long.” He introduced his girlfriend, Abigail. Ada sized her up and smiled. “Wonderful! Come in! Meet my Dad, and the others. You’re right on time. We’re about to sit.” “Something smells good!” Ada whispered, “She’s so petite, Paul. I thought you liked the tall ones.” “Cut it out, Ma…” They entered to see family gathering around the table. The smell of ...

10 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

What She Held

Submitted to Contest #97

Justin always admired the stained glass window high in the church wall. A true work of art, but old. No one remembered who designed it. Rumor held he was probably a contemporary of Tiffany or one of the other geniuses of a century ago. Maybe Tiffany himself. He grew up attending church with his mother. Each Sunday, he studied its colorful scene. His childish imagination had him believing it studied him back. The ornate image showed a fair young woman kneeling, with her hand out. Her eyes gazed into the heavens with a hopeful expression. Beh...

16 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Noggin’s Lair

Submitted to Contest #96

Stealing through the pre-dawn forest, Leaf sensed the dragon before seeing it. He’d never smelled brimstone before but the ungodly stench fit the name. Dressed in an ill-fitting suit of armor, he moved as quietly as he could.A low howl filled his ears from beyond the copse of trees. The mixture of pain and rage and an unnatural timbre made him shudder. It joined discordant chorus with the plaintive cries of the princess. What unspeakable acts could reduce her to such undignified pleading?Roaring a challenge, he burst from the underbrush, his...

16 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Danish Modern

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...

21 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Burned

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....

19 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Real Trouble

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 ...

18 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Out of Darkness

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...

24 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Ariadne’s Thread

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...

15 likes 2 comments 2
Read story