John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (260)

260 Stories

7878 karma pts

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“The Ring” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #19

“You must be kidding!” Chloe said. She looked around for support.Chloe stood behind the jewelry counter at Bloomies. Being a potential customer, she didn’t mind spending time with me. She still had hopes of selling me some extravagant gift for my wife, Heather.Chloe and Heather were best friends. She focused on me and gave me a very serious look. “Dan, I would not steer you wrong on this.”I interrupted, “Maybe on some things…”“…But not on this.” She smiled without humor. “If you value your marriage…”“Chloe, I know you think you are right. Bu...

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“Ghost Strum” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #18

Jane pointed. “Where did that come from?”Molly followed her mother’s gaze to the milk glass picture frame standing atop a shelf beneath the window. It captured the sunlight and seemed to glow. But Jane didn’t see the frame. She only saw the black and white photo of her teenaged self, arm in arm with a handsome kid in uniform. Molly answered carefully. “I found it in a box of old frames at the thrift store. Who’s the guy?”Her mother moved toward the picture. “It needs to go into the trash. Now.”Molly grabbed it and held it close. “I bought it...

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“Last Call” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #17

Charlie kissed his little boy, Charles Jr. and girl, Jenny, good-night and went downstairs to the living room. He clicked the remote, surfing through channels on cable. Nothing grabbed his interest. Charlie looked at the clock. After ten. He was restless.The phone rang. It was the landline they kept for emergencies.“Is Miriam there?”“Who is calling?”“Sergio. Let me talk to Miriam.”Charlie paused. Miriam was his wife. Wherever she was, she wasn’t with this idiot.“She isn’t here. I’ll give her a message.”“I need to talk to her.”“I’ll tell her ...

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“The Flight Risk” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #16

Marcus smiled down at Destiny. “May I buy you a drink?”“I have one, thank you. But we can talk.” She held a glass filled with icy clear liquid and a wedge of lime.“Great.” Marcus sat next to her. Each table stood in its own intimate alcove, perfect for conversation. Most of the tables were filled with travelers reunited or saying their good-byes.Destiny smiled. “My name is Destiny.”She was the most beautiful woman Marcus had ever seen. “I’m Marcus.” Destiny offered her hand and he took it gently. Her touch thrilled him. Destiny smiled ...

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“The Secret” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #15

Charlie had some choice words for her. But he didn’t like saying them, even to himself. She deserved them. ‘She’ was his fourth-grade teacher, Miss Margaret Pringle.‘Miss Pee’, her name being the source of endless humor among his classmates, yelled at Charlie today. In front of his friends, no less. He hadn’t done his homework. He hated homework. He hated her.Miss Pee made him stay after school to finish it. But Charlie outsmarted her. When she left the classroom, Charlie picked up his backpack and made an ‘exit left’.“Charlie, are you done ...

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“Timing” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #14

Rich listened to the man on the phone and then said, “Graven images? No sir. We are a photographic service, not a funeral home.” Rich wrote something on his pad. “Oh, I see. You are getting married but want no graven images? Got it. Well, here at Silva, we do photography.” Rich gestured to Pete in the vein of ‘Where do these weirdos come from?’Pete was waiting to discuss his first wedding shoot. It had been a huge break for him. He looked around the office. A large light table, for examining negatives, stood against one wall. Another wall wa...

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“The Old Nome Hotel” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #13

At first glance, the old hotel looked different than Jeremy remembered. It resembled a mountain when seen through the trees in the dwindling light. Jeremy realized the mist drifting through the towers gave the impression of movement. On first sight, Jeremy’s horse, King, pulled back. The massive structure loomed. But appearances were not the only cause of Jeremy’s hesitation. He stroked King’s mane gently. “You’ve been here before, King. Is that why you balk?”This was his tenth and final year paying tribute at the manse. Jeremy would c...

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“Martha Didn’t Show” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #12

“Where’s Martha, Ben? You lose her?” That was Tim talking.“Naw. She didn’t show.” Ben tapped his steering wheel. He won the game tonight, but looked anxious.“I thought I saw her.”“You’re joking.”“I saw her get into someone’s car. Maybe with Simmy…?”“Oh, man… What’s she doing with that ass?”“Guess you’d have to ask him or her about that…”It was the traditional Friday night gridlock, down Bentfork’s three block Main Street. After the game, anyone with a car would meet here. Three blocks up, and three blocks back. Repeat. Horns honking. Engines...

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“No Wounds like Old Wounds” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #11

I watched him lying on his bed. This once super-human force, my father, now lay still, an empty shell, small and vulnerable. Almost unrecognizable. Formerly bigger than life itself, how could this be the man who dominated my puny life? The bed appeared to swallow him. I spent my life waiting to see him exposed and weak. I felt empty.I could touch his hand. But an impossible, impassable distance separated us. How does one bridge a chasm created through the span of life?We hadn’t spoken in years. Answering the phone, he’d pass me to my mother....

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“The Split” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #10

`David knew big kids eat lunch with big kids. David was a little kid. That’s why his sisters didn’t lunch with him.When he became a big kid, little kids would eat with little kids.And anyway, girls don’t eat with boys, no matter what size they are. It’s the way things work. Those are the rules. David’s mother, Debra, didn’t get it. She worried about David being stuck in a wheelchair. He rarely thought about that. When making their lunches for the day, Debra always said, “Hey kids, I know you trade and share. But be sure to get something good...

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“Bros” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #9

Mike awoke to the sound of the doorbell. He looked at the clock and tried to make sense of things. “What the… My God! It’s two-thirty.”Then the knocking began. He went to investigate, hoping Sarah, his wife, wasn’t disturbed.The banging was insistent. Mike peered out and saw his brother Griff standing under the porch light. “Hey Bro! Let me in! I’m cold.”Mike opened the door. “What do you want, Griff? Come back tomorrow. Everyone’s asleep.”“C’mon Mike. I’m freezing. I need a place to crash.”Mike let him in. Griff made a show of how cold he w...

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“Mirage” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #8

It felt like being in a crowded parking lot, when someone way up ahead is waiting for that choice spot. No one can move in or out. Or forward. Only we were in the desert, not in a parking lot. There were no cars around. Not even a road. Scrub, dust and old rock filled our view all the way to the pass leading to Mirage, our destination. Oh yeah, it was stifling hot.The three of us walked steadily, but we made no discernible progress.Avery and Joe were my companions. We had water, extra shoes, sun block and our purpose - the package we needed ...

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“From a Balloon” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #7

Greta watched the world go by. And yet there it remained. In her ninety years, she couldn’t understand how the human race continued to exist. Everyone lived through chance encounters, like molecules of air bouncing off each other. Yet somehow, things got built. Babies were born. Civilizations rose and fell and were replaced by newer, better, shinier civilizations. How did all this happen?Greta spent most of her life alone. Even when married, she had felt alone. Was that her fault? Or is that just how things are? The demands made upon her out...

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“Kiss Hello, Kiss Good-bye” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #6

“Welcome to paradise, Sam! Want a beer?”Samantha stood over Greg who sipped his beer by the campfire. “What are you doing?”“Camping.” He grinned up at her. The afternoon sun gave her a halo. “You didn’t say anything about camping.”“Surprise!”“I don’t like camping.”“You used to camp with your family all the time.”“’Used to…’ Do you understand past tense?”Greg poked the fire.Samantha caught his attention. “I didn’t pack for camping. I don’t like sleeping in the dirt. I don’t like bugs. I like my privacy. I like a hot shower...”“I get it. I tho...

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“Jimmy the Hammer and the Quality of Mercy” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #5

“Our numbers are in the toilet! What do I need to do? Set you on fire?”Jimmy glowered at his assistants. They cringed inside. He needed a break. The day to day grind was getting to him. And then to see their numbers circling the drain depressed him. Jimmy hated working in collections. He couldn’t wait to get to Del Mar.He continued, “We’re in a rut, guys. What can we do to get things moving? Leon!”Leon flinched. “I don’t know boss. How about burning their cars?”Jimmy did a face palm. “Arson is old hat, people...” Leon kept going. “But you sa...

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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