John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (261)

261 Stories

7884 karma pts

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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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“Beside the Sea” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #4

“Look at that!”The surf line shone brilliant white against the distant blue. But Margaret pointed elsewhere. She tugged at Charles’ sleeve. “No, look, Charlie.”Charles shifted his gaze beyond his wife’s gnarly index finger and saw the sign, ‘Beside the Sea Cafe’.“That’s it. That’s where we’re going.”The door jingled as they entered the small, clean dining room lit by shimmering sand reflecting through the picture window. Old nets draped around the perimeter of the ceiling. They’d been catching dust for years. Radio music from back in the kit...

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“Beauty and the Model” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #3

Aaron was beautiful. Women would exclaim it and then cover their mouths in embarrassment. Even some guys would tell him. They all would soon discover, this was not the best way to start a conversation with Aaron. Mesmerized by his beautiful face, women would forget to listen to him. They could not keep their side of a conversation for the distraction.He hated it. Aaron had heard the words: ‘penetrating blue eyes,’ ‘riveting,’ ‘stunning,’ ‘chiseled features’ and more, far too often. Introduce yourself with one of these clichés and he would tu...

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“Bedtime Story” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #3

Dan read his daughter a bedtime story while sitting on her bed. But Phoebe kept on fidgeting. He closed the book, marking his place with a finger.“What’s wrong, kiddo? Don’t you like ‘Hansel and Gretel’?”“It’s kind of boring, Daddy.”“What do you mean? I always read from ‘The Little People’s Book of Fairy Tales’.”“Is that the same one, when Little Red Riding Hood makes friends with the wolf?”“Wolves are an endangered species, honey.”“But so was Little Red…”Dan cleared his throat. “What’s wrong with Hansel and Gretel?”“Pro’bly the ending. But ...

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“Blue Skies” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #2

Blue SkiesMartha’s boss, Walter, caught her eye as she pulled her pay envelope from her box. “Let’s talk,” he said. He turned and stepped into his office. Martha didn’t want to miss her bus. When that happened, her whole schedule got thrown off. Ordinarily, getting called into a meeting at day’s end on a Friday would be cause for anxiety. Those meetings were always bad news.Being one of the newspaper’s best ad sales people, Martha wasn’t worried. They needed her.Walter indicated the chair when she entered. There goes the bus, thought M...

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“If I'm Still Here” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #1

If I’m Still HereShirley peeked into her mother’s room to see her sitting on the bedside.“Good morning, Ma! How are you?”Hazel said, “Still here. Feeling pretty good.” She blew her nose into a handkerchief.“Do you want anything special for dinner, on your birthday?”“Oh, honey, I don’t think that far ahead. Let’s keep it simple.” She sounded hoarse.“But you’re turning a hundred Monday. Three days away. Don’t you want to celebrate?”“If I’m able to sit upright and smile, I will celebrate. I gave up counting anniversaries long ago. You know that...

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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