John K Adams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

Stories (261)

261 Stories

7884 karma pts

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“Desperate Remedies” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #248

Joaquin found himself in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Late for his meeting, attempting to avoid a clogged freeway, he took an exit. Now he was in it deep. Food trucks and sidewalk vendors lined the congested street. Brake lights glowed. Small time entrepreneurs moved from car-to-car hawking food, flowers and souvenirs. Colorful flags snapped in the breeze. A busker played an accordion. The mood was festive. Joaquin wasn’t in the mood.His autodial called the office where his meeting awaited. Project developers wanted his input. And dollars.The...

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“Uncharted” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #247

Cody thrived in his well-controlled world. He worked hard and played video games into the night. The vitality of the game’s characters inspired him. If they wanted something, they took it with style. He envied characters untethered by imposed social niceties. He loved exploring the secrets hidden within each new level. He wanted that life.Onscreen, his life was simple and direct. Those who dared interfere with his desires for a woman, a car or other treasures found life was brutish and short.Cody’d been up all night. And he’d left no one sta...

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“Play Time” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #246

Perched atop the monkey bars, London and Amelia compared notes on their new teachers. Now in fourth grade, London had Amelia’s teacher last year.Amelia asked, “You like Mrs. Eval?”“She was so great. I learned a ton.”“Who knew there was so much to know?”“Yeah, this year feels kinda like reruns. Okay, I get vowels. We need them, I guess. But let’s move forward, okay?”Amelia saw their friend, Daisy, lock her bike and enter the park. As if sleepwalking, her languid pace contrasted with the screaming children running about. A kicked ball narrowly...

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“Cute As… ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #244

I never expected to become a fashion icon. Does anyone? I’m the last possible candidate for such status. I never considered the potential impact of paparazzi, photo shoots, or celebrity on my simple life. There were none. My time was my own, until…But here I am, standing in the wings. (Wings – get it?) While awaiting my debut, I’m fighting off butterflies. My life transformed after that photograph went viral. Of course, Phil isn’t a mere photographer. He discovered me. He has vision. We became friends. He’s my trusted manager.And, thanks to ...

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“The Lovers” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #242

The young docent, Simone, led her group into the final gallery of the tour. They gasped at seeing the museum’s most popular painting, ‘The Lovers,’ by Veneer. It depicted a young couple realizing their love for each other.Eyes shining, as if in worship, they couldn’t look away. The tour group strained against the velvet ropes. They wanted to enter the painting. Exclaiming, they pointed at details, like the doves nesting in a branch above the reclining figures. And the raven watching from the shadows of the verdant foliage bursting with flowe...

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“One Size Fits” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #241

Britney offered her friends a plastic container filled with cookies made ‘all by myself.’Kerri held up her hand and shook her head. She’d tried the last and previous batches. Friend or not, there are limits.Taylor sighed, picked one and eyed it as if examining forensic evidence. She felt Britney watching as she nibbled and suppressed a wince.The three sat at their usual lunchtime table under the trees in the school patio. Lunch was almost over.“I made them myself with my Easy Bake Oven,” Britney said. Every time she brought cookies, which wa...

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“Only Human” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #240

Coffee splashed against the wall from the Styrofoam cup. A former baseball pitcher, Rex had aimed well. Fresh coffee ran down the wall over old coffee stains. A few people in the crowded break room flinched, but most ignored his outburst. They were used to it. Anita ran to mop up the spill with a cloth. She stood and shook the crumpled cup at Rex.“Get out of here, idiot. Don’t come back in here until you can act like a human being.”He laughed and sat at a table.Wyatt moved to Rex and murmured. “Let’s go. Take a walk. Cool off.”After a moment...

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“Parked Up ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #239

Jill leaned on the dashboard as Noah pulled into the parking structure. “I can’t thank you enough for driving me today.” He said, “You know I’d do anything for you. We came together.” Noah retrieved the ticket from the machine and watched the gate rise. Red lights on the tally board displayed available parking spaces. The first twenty-one floors read ‘FULL.’ A line of cars idled up the incline ahead of them. The glow of hundreds of brake lights lit their faces. Noah couldn’t believe how long it had been since he’d seen Jill. Friends since gr...

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“Reunion ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #236

Bags by the door, waiting for his car, Dashiell Holt rang up Aria, his ‘sig-o.’ Their shorthand for ‘significant other,’ ‘sig-o’ recently went viral on social media.Hearing her phone, Aria called for a break in the modeling session. The photographer nodded. Aria waved the make-up girl away.Dashiell said, “Hi, sorry to interrupt, babe. Calling to tell you I’m off to my reunion.”“You’re leaving now? Don’t go alone. Catch the next flight…”He said, “It’s okay. You’re busy. It’ll be dreary torture. And probably embarrassing.”“That sounds like a t...

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“Debt” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #235

Ryan peered over his newspaper as Jesse entered the coffee shop and walked to the counter. Hating surprises, Ryan always sat where he could see the door. ‘What’s he doing here? Does he never stop?’ Ryan knew his nemesis always appeared without warning. Though it sometimes felt there was no escape, he prided himself on always finding an out. ‘Look at him. He can go anywhere, any time, and savor a rich, extra foam cappuccino, while I pinch pennies on the go. So unfair.’ In no hurry, Jesse stood as if modeling his tailored suit, awaiting his t...

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“Twice Twenty-one” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #234

Sitting at the bar in Tavernier’s Pub, Arlene stared at the glass of ice that had held her drink. The place was nearly deserted. She wished she was elsewhere. ‘What am I going to do?’ Wiping glasses, Ken, the bartender eyed her. She signaled for another. ‘What can I do? What happened? Too much to wish for a second chance?’ She thought about her twenty-year marriage to Charlie. ‘So much promise gone south… What did I miss?’ Ken replaced her empty with a fresh drink. He wiped the bar top. Arlene said, “Thanks, Ken.” Returning her look he coc...

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“We Need to Talk” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #230

Dennis spread the checkered blanket out for their picnic. He scanned the river and the view of distant trees turning vivid fall colors. An arpeggio of birds soared over the water. The breeze was warm, a glorious day. Sandra, his date, his steady, unwrapped the wine from its cloth. She smiled at seeing the label from the same vintage they’d shared for their first dinner together. It had been a glorious summer. Dennis admired how she arranged things on their blanket, just so. She placed the glasses on paper plates for stability. ‘Wouldn’t wan...

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“New Kid ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #229

Cole entered the middle school for the first time. He was back. Excited kids ran about. You could tell the seventh graders from upper classmen. They weren’t seasoned. They didn’t belong. Cole knew about not belonging. His family always on the move, he was the perennial new kid. He’d been the new kid four out of his first six years in school. He would have called it migration, but birds returned to where they’d been. Until today. Now Cole was back, starting again where he’d once lived. He only needed to connect with old friends to feel like h...

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“Eve” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #229

‘Who am I? Where am I?’ Roy stood in the still, dark night, holding a package wrapped like a present. He didn’t know who it was for. Starlight helped him see its professional wrapping in fine paper. It had no tag indicating the intended recipient. The large box, though not unwieldy, felt lighter than he’d expected. He could only guess its contents. ‘Why must I lug this box around?’ The stars looked like velvet in the clear sky. The Milky Way lay just out of reach. Trees lining the road seemed to glow through the darkness. He felt submerged ...

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“Big Girl Blues” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #228

Lara knocked on her daughter Rachel’s bedroom door. “Dinner’s ready, hon.” Not hearing a reply, she pushed the door open to see Rachel on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her auburn hair flowed across the bedspread as if posed for a Pre-Raphaelite painting. She cradled her teddy bear in one arm. “You okay Rach?” “Perfect…” “Big day tomorrow… I made your favorite. Everyone’s waiting to celebrate your last dinner as a single girl.” Rachel looked at her. “What have I got myself into, mom? You have an escape hatch?” “Oh…” Lara sat on the bed a...

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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