Julie Ainger

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2021

Stories (463)

463 Stories

73 karma pts

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“Strict Performance. Strict Scrutiny.” by Julie Ainger

It is hard.Allow me.To indulge.Maybe, even toquote Pop Music.Thank you.For your patience.For your indulgence.Because, you see, I was born this way. ☺️😲.And.You were born that way.Depending upon your definition of “normal”.I throw it back to you and seriously toYOUR intentions.For the rest of today.Tomorrow.I have been told.It matters.Depending upon how your”look” at the future.What you hope to gain.What you hope to lose.In the process.of living life, of course.Trampling the enemy.(gb)Trampled under them, over them.Stepping all over them.Grou...

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“Fasten your seatbelts. Living on and in the periphery of perilous peripheral vision. ” by Julie Ainger

It doesn’t really bother me.That I have already been bumping into walls before any of you were even born.🫤Disclaimer: Not. A graceful swan.☺️My ‘noggin. Though. It is tough as nails.Your ‘noggin.Not so cut and dry.Perhaps you have been subscribing to the idea that,“It takes a village.”For far too to long.Helping your here to there, there to here path.Okay.Not my problem anymore?Right?Depends. Upon what it depends on.My apologies.But.It was never in my….blood.To subscribe to the activity ofScrewing another.In the interest of.Screwing another....

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“Hangry” by Julie Ainger

The way I see it.There is never a zero star meal deserving of a zero star.If I do not have to cook it, I will like it🙂.Call me lazy.But let’s be honest.Sometimes the bag of chips is what feeds the pie hole just fine.TransparencySpontaneity.TransparencySpontaneityAll well and good.Good markers of commitment.Good markers of communication.When the meal ticket is cashed in on.Then what?What happens after that?What commitment WAS just made, without a knowing mind, a knowing heart.All of the sudden the meal sits like a lump in the throat, like a b...

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“Barking up the wrong tree.” by Julie Ainger

How desperate are you?I have my guesses.My opinions too.Most of all.Experiences.And many notable notables have extended the hand of generous wisdom in saying. The quiet part out loud:Experience IS the best teacher.You made your bed. And. Now. You must lie in it.Albeit.Alone.Without me.In itAt the foot.Or anywhere else for that matter.I cannot help you.In that way anymore.I “awarded” you the freedom so long ago.Clarification: You awarded yourself the freedom to browse as you wished. And.Forgot to tell me.Thus. leaving important parts of us to...

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“Doesn’t pass the smell test.” by Julie Ainger

Malodour lingered long after the bash, the blow out had ended.So did Stenchy.Neandering about picking and flipping up the Solo cups and napkins, throwing the brown bags of empty this or that in the giant bin out back.Maladour initiated the damage control plan as the two of them walked about assessing the turned over and chaotic scene before them. The character assasins and the evil doing takes a depth of character all its own. And these two were two peas in a pod.Would it ever be possible to channel their motivations and intentions for good?...

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“Fragile.” by Julie Ainger

Do. Not. Disturb.Look.Don’t touch.I need my personal space.Away from you.Don’t Look, Don’t Touch.Disgusting.Who?YouOr.Me.Learned.Innate.What makes you, you?Genes versus environment.🍷🍩💪🏻🍺🥊Bring it On.Bring your “A” game.If you have more than one, may God have mercyOn you.No worries.Unafraid.Not scared.Won’t even flinch.Things are about the get “fugly”Worse than ugly.Word of caution.Or.Word of warning.I am a cry-er.Always have been.It’s a good release.So.Bring In On.Hit me with your best shot.Won’t even flinch.I have been fighting superficiali...

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“ Attaboy Atavism and Old-fashioned Idiosyncrasies” by Julie Ainger

Surreal.Is this really happening?What just happened?I, for one,Didn’t see it coming.Whew.Talk about aging gracefully.I would settle for not aging before my number is up.Times are tough. Rough and tough. Tough and rough.There are moments when the brain waves are not able to keep up.Before.After.Yesterday.Tomorrow.Whenever.Yep.Stand together if we’re gonna survive. (gb)Provided the choice to stand up is yours.We are, after all, tipping our hats in the direction of the survivors.The survival of the fittest.Might as well throw the hats in the ri...

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“Making ends meet” by Julie Ainger

Apocalyptic.UnveiledRevelation.PropheticCoincidence.Pick one?Pick one.Which one?Were we all to live in a state of euphoria, what might life looks like? Would we all be floating around the sky, smiling at one another, exchanging glances of regard and neighborly waves?Magical.Logical.Practical.Mathematical.Pick one?Pick one.Which oneWhere might this mystical place be…..Here. There. Everywhere.In our minds?In our hearts?In our souls?Pick one?Pick one.Which oneOur consciousnesses sometimes take a back seat to our sub consciousnesses…..Or maybe…....

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“Original Intent.” by Julie Ainger

Death at the Vanity Table.Open to interpretation.Human nature provides us a template of principles and tools to live with and by.(rg)Today is a day of bewail that has been a dreaded thing long and coming.Opposites attract.Opposites attack.The vituperation became quiet, loud, ever present and definitely not proud.Sometimes. The intended original use of the matter becomes skewed beyond anybody’s recognition. Forgetting is not an option. Remembering rears its ugly head.(more on ugly later)Constantly.I confess.The simmering residuals have prompt...

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“Aced out ” by Julie Ainger

Aced out.Based out.Maced out.Blessed is the man holding the four aces. 🔥 Good ole’ Mark Twain does it again. Philosophically astute and willing to speak the quiet parts out loud.Twain furthers:”I admire the serene assurance of those who have religious faith. It is wonderful to observe the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces.Knowing the game. How to play the game. The art of the deal. Gambling has never been a thing for me. Not that I don’t appreciate the pomp and circumstance and the pure tenacity of those who belly up to the table...

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“Mules with no rules on the path of smuggler’s row……..Off we go?” by Julie Ainger

Into the wild blue yonder?No.The mules with no rules continue to ignore the by ways, by laws and boundaries. Broken morality the only vice leading their way.The only answer worth its weight in salt.Is.No.There is more than one way to skin a cat.There is more than one way to stop the madness.There is more to moving the goal post, than thinking you can,Move the goal post.On a whim.Your whim.His whim.Her whim.In the most desperate of times, sometimes good and evil walk hand in hand. Across boundaries and borders in hope of a better life.Traffic...

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“The cries, crisis and mimicries of Rumpus and Trouble” by Julie Ainger

Trouble.The trouble with trouble is it takes no prisoners.It takes, all prisoners.Get what I am saying?As a young child, we are told not to do this or that or we will get in“Trouble”.There is a way to avoid trouble.🤔It is called trouble shooting.🤨The state of being difficult or bothersome.Effort or exertion made to do something, especially when inconvenient.A source of bother or irritation.A particular aspect of something regarded as unsatisfactory or as a source of difficulty.A state of unrest or disorder, usually between opposing factions....

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“Dirty Gerty” by Julie Ainger

Two of life’s best smells.🙂.103 years.Of a well lived life of family and responsibility. Delicious sugar cookies too.And.She drank coffee and ate bacon for more than half of those years.When I smell either, it brings me back……To a tiny home filled with welcoming love.To a time when seven of us piled into the station wagon (with parents who smoked cigarettes😮‍💨at the time) and headed to the magical place of fun and love. For celebration of family and each other.Gatherings of family and connection.In autumn, the yearly gathering was called “Br...

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“The Three Hardest Words” by Julie Ainger

It is never an easy thing to say for some.For others, it rolls off the tongue much too easily.Too rehearsed like the word”Um”.A filler phrase in the sentence filled with a lifetime of regrets.Yours.Mine.Ours.Taking the ownership that is due,One or the other.Who will make first move?Who will make the first move matter?In the long run.In the short run even.Who will make the next move better?Who will make the next move worse?The circles and cycles continue.The banging the head on the wall.Slamming doors.Smiles of recognition.My mistake.Your mis...

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““Um”, fillers, pauses and stammers” by Julie Ainger

Put your seat belts on kids.Egads!We are in for a rocky ride.Ahem!We will not be lovin’ eye contact anytime soon.Hurrah!We have each other to hold on to.Er!What do you mean by that?Boo!I don’t like you. I like the other one.Jeepers!Where’d you get those peepers.Ouch!I did not think you noticed.Phooey!I don’t care if you noticed.Amen!He is around us to hold our hand.Wow!To the Amen he is around us to hold our hand.Shucks!He is around us to hold our hand.Humbled!He is around us to hold our hand.Golly!He is the bestest of the best.Hey!Would you...

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