Julie Grenness

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2022

Stories (114)

114 Stories

2432 karma pts

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“Ye Auld Hag!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #194

"Ah, this old grey mare just ain't what she used to be!"Hilary declared. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon. Old Ben looked up from his fixation, sport on television. He grumped, but that was all perfectly normal. The summer sport of golfing was only a merely pallid substitute for his tortured real world of supporting his crud football team in the winter months. Old Ben thought he should show understanding of Hilary, aka Hilaria. Maybe she was going through another stage, now they were both retired, in their elderly stage. "Never mind, neither ...

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“R.C.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #193

Melinda was her name. Melinda Marshall. Of poor, but hard working parents, she had been born and raised in their faith. She was a good girl, and studied hard to be a primary teacher. She was thrilled to land her first teaching position, in a holy R.C parochial school. Being a newbie teacher, Melinda was stiffed with a difficult task. She was assigned a feisty class of Grade Six students. She had to teach this grade to use their brains, often wondering about the true nature of God's little sunbeams. The boys could have their moments, but then...

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“Football Fatty.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #192

Goal! Charlene cheered her eldest son, while she munched on a hot dog, with fries on the side. Standing there, rugged up against the winter chills, a suburban mum needing something. Charlene was the mother of five sons, born within seven years, all now junior footballers. She loved her blue-eyed boys dearly, but she spent long hours washing whitey-white football shorts, and piles of sweaters. Ah, hot jam donuts. Yes, Charlene's fleecy lined tracky pants were a bit tighter around her tum and buns. A moment on her lips, a lifetime on her hips,...

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“A Twinkle in her Wrinkles.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #191

Bubbly Vivi had made it to her tertiary college. She was so thrilled, now she could have some freedoms, leaving school days behind her. Vivi was looking forward to learning new subjects, she planned to study Maths, and become a teacher herself. Her parents wanted her to follow the straight and narrow, so she joined a Bible studies group of undergraduates. Their little church chapter met weekly at lunchtimes, Vivi soon made friends. What could go wrong? They were all young Christians, following in God's way, the new adults of society. Sebast...

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“A Love Letter....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #190

Finally, Teagan had reached 21 years of age. She would now open this sacred letter, which her mother had written to her. This was composed straight after Teagan was born. Teagan polished her glasses and began to read. "Dear Teagan, This is Mummy's love letter to you. I will present it to you on the momentous event of your 21st birthday. As I write, I am resting here, feeling euphoric. I am gazing in wonder that I have made a human. You look so perfect. I checked. You have all your digits, and look supremely content. The fairies have brought...

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“Chatting....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #189

While Tammy was sipping her coffee, she read her latest copy of a parenting magazine. The editors made it sound so easy. They had to keep telling their story with such good advice, so mothers like Tammy could avoid any dreadful, unsavory consequences. Tammy did not want to be a rotten mother. She was waiting for her fifteen year old daughter, Talissa, to emerge from her bedroom. Talissa spent most of her day hiding, 'doing stuff'. Tammy wondered what Talissa's stuff entailed. Being the mother, she was supposed to be worried about vaping an...

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“He was way too good!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #188

Zac the Mac was ready. His name was really Zacchary MacDonald. He was in his final year of Deadbeat High School, in some leafy green suburb. He was the only son of his single mother, a nurse. She had brought Zac up to be a good Christian lad. He had stepped up to the plate to be the prayer leader of his local youth group at his church. Unfortunately for Zac the Mac, as he was nicknamed by his classmates, he was the shortest guy in their last year of high school. He had found it hard to compete in football and other sports. But he was a nifty...

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“Spring is in the Air!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #187

Hilary came away from consulting her clinic nurse more than slightly deflated. The good news was that Hilary, aka Hilaria, had reduced her morbid obesity, well done. The bad news was that she now needed a walking stick, as she dodged the knee reconstruction with the orthopedic surgeon. Hilaria accentuated the positives, and adopted some new exercises, largely seated. Her flexible routine now included lifting weights, while seated in a chair. She was resolved to tone up her flabby tuck shop arms, sagging like bat wings. Appealing, not. Over ...

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“Ghosties....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #186

"Just shut up and write!" These words were resounding in Emily Hardiman's brain. By day, she was a petite 23 year old tutor, wearing bad skirts. That went with her profession, all she could afford. On Sundays, she was the mild mannered 'good girl', she taught the children at Sunday School. Yes, Emily was such a good girl. She was a trustworthy friend, placid, with a trim figure and honey-blonde hair that brushed her shoulders. Her hidden secret burning desire was to be a Gospel singer. But how? Sipping her coffee, she avoided the crispy fri...

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“Swav.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #185

You might meet this fetching couple anywhere. Boy, did they have a tale to tell. The male significant other was Swav. He was around that age, cool, well built, tall, a handsome man. His female other half was Donna, just as tall, wavy red hair, emerald flashing eyes, creamy skin, athletic. These days, they were a devoted Christian couple, parents of three good looking sons, all enrolled in Sunday school. You might never believe this couple survived a very rocky start of their relationship. Opposites do attract, or so it seems. Donna and Swav ...

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“In her Sassy Seventies!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #184

"Houston, we have a problem." Hilary, aka Hilaria said to her husband. He was snoring again. Senior lifehacks #101 had led her to this. How had it all happened? Hilaria had made it! Now she was officially old, if not elderly. Hilaria had turned seventy years old, a grand old age. It was the morning after her family celebration, a good gathering. Bit bleary, Hilaria wiped down the mirror, doing housework to tidy up. Hilaria paused for a moment at her reflection. Her grey hair matched her eyes and her top. "If housework keeps us slim, what I a...

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“Love Found Her. ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #183

Lacey Moore thought, "Oh no!", as she headed to the loo again. Heaving, she realized she had the dreaded Bali belly. What had she eaten on that fateful trip? Maybe it was last night's takeaway. It all seemed like just yesterday, her holiday in the tropics. As she emerged, looking slightly green around the gills, her sister, Mariah, did a double take. 'What's wrong with you? That's the third time this morning." Lacey's pleasant Sunday morning was further shattered when Mariah asked, "Do you need a pregnancy test?" Some women have sisters. Lac...

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“The Beau....” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #182

Yippee! Hilary, aka Hilaria, at first did not believe her eyes. But there they were, all her lotto numbers had miraculously rolled forth, right onto her ticket. Ben, her snoring husband, even woke up to wonder what she was so excited about. While she was doing her victory dance in the lounge room, Ben was already browsing luxury car catalogs on his phone. There she sat in the driveway, the red Ferrari of Ben's dreaming. Hilaria,of course, drove it first, all the way to her Christian fellowship prayer group at her local church. There were so...

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“"Anyone Can Improve."” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #181

Hilary, aka Hilaria, and her husband Ben, were both retired school teachers. Unfortunately for Hilaria, old Ben had retired early into television land. He was so not interested in travel, hobbies, or doing anything but turn on blaring TV. It was getting to her a bit, she often could not be bothered cooking any more, so they ate takeaway food. Their favorites were pizza, kebabs, or burgers and fries. Really, any home delivery menu provided an option for meal choices. Delish! Time saving. Hilaria did not know what she was saving time for, but ...

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“Doing Hydrotherapy. ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #180

It was all more bad luck really. Hilary got the bad news from her doctor. Her painful left knee was cactus. Her GP prescribed her some anti-inflammatory tablets, and recommended that Hilary, aka Hilaria, take up hydrotherapy. She felt her sagging heart sink to her boots. Reluctantly, Hilary went home and shared her news with Ben, her husband. She booked a session at the aquatic center in a neighboring suburb. All her couch potato husband said was, "You can't drive the car tomorrow. I'm taking it the panel beater's at Hometown Smash Repairs. ...

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Author bio

Hi, my name is Julie. I am a retired educator. I am an author and poet in Australia. I also write under my pen name, Barbara Binland. I am aiming to polish my writing. Cheers.