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Julie Grenness

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2022

Stories (132)

Comments

Library

59 Followers

14 Following

132 Stories

2822 karma pts

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The Beau....

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...

9 likes

"Anyone Can Improve."

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 ...

18 likes

Doing Hydrotherapy.

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. ...

9 likes

Grace Woke Him.

Submitted to Contest #179

Josh stared at his vision board, as he lay on his bed. "I am a good man." So how was he going to get there? This was today, he woke up in a drug rehab. It had all been too easy to get there, now it was up to him to change. Becoming a party animal was the easiest thing Josh Sampson had ever had to do. One day, he was the hometown hero, the local suburban boy who had made it big in league football. Josh was a media sensation, a pin-up boy. He was champion goal kicker, always relied on to swing a game off his own boot. By now, he was nearly t...

14 likes

Miracle on View of What Street.

Submitted to Contest #178

Hilary, aka Hilaria, had washed up and tidied the kitchen after their Christmas brunch. For a little while, she had been a short order cook, over there in View Street. View of what, she wondered, as she glanced from her window to the streetscape. He husband, Ben, was snoring in his arm chair. Their adult sprogs and significant others had all driven off to their other obligations. It was the magical spirit of Christmas. Sighing, Hilaria picked up her latest craft project. She lived somewhere in the Great Southern Land, so it was summer for Ch...

10 likes

The Christmas Star.....

Submitted to Contest #177

'Twas the night before Christmas. Ken Doll O'Flaherty crept through his house. There was no bourbon left, not even a cigarette for his mouse. Ken Doll was now 66 years old. It had been forty years since he had met and dated his one and only love, Barbara. Other young couples had instantly dubbed them Ken and Barbie, so young and good looking. Barbie had been his girl, so fresh and pretty. But these days, Ken would glance at Barbie sitting in the other arm chair. After their shotgun wedding, you might say Barbie had let herself go. Five babi...

5 likes

Graydar--A Magician.....

Submitted to Contest #176

Graydar was a magician in time. He awoke to a sunny morning, a good omen. Graydar ate a simple, humble breakfast of toast, hold the jam. His tummy had butterflies today, he felt a tad nervous. Quite an understatement, that. Graydar was totally excited and nervous. Graydar--also a pilgrim--washed and dressed head to foot in his magician gear, including the hood. His couture was quite colorful, all ritual, as he was a symbol for his tribe. At the appointed hour, Graydar set off. He had fixed onto his garb some of his sorcerer's charms, like ...

9 likes

A Wise Woman Builds....

Submitted to Contest #175

Introducing Martha, the lady of the house. Martha had retired from her job as an events organizer when she was expecting. Now she was the mother of five year old twins, Beau and Celeste. Her sprogs were in their first year of primary school. One classic suburban night, Martha was still attending to her twins' whining needs at ten o'clock. She had got half her pyjamas on, before Beau and Celeste started their attention seeking competition. "Not one more drink of water!" she grumbled at her adorable offspring. "Yes, I know it is dark.Now go t...

9 likes

Staring at a Phone.

Submitted to Contest #174

Daniel was his name, a retired scientist, a dreamer. He was getting older. His hypertension was a concern. It was a challenge, but Daniel was uniting with his trusted doctor in regular check-ups and increases in his medication. It was like a tune up for his physical health. So far, so good. Daniel presented to the receptionist at the medical center right on time. He sat down, as he had a 9 am appointment. First cab off the rank. The good doctor was nowhere in sight, so Daniel stared at his phone. Browsing, browsing, browsing. Half an hour w...

11 likes

A Tale of a Top Dude!

Submitted to Contest #173

Somewhere, somewhen, Ronnie arrived in the world in the usual way. He was a shy, reticent, colonial boy. He was born and raised in his beachside town of "By-the-Sea." Ronnie was born to poor, but concerned, parents. This young lad toddled off to the education system, all the while hearing stories of the great whaling days of the old timers. He proceeded smoothly through his schooling, and often went down to the bays. There he swam and saw beached and stranded whales. Ronnie was learning then about the many theories why the whales were dyin...

14 likes

Malnutrition Villa.

Submitted to Contest #172

"Good morning, world. Another day in the life of Malnutrition Villa," thought Lynnie, an ageing, free caregiver for old Bobby Dullton. She barely did her hair, before he was moaning and calling for her. Lynnie attended to his needs, he was trying to turn on the television with his mobile phone. "Up and about early," she commented. She asked herself what Jesus would do. Smile and turn the other cheek. "Captain Smiley's here!" It was a day in the life of the ageing Dulltons. Lynnie answered the summons. Lynnie affectionately titled the villa...

8 likes

Santa's Senior Moments.

Submitted to Contest #171

It was that most magical time of the year, Christmas again. Santa was preparing for his long-haul flight. But this year, there was no turning back. Maybe he was never coming home. His sleigh was ready, with an open return-date. In spite of the usual traditions, the world had changed forever. Due to the ever expanding global warming and climate change, the North Pole had turned into a surf beach. It was now labelled, "New North!" Mrs. Merry Santa heaved a sigh, her grey hair and doughty bosoms prevented her wearing a bikini. She could hear o...

9 likes

Ditch the Nits!

Submitted to Contest #170

"I've got a plan." Miss Aniston told herself. "Yes, a teaching plan." Miss Aniston had made it. It was her first week of teaching, and so far that morning, she had taught her lively teenage girls about Noah and the Ark. She had placed emphasis on God's message of salvation, redeeming the human race, and saving all the creatures of the globe. Now, it was time she had scheduled for journal writing, nice and quiet. One student, Nicola, seemed to love writing. Her pen was literally flying across her journal pages. Miss Aniston was thrilled, tea...

10 likes

A Funeral in the Family.

Submitted to Contest #169

Crash! From the impending clouds, a massive blast of lightning cast a flash of brief, white light over the graveyard. Very dramatic, bit unnecessary. Marnie stood there and quivered. Maybe it was prophetic. Marnie had been doing her usual morning routine chores, with a chirpy heart. She woke up, the sun rose, she welcomed the day, and thanked the Lord for blessings. Marnie was always the one with the savior mentality, relied on for being calm and supportive. Then the old-fashioned landline had rung. Who was this? The telephone??? A long lost...

10 likes

A Baysie Boy.

Submitted to Contest #168

Zane stood on the train platform. Six o'clock, long summer hot evening. He has some smokes, and a six pack of bourbon and cokes. Nice and chilled. He had lived in Baysie, a dull suburban wasteland. It was like a desert of empty shops and closed cafes, bounded by a freeway and a railway line. Baysie station was the end of the rail tracks. He clambered aboard the train to the Big City. He was finished with Baysie, leaving it all behind. He was going, finally. No more dole money, no more pregnant girlfriend, or his fighting family. Zane was tu...

4 likes